Tennessee
Thank you to everyone who contributed to another impactful and educational AgrAbility National Training Workshop (NTW) in Las Cruces, New Mexico! A special thanks to the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum for hosting this year's NTW. A heartfelt thank you to the National AgrAbility team, especially Tess McKeel and Jo Beth Rath with Goodwill, and New Mexico AgrAbility, for hosting and showcasing their innovative displays. The dedication of AgrAbility's community continues to inspire and impact farmers with disabilities! Thank you for supporting AgrAbility's mission to empower farmers with disabilities.
Spotlight on TN Presenters:
- Nathan Fields (Plant for a Change) presented the poster "Mobilizing an Inclusive, Accessible Conservation Workforce."
- Jennifer Cunningham and Lindsey Wilkerson (The STAR Center, Inc.) led an interactive session, "Empowering the Fields: Smartphone Accessibility."
- Jason Barber, a TN cattle farmer who is legally blind, demonstrated assistive technology tools like the "Be My Eyes" app, ChatGPT, and his "Farming Blind with Duck" YouTube. He also collaborated with Ned Stoller on a workshop highlighting "Low Vision Smartphone AT."
- Eileen Legault (UT Extension) and Finis Stribling III (TN State University Extension) presented "Partnerships: TN AgrAbility Assists Veterans to Succeed with TN New Farmer Academy and FVC TN."
Charley Jordan, TN AgrAbility/AgVOLs veteran advocate, hosted his first therapeutic horticulture activity for 2025 at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Tennessee during National Horticultural Therapy Week 2025. The participants learned a bit about horticultural therapy, the importance of stretching, and how to make a little bonsai garden for themselves. He discussed planting mediums, plant characteristics, and the growing and care of the plants. The best part was seeing their hands in the soil and the smiles on their faces.
Other News
TN AgrAbility had the opportunity to participate in the two-day grain bin advanced training in Hardeman County instruction provided by TN Association of Rescue Squads (TARS). There were 21 fire/rescue personnel participating. The hands-on training covered ropes, pulleys, tying knots, command centers, rescue tubes, harnesses, safety lines, cutting tools and how to hoist the victim through the manhole/ventilation hole on a stretcher. TN AgrAbility staff was one of two entrapped victims during the simulated rescue. (Photo courtesy of Brandy Baumgardner)
Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project