Tennessee

January began the 4th year of the Farmer Family Health and Wellness online webinar program, an educational outreach program designed to help farm families cope and thrive with the unique challenges facing them. TN AgrAbility staff has been a part of the online webinar program from year one by presenting, securing speakers, and moderating some sessions. From farm to family, UT Extension supports health and wellness in every step of the journey. Register for this year's program and watch earlier recorded webinars: https://fcs.tennessee.edu/mffhw/

TN AgrAbility had the best mental health wellness day spent planting succulents in pots with Frontline Gardens and some veterans who wanted to learn more about horticulture therapy (HT). The Knoxville Vet Center and Frontline Gardens have partnered to offer to build a tabletop garden that can be taken home. The day allowed time for fellowship with other veterans plus time to learn about the new HT journal that Professor Derrick Stowell and graduate student Grace Eber wrote, Rooted in Resilience: A Garden Journal for Wellness. It is now available on Amazon books and Kindle and coming soon to Barnes and Noble.

One hundred seventy South Gibson County Middle School FFA students (5-8 grades) were able to learn about AgrAbility and touch/use AT tools and equipment as one of their career days. There was a Q/A period at the end of the presentation for the speaker to answer. Examples of questions: 1) What is your biggest challenge with your job? 2) What is your most rewarding experience with your job? 3) If you could do anything other than what you are doing, what would that be? The word for the day was "assistive technology" and relating to farmers with physical/learning challenges. The big AT hit for the day were the comfort cats that they touched and petted throughout the class period.

A UT-Martin ag engineering student chose TN AgrAbility to complete his scholar's project. He and his professor made a farm visit to Fayette County to evaluate a TN AgrAbility farmer with severe arthritis and back impairment. The student chose the tractor steps as his point of interest. Statement from the student: "The mission of the TN AgrAbility project hits home with me. When I was five years old, I broke my arm, and due to complications, I went through 13 surgeries. This led to severe wrist contracture, and I still require therapy to manage my mobility. From this experience, I know firsthand the challenges of adapting to physical limitations, even with tasks as simple as tying my shoes." TNAP staff is excited to work with UTM ag engineering department and see the final completed project(s). Stay tuned.

TN AgrAbility (TNAP) continues to help veterans who farm learn about resources to help them succeed and remove barriers. TNAP always refers veterans who farm to become a member of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. During January, TNAP encouraged beginning farmers who are veterans to apply to the FVC Fellowship fund. https://farmvetco.org/fvfellowship/

Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project

Staff Changes and Recognition

TN has started the transition to our new University of TN project director, Dr. Shelli Rampold. Dr. Rampold is an assistant professor of agricultural leadership, education, and communications in the Herbert College of Agriculture within the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Rampold, who joined the UTIA faculty in 2021, teaches three courses, specializing in agricultural communications for policy, crisis management and public relations. She chairs or participates in committees for numerous master's students and receives excellent reviews from students. As a scholar, she has written more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and presented more than 50 times at conferences. Like many UTIA faculty, Rampold has a joint appointment with UT Extension, and she has established a program to train producers, Extension agents, forestry and wildlife professionals, and communities about crisis management in agriculture. Two Tennessee Master Producer programs offered through UT Extension include her crisis management curricula. She also helped develop a new internship program to bolster workforce development in the dairy industry.

UT feels that this new leadership will support the longstanding success and impact of the AgrAbility program in Tennessee and look forward to reaching new audiences and even more farmers with disabilities and their families. Please welcome Dr. Rampold. srampold@utk.edu

Other News

2025 means TN beautiful outdoors at 30 state parks, and more are accessible now with access to an all-terrain wheelchair! The parks with an all-terrain wheelchair offer specific trail experiences, ensuring a safe and adventure-filled trip. This specialized wheelchair is designed to provide greater access to beautiful trails and serene spots for those with mobility challenges, free of charge. Action Trackchair and Magic Mobility representatives demonstrated the different features of the wheelchairs at the 2024 Resource Ability Fair. Sunrise Medical, based in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is one source of these chairs. "At Sunrise Medical, we understand that the world is not flat, and with our Magic Mobility power chairs, we believe that everyone, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to explore Tennessee's incredible state parks," said Larry Jackson, president of Sunrise Medical North America. The all-terrain wheelchairs are on the TN AgrAbility assistive technology (AT) list for farmers with mobility challenges. For more information about these wheelchairs and how to request one at a TN park and other places, please visit https://tnstateparks.com/accessibility.