Missouri

Fourteen individuals from Missouri participated in the 2025 AgrAbility National Training Workshop held in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This diverse group included representatives from MUE, LUCE ISFOP, BIA-MO, MO DSS-RSB, a physical therapy company, an exoskeleton vendor, and eight MO Client Farmer Ambassadors. They had an outstanding time sharing their programs through two professional posters and four breakout sessions during the conference. Moreover, they provided resources focused on health, safety, and preventing secondary injuries at their exhibit, networked with fellow attendees, and enjoyed field trips after the conference. A heartfelt thank-you to National AgrAbility and New Mexico AgrAbility for organizing and presenting such an engaging and interactive event.

E. Doosing, K. Funkenbusch, and M. Cunningham presented a professional Poster, "4-H Rodeo Clown College: Promoting Positive Mental Wellbeing in Rural Youth." The feedback on the poster presentation was extremely favorable, showcasing significant enthusiasm for the creative and youth-focused strategy of advancing mental health through the 4-H Rodeo Clown College. Participants expressed their backing and suggested that the concept could be implemented, noting its relevance and potential impact. They stressed the necessity of initiating mental wellness education at an early age. One valuable recommendation was to add a lesson on non-violent communication, which could further improve the program's effectiveness for those working in youth development.

S. Jaster and K. Funkenbusch from the University of Missouri Extension, along with G. Asher from the Missouri Department of Social Services - Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, also showcased their poster titled "Missouri AgrAbility Assists Client Farmers in Fostering Independence and Accessible Self-Employment in Agriculture" during the poster session and reception.

On Tuesday, March 25th, S. Jaster, D. Middleton, D. Boswell, and K. Funkenbusch led a conference session called, "Farm Like It's 2025!" During the presentation, they explored various innovative tools for farming equipment and highlighted emerging assistive technologies, ranging from large hay handling machinery to wearable robotic exoskeletons. Doug Boswell, a MO AgrAbility Ambassador and rancher from Southwest Missouri, shared his personal journey, discussed how individuals with spinal cord injuries can obtain the wearable exoskeleton through Medicare, and showcased the Lifeward ReWalk wearable robotic exoskeleton.

Also, on Tuesday, March 25th, K. Funkenbusch from MO AgrAbility, D. Boswell, a client of MO AgrAbility, and G. Asher, a counselor from MO VR, participated in a panel discussion on vocational rehabilitation services. The conference breakout session was facilitated by Stephen J. Swain with the National AgrAbility Project.

On Wednesday, March 26th, K. Funkenbusch from MO AgrAbility and Indiana farmer Jennifer Byerly Head joined forces with Kirsten Ambrose, associate director of the OA Action Alliance at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to deliver an engaging presentation titled "Managing Arthritis for Women in Agriculture." The dynamic team from North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana enjoyed sharing their personal experiences and discussing the effects of arthritis on women in the agricultural field. They offered practical strategies to alleviate joint stress, drawing from their agricultural backgrounds and providing simple solutions, ergonomic tips, and assistive devices. The presentation was relatable, relevant, and well-received by the audience.

On Wednesday, March 26th, Dr. D. Swanson, associate Extension professional in labor and workforce development with the University of Missouri Extension and labor studies certificate program coordinator with the University of Missouri St. Louis presented a conference breakout session titled, "The Growing Worker Shortage, and Healthful Health of Working with your Hand."

Submitted by: Karen Funkenbusch

This month, collaborative partner Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (ISFOP) has been busy implementing AgrAbility education, networking, and marketing initiatives. Here are some of the key activities:

• AgrAbility information was presented to 145 participants at the Small Farms Conference held from March 3-5 at Lincoln University.
• On March 14, AgrAbility details were shared with eight women at the Soil Blocking Workshop in Caruthersville, MO.
• At the sheep shearing workshop in Southeast Missouri on March 21, 22 attendees received AgrAbility information.
• AgrAbility insights were provided to 18 participants at the Heritage Greens Workshop in St. Louis, MO, on March 12.
• The New Growth Farm to Fork Expo in Nevada, MO, on March 7 saw AgrAbility information shared with 170 attendees.
• On March 11, 14 attendees at the Brain Injury Association Quarterly Professional Coffee gathering learned about AgrAbility.
• AgrAbility information was also shared with 24 participants at the Backyard Poultry Workshop at the Joplin Empire Market in Joplin, MO, on March 8.
• At the Brain Injury Association Survivor and Family Seminar in Springfield, MO, on March 22, 30 attendees received AgrAbility information.
• Forty-two participants at the Missouri Native Plants Workshop in Joplin, MO, on March 29 were informed about AgrAbility.
• Finally, staff member Susan Jaster co-presented a poster and a concurrent conference session at the 2025 AgrAbility National Training Workshop. She delivered a presentation titled "Un-Learn, Learn, Re-Learn: Lower Your Small Inputs by using Holistic Farm Planning, Abundance Thinking, and Decision Theory" to 52 attendees.
• Susan Jaster set up an exhibit to promote AgrAbility at the Homesteader Expo in Warrensburg, MO, on March 28-29, where 976 people attended, 211 engaged in conversation, 87 took business cards, and approximately 40-45 stated they were beginning farmers.

Submitted by Mark Lucas

During March 2025, in honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, Missouri AgrAbility was featured in each "Brain Injury Fact of the Day," reaching an impressive audience of 13,230 people. This effort led to over 6,000 rural residents gaining increased awareness of Missouri AgrAbility. Additionally, the BIA-MO marketing team produced three engaging videos for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day series. You can watch them here: "Rural Accidents" (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lsK8-Cnfhek), "Construction"(https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1qAJ2-2C2aI), and "Bicycle Helmets" (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wXutldIAh74).

Maureen Cunningham, the executive director of BIA-MO and co-principal investigator for Missouri AgrAbility, presented valuable information about Missouri AgrAbility to her colleagues at the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) National Conference, which took place on March 4-5, in Washington, DC. The conference drew nearly 400 attendees from all over the country. This participation increased awareness of Missouri AgrAbility among 25 individuals at the event.

MO AgrAbility was featured at the BIA-MO Networking Coffees for Professionals held in Springfield and Kansas City. On March 11, Lesa Queen, a small farm worker from collaborative partner LUCE ISFOP, presented in Springfield, while Maureen Cunningham talked about Missouri AgrAbility in Kansas City on March 12. Over 25 professionals attended and learned about the program.

The "Get Schooled on Concussions" initiative in Missouri, in collaboration with MO AgrAbility, was showcased at the BIA-MO/Missouri AgrAbility exhibit during the Missouri Association of School Nurses Conference held on March 28-29. At this event, school nurses from rural districts across Missouri learned about the Level 1 and Level 2 on-the-farm direct services offered by MO AgrAbility. The exhibit attracted 150 visitors, including 10 farm families.

Submitted by Maureen Cunningham