Tennessee
Breaking Ground, produced by the TN Council of Developmental Disabilities since 1990, informs readers of innovative programs and practices, disability policy issues, and stories about the lives of Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Approximately 5,400 copies of each issue are distributed. The latest addition featured TN AgrAbility and Jason Barber, a seventh-generation Unionville, TN, farmer who manages a 100-acre beef cattle and hay farm. The Barber family has been farming since 1866 and would not think of doing anything else. Those with sight might assume that farming depends on visual work. Unionville native Jason Barber is proving what is possible with limited sight. Using support and technology through Tennessee AgrAbility, TN Technology Centers, and TN State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Jason is continuing his family legacy of farming. Read full article here.
Three new state chapters just became part of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Family: Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. A spokesperson for the Farmer Veteran Coalition said "We're exuberant! We commend the leadership teams in each state who dedicated hours to their formation."
Congratulations to FVC of TN officially announcing in May they became a new chapter. TN AgrAbility is proud to partner with FVC of TN and support Homegrown by Heroes/Pick TN Products. TN AgrAbility is on the FVC of TN advisory committee and helps veterans with disabilities who farm. See the two websites connected with FVC of TN at https://tennessee.farmvetco.org/ and at https://tinyurl.com/y75m3hax.
Haywood County, TN, hosted a virtual Progressive Agricultural Safety Day for fourth graders. Due to schools closing in the spring, the students were going to miss their annual safety day. Tim Roberts, coordinator for the safety day, made it happen by going viral during May. Students will receive their t-shirts when they pick up their end of the school year packet in June. TN AgrAbility was featured with their disability awareness station.
Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project