Tennessee AgrAbility Continues To Help Farmers, Ranchers

Jan 03, 2022


For more than 26 years, the Tennessee AgrAbility Project has been working to improve the lives of farmers, farm family members, and farm workers who may be dealing with a physical challenge in their farming operation. A new influx of funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a new nonprofit partner organization will ensure the program’s continued impact and success into 2022 and beyond. 
In November, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of more than $1.2 million initially, with possible follow-on investments totaling more than $5 million over four years, through USDA’s AgrAbility Program. Five AgrAbility projects across the nation are included in the funding, and the Tennessee AgrAbility Project is one of the five recipients. 
Tennessee AgrAbility is a collaboration between the University of Tennessee Extension, Tennessee State University Extension, and NIFA. Tennessee AgrAbility assists farmers and farm workers with disabilities and their family members by providing support, resources, and equipment that allow them to be independent and productive. The project’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in the agricultural sector. Success may be defined by gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation; access to appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities; evidence-based information related to the treatment and rehabilitation of disabling conditions; and targeted support for family caregivers of AgrAbility customers. Since 1994, Tennessee AgrAbility has helped more than 1,200 Tennessee farmers. 
In addition to this new funding from NIFA, Tennessee AgrAbility is also teaming with a new non-profit partner, The STAR Center in Jackson, Tennessee. From humble beginnings in borrowed space, located in the basement of West Jackson Elementary School, the STAR Center has impacted tens of thousands of families since its founding in 1998. The STAR Center was also recently awarded the Tennessee State Vocational Rehabilitation Services contract and went from a regional provider to a statewide provider of assisted technology resources starting October 1, 2021. As part of that responsibility, the Star Center now provides assistive technology, employment, and educational training for Tennesseans with disabilities and now covers all 95 counties.
 “Tennessee AgrAbility will continue to reach farmers with disabilities statewide with our great team of partners and with the valuable new resources that the STAR Center provides,” says Troy Dugger, the Tennessee AgrAbility Project director with UT Extension. “Among these are new occupational therapists, rehabilitation engineers and certified assistive technology professionals.” 
AgrAbility services are meant to help all farmers with impairments and needs. There is no limit on the size of the farm a producer owns to be considered for assistance in AgrAbility. Impairments include arthritis, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, back impairments, amputations, brain injury, visual and hearing impairments, as well as other challenges. 
Another part of AgrAbility is helping farmers who are military veterans, and who also wish to farm, gain the information and knowledge they need to do so. Eileen Legault, Extension area specialist in AgrAbility in East Tennessee, has worked with this group to officially form the Tennessee Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) in partnership with their national organization.
“I feel like Extension makes a difference across Tennessee, and I believe in the mission of AgrAbility,” Legault says. “We appreciate the leadership of Kim Lilley, the Tennessee Technology Access Program executive director who helps mainstream assistive technology services statewide, and we look forward to helping more veteran farmers and farmers with disabilities with our new partner the Star Center.” 
AgrAbility also assists beginning farmers through the Tennessee New Farmer Academy at Tennessee State University. Finis Stribling, who started the academy, is also the Tennessee AgrAbility Project director for TSU Extension. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing AgrAbility, if needed, and all the assistive technology services available so farmers can continue doing what they love.
"Plus, the Tennessee New Farmer Academy is an opportunity to introduce beginning farmers to a little bit of all types of Tennessee farming with hands-on experiences,” says Stribling.   
Three Tennessee New Farmer academies across the state are now accepting new students for the March 2022 classes:tnstate.edu/extension/NFA.aspx 
To learn more about the National AgrAbility Project visit www.agrability.org and to learn about the Tennessee AgrAbility Project visitagrability.tennessee.edu
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of the Cooperator.

Read More News

Mar 12, 2024
Heather Slayton has been selected as the Tennessee State Forester and Assistant Commissioner for the Forestry Division. She succeeds David Arnold, who is retiring after more than three decades of public service.
 
Mar 04, 2024

Value-added agriculture continues to show strong growth in Tennessee, reaching a value of $142.8 million with gains of more than 65% recorded in the sectors of sales to retail markets, processed or value-added products, and agritourism, according to the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture.

Feb 27, 2024
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting applications for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).