Maine Day at the AgrAbility Virtual State Fair

AgrAbility tent with info signs and adaptive equipment

October 14th was Maine Day at the National AgrAbility State Fair! If you missed it, no worries – we’ve got it all for you right here.

Maine AgrAbility is here to help farmers, fishermen, and forest workers work safely and more productively. Learn more about our activities and assistance available during Maine day at the national AgrAbility Virtual State Fair. Join us on Facebook (@AgrAbility Virtual State Fair) and Twitter (@AgrAbilityVSF) on October 14, 2022.

Introduction to Maine AgrAbility

Many in Maine make a living on the farm, on the water, or in the woods. When pain, injury, or disability keeps them from doing the work that sustains them, Maine AgrAbility (YouTube video) can help.

Whether it’s an injury, wear, and tear, or a disability that brings a client to Maine AgrAbility, we start where they are to help them move forward. Meet clients (YouTube video) Stephen and Liz from Chapter 3 Farm in Newburgh to hear their story.

Stop Light Tool: Rate your pain 

To have a healthy farm, you need to be healthy yourself. Maine AgrAbility has developed the Traffic Light Tool to help you rate your pain. This can help you decide what steps to take next and even help you explain your pain to your healthcare providers. Download a copy now!

Check out the video that further explains how this simple tool can be applied to your everyday life – whether you are farming or not.

 

FishAbilityTwist to stretch

Maine’s FishAbility program is part of Maine AgrAbility. Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist and AgrAbility partner, has partnered with others in the fishing industry to develop a “Yoga for Fishermen” series. This series is tailored to specific situations that fishermen face, and it features individuals involved in the industry. Thank you to Toni Small (Oryx Worx) and Monique Coombs (Maine Coast Fisherman’s Alliance) for their partnership on this!

 

LogAbility

LogAbility is part of the Maine AgrAbility Program. The mission is to work with forest workers whose productivity has been impacted by chronic illness or injury. We offer resources and information to help them remain successfully employed. The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine partner with Maine AgrAbility on outreach to loggers. Check out their video on fuel transfer pumps, some assistive technology to make it easier and safer to fuel up equipment. The video features Don Burr, PLC Safety and Training Coordinator, and an Advisory Council member for Maine AgrAbility.

 

Working with Veterans and Beginning Farmers

Maine AgrAbility created a unique nine-month education and training program called “Boots-2-Bushels (B2B)”. In its third year, B2B has provided training to over 40 veterans, their family members, and beginning farmers to help overcome various risks for running a successful farm business. This program was featured in a NewsCenter Maine story. Registration for B2B 2023 begins in November (This work was supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28588.)

 

Man in white shirt holding award plaqueBreaking New Ground Achievement Award

Dr. Dick Brzozowksi, Maine AgrAbility’s project director, was awarded AgrAbility’s Purdue Breaking New Ground Achievement Award in March of 2021. This award was given for his 11-year leadership of Maine AgrAbility and the significant contributions he has made to the lives of Maine’s farm families impacted by disabilities. On October 1, Dr. Brzozowski retired from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. His knowledge, enthusiasm, vision, and compassion will be greatly missed by the AgrAbility team.

 

 

 

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