Two dedicated Clemson team members, Dr. Dale Layfield and Dr. Lance Beecher, recently took charge of an AgrAbility awareness booth at the Farmer Veteran Coalition Symposium held on February 24 in Columbia, South Carolina. This significant event, expertly coordinated by two esteemed advisory committee members, Matt Rutter (the current president of the SC Farmer Veteran Coalition) and his wife Kara, drew an impressive crowd of nearly 100 attendees. Notably, Jeanette Lombardo, the executive director of the national Farmer Veteran Coalition, was among those present, adding to the event's significance.
The commitment to the AgrAbility program in South Carolina remains firm, as evidenced by its collaboration with the nonprofit Able SC. Dedicated teams from Able SC and Clemson recently engaged in successful discussions with experts in assistive technology and vocational rehabilitation education. Together, they crafted a comprehensive plan to provide farmers across the state with invaluable resources to support their dedication to agriculture. The thorough needs analysis has been submitted to the Clemson Institutional Review Board (IRB), and the team is ready to receive approval within the next week and will be able to send it out statewide.
Looking ahead, the Clemson team is preparing to attend the Assistive Technology Expo in Columbia, SC. This strategic move aims to raise awareness about AgrAbility's capabilities in extending assistance to farmers in need. The conference, focusing on agricultural awareness, will be an excellent platform to engage with those unfamiliar with the challenges and injuries that farmers often encounter.
Submitted by South Carolina AgrAbility