Missouri

The Missouri AgrAbility Program (MAP), along with its collaborative partners and cooperators, conducted 11 educational programs aimed at improving the professional competencies of 605 agricultural professionals, Extension specialists, and rehabilitation, vocational, and healthcare providers. A pre- and post-workshop survey from MO AgrAbility indicated that 95% of participants reported an increase in their understanding of technologies and effective on the farm accommodations. Furthermore, staff involved rural volunteer resources, including 22 peer-to-peer Mo AgrAbility Ambassadors. Finally, staff organized 24 marketing events that reached a total of 3,815 individuals.

MO continues to utilize social media platforms to enhance awareness of its programs and projects designed to inform key audiences and the public about AgrAbility initiatives. This month, over 4,500 impressions were achieved by sharing more than 40 posts related to health, safety, prevention of secondary injuries, wellness tips, resources and mental well-being strategies. This month, one marketing strategy that aimed to engage key audiences through a brief short video was created by Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) with the University of Missouri Extension. The video features Navy veteran Kit Smith who discusses his journey of healing, building connections, and discovering renewed purpose through Heroes to Hives of MO & MAP.

This month the MU Extension team offered direct assistance to 12 ongoing farmers, ranchers, and veteran farmers with disabilities, along with their family members. This support included offering guidance on product selection, ensuring accessibility Access video on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyv_2-GpqtM, providing ergonomic recommendations, aiding in daily life activities, and assisting with the planning of farm operations. The team also advocated for seven new Client farmers to help facilitate their access to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and financial support. Impact of MO AgrAbility direct assistance: In September 2025 the MO AgrAbility Project delivered customized services, which included onsite farmstead assessments, recommendations for technologies and devices, financial advocacy assistances, and referrals to MO VR for 19 client farmers.

Emily Doosing, a field specialist in 4-H and Youth, also worked closely with local school districts and Missouri AgrAbility 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors in preparation for Red Ribbon Week. She provided training to three new 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors who were set to begin their new roles on October 1st. Additionally, she trained an individual in her region to present an ATV/UTV safety lesson during the Stoddard County Ag Safety Day. Emily also secured a grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to create an Ag Safety SPIN Club in Oregon County on November 1st, and she will continue to integrate youth leadership development and mental well-being awareness into local programming initiatives.

Submitted by: Willard Downs, Emily Doosing, and Karen Funkenbusch

Susan Jaster participated in the health expo for the Kirksville Community at A.T. Still University on September 6 in Kirksville, MO. The Expo featured health screenings and booths from local healthcare services. MO AgrAbility organized a live demonstration featuring a combine and ton truck equipped with a Life Essentials lift owned by Doug Boswell. Doug Boswell, the Missouri AgrAbility ambassador, explained how the lift system operates while fielding questions from the public. He also demonstrated his standing track chair and the impressive ReWalk Exoskeleton Susan set up a booth and she provided information about MO AgrAbility and the stress faced by farmers and ranchers, answered questions from occupational and physical therapy students, as well as community members, regarding technologies and devices for farmers and ranchers with disabilities.

Susan Jaster participated in a conference at Lincoln University titled, "Can you Dig It" Cohort-3 Women's Wellness Weekend for Market Gardeners, which was held from September 25-28 at the Oasis Hotel Convention Center in Springfield, MO. This event is part of a comprehensive year-long program focused on health, wellness, mental well-being and gardening. During a plenary session on Saturday, Susan Jaster delivered a presentation about the MO AgrAbility Project, emphasizing the safe use of garden tools with proper body mechanics. Additionally, she addressed several new tools while discussing ergonomics and body mechanics related to each tool. Additionally, she addressed mental well-being, offered stress relief strategies, and discussed ways to de-stressing, all in relation to garden tool safety and ergonomics.

Submitted by: Mark Lucas

Maureen Cunningham with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO), handled nine marketing events for Missouri AgrAbility. She set up at the Missouri Rural Health Association event on September 16 and 17, as well as at the Barry-Lawrence County Resource Fair and Disability Expo on September 25. More Missouri AgrAbility marketing took place at three BIA-MO Networking Coffees for Professionals, four BIA-MO One-Day regional outdoor camps, and the Starling Meeting that involved various disability-related organizations.

Submitted by: Maureen Cunningham