Missouri

MU Extension was invited to provide an AgrAbility workshop for Mennonite farmers. The January 4 hands-on interactive workshop met the unique need of Mennonite vegetable producers in Missouri. Participants learned about many topics: how AgrAbility staff can help; using ergonomic hand and long handled tools to prevent injuries; tips to "Work Smarter... Not Harder" with simple tool modifications; selecting ergonomic, anti-vibration, and anti-fatigue work gloves; and using personal protective equipment. After lunch, AgrAbility staff facilitated a roundtable discussion and fitted each Mennonite participant with ergonomic, anti-fatigue, anti-vibration work gloves that they could take home.

Susan Jaster, Lincoln University Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program (ISFOP), and Karen Funkenbusch, MU Extension, both from Missouri AgrAbility, presented "Sustainable Farm Safety Solutions Through Ergonomics" at the 2019 Virtual Conference - Women In Ag Programs for 21st Century Farms and Ranches, Tuesday, January 29, 3-3:50 pm (EST). Eighty-eight participants sat in on the Sustainable Farm Safety Solutions Through Ergonomics train-the-trainer virtual session.

Submitted by: Karen Funkenbusch

Missouri AgrAbility staff from Lincoln University (ISFOP) in collaboration with the University of Missouri Extension have been busy throughout the month of January! Using the Jesup Wagon outreach method, Mr. David Middleton, Mr. Nahshon Bishop, and Karen Funkenbusch brought modern agricultural tools and research-based information into rural Missouri to educate farmers about Missouri AgrAbility in St. Joseph, Missouri, January 10-12 and at the 2019 Ag Expo in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, January 18-19. The following AgrAbility topic areas were shared:

• What is AgrAbility and how can it help you?
• Missouri and National AgrAbility resources provided
• Ergonomic hand tools every small farmer should own to prevent injury
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) you should own before you spray pesticides on farm

Submitted by Nahshon Bishop

Maureen Cunningham with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) conducted three marketing meetings discussing the Missouri AgrAbility Project with healthcare and community resources professionals. These marketing discussions included the Missouri AgrAbility Project as a resource for food-related social entrepreneurial programs and for survivors of brain injury to return to farming or ranching following rehabilitation. This marketing continues to increase the awareness of the Missouri AgrAbility Project as a resource for farmers with disabilities.

Submitted by Maureen Cunningham