Indiana

On February 6, Indiana AgrAbility headed back to Shipshewana, Indiana, for the Northern Indiana Grazing Conference at the Michiana Event Center. This annual event celebrates sustainable agriculture, bringing together farmers and experts to explore topics such as management-intensive rotational grazing, the certified organic movement, grass-only dairying, and innovative livestock management. It is a day filled with community organized events where local farming families share their experiences with beginning farmers to strengthen the community.

Throughout the day, Indiana AgrAbility staff connected with attendees, sharing how practical tools, smart adaptations, and small changes can make a big impact, helping farmers stay safe, productive, and able to continue doing what they love as they grow older or if they experience an injury in the fields.

On February 17, the Vincennes University ABT Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau welcomed Indiana AgrAbility and the Easterseals Crossroads INDATA Project for an exciting assistive technology (AT) Expo. Nearly 100 students, farmers, and professionals participated in hands-on demonstrations and interactive experiences that highlighted how AgrAbility empowers farmers and those who support them. Attendees discovered practical solutions that help keep farmers safe, productive, and doing what they love-bringing to life the idea that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Participants also experienced agricultural innovations and heard a powerful story from a farmer veteran who, after a life-changing event, partnered with AgrAbility to adapt and expand his operation. The day concluded with a tour of the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, where researchers collaborate with local growers in the "Watermelon Capital of the Midwest" to advance the future of farming.

Submitted by Lisa Becker