In the fall semester of 2025, Emily Doosing, a field specialist in 4-H, guided undergraduate occupational therapy (OT) students at the University of Missouri in developing additional 4-H Save Your Brain curriculum modules, which expand accessible brain health education resources for youth. Emily also successfully obtained funding through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Welcoming Communities Grant, which will support new College and Career Readiness 4-H programming for youth with IEPs and 504 plans, focusing on soft skills development, mental well-being, and safety education.
Additionally, during the fall semester of 2025, Karen Funkenbusch, the project director for MO AgrAbility, guided a doctoral OT student's capstone project at the University of Missouri. The project aimed to develop mental health resources for veteran beekeepers with disabilities. She also served as co-advisor for a biological engineering PhD candidate's research project(s). These initiatives investigate a collaborative One Health approach, which acknowledges the links between human, animal, plant and environment health. The research uses artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensors to assist underserved farmer and rancher groups, including farmers and ranchers with disabilities.
Submitted by Karen Funkenbusch, Emily Doosing, and Linda Geist
Missouri AgrAbility marketing continued in December 2025 with more than 40 healthcare, rehabilitation, employment, agriculture, and other professionals discussing Missouri AgrAbility as a resource for farmers and ranchers with disabilities. These discussions were part of the Networking Coffees for Professionals held by the Brain Injury Association of Missouri in St. Louis, Springfield, and Kansas City.
Submitted by Maureen Cunningham