Missouri
MU Extension campus and field faculty worked to increase the likelihood that individuals, including veterans, social disadvantaged, women in agriculture, and their families engaged in production (AgrAbility customers) will become successful and prevent secondary injuries by providing:
- Education and assistance to accommodate disability in farming to 10 individuals with disabilities who engaged in farming and farm-related occupations.
- Twenty-five on-the-farm technical advice interventions concerning the design, fabrication, and use of agricultural and related equipment, machinery, and tools.
- Specialized materials for the early identification of farm and rural families who need services, resources, and referral to various community-based social service agencies from stakeholders and health care professionals, including MU Extension regional specialists and LUCE ISFOP outreach specialists.
- Five AgrAbility programs to enhance the professional competencies of rural agricultural professionals, rehabilitation and health care providers, vocational counselors, and other service providers.
- Missouri AgrAbility social media efforts on Mental Health Awareness using the MU Extension and Missouri Department of Agriculture Mental Health Awareness Month Promotional Toolkit. If you are not already, make sure to like and follow Missouri AgrAbility, @MOAgrAbility, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Submitted by: Joni Harper, Travis Harper, Brenda Schreck, Willard Downs, Tevin Uthlaut, and Karen Funkenbusch
Lincoln Universities Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program (ISFOP), in collaboration with the MU Extension, facilitated the following:
- Dr. Clement Akotsen-Mensah, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (LUCE ISFOP) state director and Missouri AgrAbility co-PI, hosted a professional development training at Lincoln University Carver Farms for ISFOP farm outreach workers. Specialists from around the state attended and
learned about Missouri AgrAbility from State Project Director Karen Funkenbusch. - Mary Bolling, farm outreach worker, attended a three-day advanced grazing school at Green Pastures Farm. Mary will share information learned at future workshops in collaboration with her local NRCS office.
- Farm outreach workers Angela Brattin and Na Lee Yang collaborated with MU Extension's Patrick Byers to host a blackberry workshop for local growers including Missouri AgrAbility customers. Workshop series events
were supported by funds from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. - Lincoln University and MU Extension collaborated to host the 5th Annual Missouri Tomato School. Several ISFOP farm outreach workers along with Missouri AgrAbility customers participated in the training.
Submitted by: Dr. Clement Akotsen-Mensah, Susan Jaster, and Mary Bolling
4-H Save Your Brain Program, in partnership with Missouri AgrAbility, was featured in the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) Connections Newsletter spring 2022 issue. The article highlighted the six-session curriculum that challenges youth to think about how to prevent brain injuries. The curriculum also includes a session on how to befriend individuals with brain injury. The hands-on curriculum helps 4-H members better understand brain injury and what they can do to prevent a brain injury.
Submitted by: Maureen Cunningham