Michigan

Each year, Michigan AgrAbility provides an incentive to clients to complete the Michigan AgrAbility Annual Survey - a $100 gift card. Due to the pandemic, the drawing of the gift card winner for the 2019 AgrAbility Annual Survey was delayed... but we have the gift card winner! Congratulations! The winner will be featured in the December e-Note.

Thank you, Doug VerHoeven, for hosting the virtual farm tour for Michigan rehabilitation counselors. You showed how it's possible to successfully farm from a wheelchair! Thanks to Denise Durkee of Easterseals for providing the technology for the day, and for Ned's easy conversation on the camera! See more about the virtual farm tour in October's e-note and on the Michigan AgrAbility's Facebook page.

Michigan AgrAbility wants to thank the Michigan farmers who provided monetary support to the Hopkins Area Volunteer Fire Department to purchase grain bin rescue equipment and receive training on grain bin rescue. The fire department went farm-to-farm talking with farmers about the dangers of entrapment and death in a grain bin. Farmers, in addition to keeping themselves safe, also wanted to ensure that the fire department rescue personnel were safe during a rescue...Farmers were generous with their money and $10,000 was raised for the fire department.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 5th Annual Michigan Hidden Talent Workshop was held virtually on October 29th and featured national autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin as the keynote speaker. The Workshop, coordinated through the Small Business Association of Michigan, is a statewide training seminar focused on strategies and best practices to assist organizations with efforts to create a more inclusive workforce by hiring people with disabilities. It is designed for businesses of all sizes, targeting owners, senior leadership, and human resources officials.

Submitted by Deb Chester