Florida

Florida AgrAbility and Florida 4-H launched year two of Barnyard Challengers, Barnyard Challengers - Florida AgrAbility - UF/IFAS. This program introduces the next generation to livestock and fosters the development of essential life skills. Through 4-H's hands-on approach, youths with disabilities are paired with teen mentors and guided by 4-H educators to learn about raising chickens and other Florida agriculture.

On September 10, Dr. Serap Gorucu, director of the Florida AgrAbility Project, delivered a virtual presentation at the international conference Towards SHWA 2026: Cutting-edge Technologies for Safety, Health, and Welfare in Agro-food Systems. The presentation, titled "Agricultural Safety and Health: Prevention to Recovery," focused on occupational hazards in agriculture and highlighted the critical role of the AgrAbility program - supporting farmers who have sustained injuries or acquired disabilities in overcoming functional barriers to continue their work in agriculture.

Submitted by Tara Dorn