Missouri

Missouri AgrAbility focused their social media efforts on program promotion for MU Extension and partner program, resources for AgrAbility clients, and the AgrAbility Virtual State Fair (VSF). Additionally, Missouri AgrAbility continues to capture sound bites, photos, and videos of Missouri farmers and agriculture to build their media database.

Make sure to like and follow Missouri AgrAbility (@MOAgrAbility) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and the Missouri AgrAbility collaborative partners on Facebook: Missouri Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Program, Heroes to Hives of Missouri, and Show-Me Strong Farm Families.

Brenda and Karen continue to work on several Vocational Rehabilitation AgrAbility cases in the northeast region. This month, three new AgrAbility clients have required paperwork filled out and are waiting to hear from Vocational Rehabilitation about eligibility. Karen Funkenbusch, MO AgrAbility director, and Brenda Schreck, MO AgrAbility outreach coordinator and county engagement specialist in livestock and 4-H youth development, also completed an AgrAbility client walkabout and put the final touches on the Level I Onsite Farmstead Assessment Report.

The grain bin rescue demonstration was an engaging safety activity for people of all ages at the 2021 Farmfest in Springfield, Missouri. Farmfest is an annual farm show that boasts approximately 800 booths and 500 registered livestock displayed for thousands of attendees over three days. Safety resources were also disseminated during the MU Extension hands-on demonstration consisting of individuals pulling on a rope to see how many pounds of force they were able to pull out of the grain bin. Many of the people who tried the grain bin rescue pull were shocked by how much force it would take to pull someone out of a grain bin. Many other individuals commented on people they knew that had been killed or injured in a grain bin engulfment.

Submitted by Tevin Umlaut, Elizabeth Picking, Brenda Schreck, and Karen Funkenbusch

Missouri AgrAbility marketing in cooperation with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) attended the Annual Statewide Conference and Survivor and Family Seminar on October 7 - 9, 2021. Marketing at these in-person educational programs included signage, exhibit space, and recognition during the event "welcomes" as the Resources in Rural Missouri track sponsor. In addition, Missouri AgrAbility client Carey Portell was a keynote presenter for the professionals, survivors of brain injury, and family audience. These activities reached more than 150 individuals who became aware of Missouri AgrAbility through these activities.

Submitted by Maureen Cunningham