Tennessee
TNAP team met with Warriors ReEntry Ranch, an innovative agritherapy program, to help struggling veterans rediscover their purpose. The planned facility offers specialized care for PTSD, trauma, mental health illness, and addiction. They are looking for funding and partners nationwide. Reach out on Facebook "Warrior Reentry Ranch" or warriorsreentryranch.com.
Farm Again GA did an amazing job hosting the AgrAbility Farm and Garden Learning Station at the 2019 Sunbelt Ag Expo. Staff highlighted the latest in technology that can make farming and gardening task a little easier. TN AgrAbility had a table display and demos of low-cost assistive technology at 2019 Sunbelt Ag Expo.
TNAP exhibited at the Resource ABILITY Assistive Technology Fair in Nashville, Clarksville, and Paris. TN AgrAbility and Life Essentials demonstrated assistive technology for farms and outdoor mobility in Nashville. Thanks to keynote Liz Persuad for sharing her story! It was a great day networking with partners and rehab counselors with Vocational Rehabilitation(VR). TN Department of Human Services hosted a very informational event to introduce educators, employers, and others to new technology that helps individuals with disabilities live their lives.
TN Ag Literacy Week (November 17-23) was celebrated by TNAP staff by reading to a class of kindergartners at Grand Junction Elementary from the book Creepy Carrots. It was also career day, and the class learned about the AgrAbility project and how AgrAbility helps farmers who have a disability. Lots of questions and stories.
RETIREMENT NEWS:
TNAP wanted to update you on some changes taking place in Tennessee. Tim Prather will be retiring on 12/31/2019 after more than 36 1/2 years of service with University of Tennessee Extension. If you would like to send well wishes or old photos or video via email for his retirement party by December 2nd, please send to AgrAbility@tennessee.edu.
Tim began his career on April 25, 1983, as the farm safety specialist for University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service in the Agricultural Engineering Department. A lot has changed since that date, and his roles have included educational programs for farm safety, precision agriculture, disaster education, and energy. We are proud of what TNAP has accomplished for the benefit of Tennessee farmers and residents, and we know Tim has made a difference. It isn't always easy to document those changes, but we do the best we can.
Extension has been a rewarding career for Tim. He said he will miss much that it offered professionally and personally. He has friends all over the country through the many Extension programs that he has been involved in. He has had the opportunity to host several national conferences in Tennessee. Plus, he has submitted several successful funding proposals that funded over $6 million in Extension programming since 1991.
Look for Tim at future NTWs. He will play a vital role on the TNAP advisory team and the National 4-H GIS/GPS Leadership Team advisory group. He plans to continue gaining knowledge at ag research field days and Extension programs and maybe even become a beekeeper and Master Gardener.
We immensely appreciate ALL Tim has done for TN AgrAbility for the past 25 years with his dedicated leadership and service to the institute and university and wish him a very fulfilling life in retirement.
Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project