Tennessee

TN AgrAbility can finally officially announce that the STAR Center is TN AgrAbility's new non-profit disability partner on its new NIFA/USDA grant. The STAR Center was awarded the TN State Vocational Rehabilitation services contract and went from a regional provider to a statewide provider of assistive technology resources starting this October 1st. The STAR Center provides assistive technology and employment/educational training for Tennesseans with disabilities, and now also covers all 95 counties in Tennessee. Some valuable new team resources that the STAR Center brings are new occupational therapists, rehabilitation engineers, and certified assistive technology professionals. Staff are very grateful for Kim Lilley, the TN Technology Access Program executive director, who worked to mainstream AT services statewide and her role in helping TN AgrAbility build new partnerships in 2021. TN AgrAbility is excited about the expansion of services in 2022!

TNAP honored its veteran farmers with disabilities on Veterans Day with several ceremonies. One example is Todd Bentley of Cheatham County, TN, who is a Homegrown by Hero certified, TN farmer veteran. "My time in the Army prepared me in more ways than I realized for starting a farm business," Todd Bentley of Sweeter Days Farm said. "I am grateful for what I learned as a soldier about hard work, discipline, and leadership. I believe that veterans have an opportunity, and responsibility, to take important lessons learned in the military as government employees and bring them back to civilian life to build a better country and community. Agriculture is a meaningful place for veterans to transition after service. Groups like the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the Farmer Veteran Coalition are great places to look for help getting started."

In November, TN hosted the Farmer Veteran Coalition Regional Stakeholders Meeting in Knoxville, TN. It was great meeting and networking with 180 participants from across the USA. TN hosted 70 folks on three diverse farm tours. FVC Conference highlights included presentations designed to inform and assist FVC members ranging from service members in the transition process to veterans looking to start or develop their farm business to established farmers looking to improve the ways they get their products to market. Attendees also heard from Homegrown by Heroes and the Veteran Fellowship Fund, a small grant to help new farmers buy equipment they need. Thank you to Cindy Chastain, National AgrAbility, for representing AgrAbility. The majority of FVC members identify as having a service-related disability. The AgrAbility program is the leader in technology-based assistance for veterans who need help accommodating disabilities while farming. The Wounded Warrior Project and AgriSafe both made presentations on resources they offer in the mental health and wellness fields. Thank you to all the speakers and sponsors who made this conference a success. Save the tentative date for the next FVC conference in Tacoma, Washington, next November 16-18.

"Agriculture saved my life." It was a refrain often repeated by attendees of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference held recently in Knoxville, TN. More than 200 veterans - some established farmers, some aspiring farmers - gathered for the 7th annual meeting. They came to learn about ways to better manage their farms and available resources. But they also came to meet with fellow veterans who have found healing, new beginnings, and maybe even success in ag.
See #veterans and Farmer Veteran Coalition

Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project