Illinois AgrAbility Unlimited's communications coordinator, Kelly Gagnon, and program director, Bob Aherin, attended the Local-Regional Foods Conference sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau. Bob presented as a speaker at the conference, sharing his knowledge and expertise in agricultural research with the attendees. In addition to sharing AgrAbility IL's services, the conference offered countless connections for new potential partnerships, donors, and education.
As AgrAbility Unlimited is working to renew their contract with the USDA, Bob is planning to coordinate meetings with the program's current partners Illinois Assistive Technology Program and the Community Health Partnership of Illinois. He is planning to discuss their future involvement in the program and how AgrAbility staff members can facilitate a closer partnership in the future.
In addition to the new proposal development, the University of Illinois College of ACES Fund Development Office plans on launching their fundraising efforts this month for the AgrAbility IL program with a goal of raising two million dollars over the next 4 to 5 years to hopefully provide a basis for long-term sustainability of the program. The AgrAbility IL staff members are also working to seek private support to assure the program is available to farm people with physical and mental limitations in order to assist them in their desire to be as productive as possible in the agriculture industry for their own self-worth and to provide for their families.
Submitted by Kelly Gagnon