AgrAbility of Wisconsin was awarded a four-year grant from the USDA NIFA AgrAbility program to continue providing services to farmers and farm families with disabilities and limitations throughout the state. This grant award of $180,000 annually is designated for September 1, 2018, through August 31, 2022.
In collaboration with the National AgrAbility Project, AgrAbility of Wisconsin staff hosted a booth at the World Dairy Expo held in Madison, WI. The event brings in hundreds of thousands of dairy producers, dairy enthusiasts, and students to watch breed shows and talk with over 3,000 vendors throughout the complex.
AgrAbility of Wisconsin staff have been traveling throughout the state, presenting information about the AgrAbility of Wisconsin program, its initiatives, and farm safety to a range of students. Jeff Kratochwill, rural rehabilitations specialist, has presented information to occupational therapy and physical therapy collegiate courses, highlighting assistive technology, injuries and limitations, and the farm site assessment process. AAW Outreach Specialist Abi has done 19 FFA and high school presentations over the last month, talking with students and alumni about the services, especially the Exploring Careers in Agriculture program for youth with disabilities.
The annual AgrAbility of Wisconsin Summit is set for March 11, 2019, at the National Farm Medicine Center at Marshfield, WI. Various farm-related topics for the one-day seminar will be featured, including low cost assistive technology and farm transition and succession planning. Lunch will be provided.
At the Easter Seals Wisconsin Recognition Dinner, one of the honorees was Jim Massey, receiving the Outstanding Media award. His knowledge of and background in agriculture enabled him to become editor, for 25 years, of The Country Today, a Wisconsin-based newspaper known as one of the top agricultural publications in the state. When the Easter Seals Wisconsin FARM program and UW-Extension founded AgrAbility of Wisconsin in 1991, its mission was to support farmers with disabilities, providing assistance so that they could continue to farm. Jim was asked to serve on the Advisory Council and did so for more than ten years. Because Jim understood both the perspective of a farmer and the effects an injury or disabling illness can have on the entire family, he consistently made sure the readers of The Country Today were aware of AgrAbility and the FARM Program. In recognition of his commitment and dedication to spreading awareness and accurately reporting on both opportunities and challenges facing farmers with disabilities, Easter Seals Wisconsin was honored to extend this recognition and award to Jim Massey.
Another honoree was Adam Faust, a progressive dairy farmer from Chilton, Wisconsin. Adam's challenges made him an ideal candidate for Easter Seals Wisconsin's FARM Program, the non-profit partner in the AgrAbility of Wisconsin program. Although born with spina bifida, the challenges of Adam's disability did not stop him from making a successful career in the agricultural industry. He connected with the FARM program for assistance on how he could accommodate both spina bifida and leg amputation and succeed as a farmer, and has been plowing full-speed ahead ever since. Adam doesn't let his physical restrictions limit his work or his life. He has creatively modified some of the accommodations recommended by the FARM program with the help of UW engineering students. Adam has served as an ambassador for the nationally renowned Easter Seals FARM program and AgrAbility of Wisconsin, serving as a guest speaker for the Easter Seals annual campaign kickoff event, Starry Night, presenting on accommodation for dairy farmers at the National AgrAbility Conference, and serving on the AgrAbility Advisory Council.
Submitted by AgrAbility of Wisconsin