Ohio

Ohio AgrAbility's mission of education and networking was on full display at Farm Science Review (FSR) 2023. The Ohio AgrAbility Project (OAP) and ag safety teams, exhibits, vendors, and weather all coordinated to welcome visitors to a great FSR. Many of our OAP farmers joined staff at the tent, greeting visitors and talking to students about designing an accessible skid loader. Karen Evans represented LifeLyfts, demonstrated the equipment, and spoke to visitors about assistive technology and farming with a disability.Mike and Derek from D & M carts were new vendors this year and spoke to many visitors about using their carts for poultry barns and to aid farmers with limited mobility. OAP displayed pieces from the AT Learning Lab and provided conversation starters about universal design and using equipment to make farming safer and more accessible. The prize wheel was a big draw and gave staff and vendors the opportunity to share information about Ohio AgrAbility, assistive technology, Ohio ag, and ag safety with the students and farmers who spun the wheel.

Ohio AgrAbility started September with the Cursive Ohio Charity Bike Ride in Northwest Ohio on September 2. One hundred fifty-three riders cycled routes of 16, 35, or 65 miles. All riders stop at Rest Stop 3, where they can "Dot the I" of the Cursive Ohio course and take a picture with Brutus Buckeye. This year, Laura Akgerman, disability services coordinator, and her husband, Burak, were joined at Rest Stop 3 by OAP farmers Kane Lewis and Jeff Austin. Jeff's wife, Kristi, and daughter, Maura, took photos of the riders and cheered the riders on as they rode off on the final leg of the course. Kane and Jeff spoke to the riders and shared how Ohio AgrAbility helped them to continue farming. Many of the riders expressed that meeting Jeff and Kane helped bring the purpose of the ride full-circle for them, and they were excited that Cursive Ohio raises money to pay for peer-to-peer activities and professional development. OAP is very grateful to Austin Heil, founder and president of Cursive Ohio Bike Ride, who donated $5,500 to Ohio AgrAbility for the 2023 bike ride.

Submitted by Laura Akgerman