Missouri

Missouri AgrAbility focused its social media efforts on:

1. Promoting Stress Awareness Month throughout April by posting about MU Extension programs to help reduce stress.
2. Highlighting distracted driving with MO AgrAbility's Show-Me Farm Safety partners and by encouraging drivers to be more aware during planting season.
3. Promoting NTW workshops.
4. Promoting grain bin safety and selection of safe mask protection during the Stand Up for Grain Safety Week, an annual outreach effort hosted by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, MO, was excited to welcome two of the Peterson Farm Brothers (https://petersonfarmbrothers.com/) to share about farming and faith at the Jaycee Gardens on Thursday, April 22nd. Hailing from Central Kansas, they are known for their popular musical parodies lifting up agriculture and farm life. MU Extension Missouri AgrAbility in partnership with the Farm and Ranch Stress Alliance Network team disseminated AgrAbility and behavioral/mental resources before, during, and after the Peterson Farm Brothers concert.

Missouri AgrAbility in partnership with the Farm and Ranch Stress Alliance Network team also hosted its first Q.P.R. (Question, Persuade, and Refer) online Gatekeepers training April 21. Key components covered included 1) How to Question, Persuade, and Refer some who may be suicidal. 2) How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide. 3) The common causes of suicidal behavior. 4) The warning signs of suicide, and 5) How to get help for someone in crisis. All QPR participants received a Gatekeepers behavioral/mental health toolkit specific to Missouri that also includes resources for Missouri AgrAbility.

April 1, Governor Mike Parson joined the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families, a partnership through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Governor's Challenge is designed to provide intensive technical support and assist states in implementing best practices around suicide prevention for service members, veterans, and their families.
"Although Missouri has already begun to implement suicide prevention efforts, participation in this initiative will allow us to further implement best policies and practices and advance our suicide prevention efforts for service members, veterans, their families, and all Missourians," said Governor Parson.

As part of this initiative, Missouri has developed a team to ensure cross-agency collaboration. Members of the state team include Legislators and representatives from Department of Mental Health, Missouri AgrAbility Project, Missouri Veterans Commission, Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Department of Social Services, Department of Corrections, University of Missouri - St. Louis: Missouri Institute for Mental health, American Legion - Missouri, St. Louis VA System of Care, , Missouri Office of State Courts Administrators, Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, and other community providers.

Submitted by Tevin Uthlaut & Karen Funkenbusch

Mr. Nahshon Bishop, Mrs. Susan Jaster, Mrs. Kendra Graham, and Mr. David Middleton presented for the National AgrAbility Conference. This virtual session was held April 20. The presentation covered:

• Safe livestock handling practices
• Designing safe livestock handling infrastructure
• Useful tools for preventing secondary injury

Other Mo AgrAbility events throughout April included:

• Successfully direct marketing meat, Hispanic education and outreach
• How to successfully direct market your meat presentation for the Food Systems Extension Network
• Ash Grove Health Consultant Grand Opening- information on safe farm practices

Submitted by Nahshon Bishop

David Baker, director of Missouri Assistive Technology, presented "Assistive Technology for Learning and Living" at the Brain Injury Association of Missouri Survivor & Family Seminar on April 24. As a Missouri AgrAbility partner, his session featured assistive technology devices and Missouri AgrAbility services to help farmers and ranchers with disabilities. This educational program of the Brain Injury Association of Missouri also featured Missouri AgrAbility as a program partner and Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation in its "Navigating the Workforce" session.

Submitted by Maureen Cunningham