Nebraska

Emily Jacobson and John Davis engaged with Nebraska FFA youth at the state FFA convention. Hands-on activities included "Spin the Wheel" to learn about disaster preparedness and simulating visual impairments while completing basic tasks. The experience was both fun and inspiring, leaving many students excited about the impactful work being done in the state through AgrAbility.

There are so many highlights from AgrAbility NTW, and staff can only feature a few of their experiences. The Nebraska AgrAbility team took in many of the presentations and learned about new resources and techniques to help in their work with clients and partners.

At the NTW, Nebraska AgrAbility and Indiana AgrAbility co-presented a session focused on rural preparedness for farm and ranch families with considerations for those who may be AgrAbility clients and family members with access and functional needs.

Here are just a few experiences on the NTW tours:

• New Mexico Museum of Space History provided visitors with opportunities to view historic air and space exhibits and interactive exhibits. From the Apollo missions to modern technology, visitors explored the future of space exploration. Soni Cochran and Emily Jacobson had a blast.
• Pistachio Land - McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch and Winery provided a unique look at growing pistachios. Members of the cashew family, visitors learned how New Mexico's climate and grafting techniques make that state home to some of the largest pistachio farms in the United States.
• The final stop at White Sands National Park provided breathtaking views of gypsum dunes. It was an inspiring conclusion to the NTW as staff reflected on all they learned.

Nebraska AgrAbility advocates for Nebraska agriculture as part of its work with AgrAbility. During National Ag Week, the Nebraska AgrAbility Facebook and Instagram accounts focused on sharing interesting facts about this #1 industry in Nebraska. Facebook | Instagram.

Emily Jacobson presented at the Nebraska Sorghum Symposium. This event was well-attended, and attendees asked terrific programs about AgrAbility.

Other News

• Emily Jacobson teamed up with Nance and Boone County Extension educators for Youth Safety Days, where she spoke with nearly 250 third graders about ATV and UTV safety. Key takeaways for the students included the importance of always wearing a helmet, the rule of one rider per seat, being at least 16 years old to operate a full-sized ATV, and the need to inform a parent or trusted adult before heading out on an ATV. The session wrapped up with a memorable demonstration using Jell-O brains to illustrate the potential consequences of riding without a helmet.

Submitted by Soni Cochran