Indiana

The Purdue University Extension Professional Development Conference (PDC) was held December 3rd and 5th as a virtual gathering via Microsoft Teams. This annual gathering brings together nearly 400 Extension professionals, including county Extension educators and campus-based specialists, to network and share experiences, programs, and ideas.

Several Indiana AgrAbility staff members participated in the event and presented breakout sessions to educate fellow Extension professionals about both state and national efforts to assist farm families impacted by disability. Joe Ricker, veteran outreach coordinator, along with Purdue Extension Veteran Farmer Coordinator Emily Kring and Indiana AgVet Project Manager Darin Chapman, led a discussion about Extension outreach to veterans. Paul Jones and Chuck Baldwin hosted a session highlighting assistive technology expos as an outreach opportunity for county Extension professionals. Indiana and National AgrAbility Project Director Bill Field hosted a discussion about mental health and resilience in rural communities and provided historical context regarding Extension efforts to address those challenges over the years.

The conference provided a great chance for the Indiana team to introduce AgrAbility to newer Extension professionals, while also allowing to re-connect with "veteran" Extension partners from throughout Indiana and other Purdue departments.

Submitted by Ed Sheldon