AgrAbility of Wisconsin
Plowing Ahead
Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families
Summer 2007
Volume 16 No. 1
AAW Events and Volunteers Make the Difference
A great leader once said that if we are
working together nothing is impossible. This is our belief at AgrAbility of
Wisconsin. Our program is in existence thanks to a strong partnership
between UW Extension (UWEX) and the Easter Seals FARM Program (FARM). In the
first year of the program’s existence, AAW worked with 37 farmers.
During our current grant year, which ran from April 16, 2006 to April
15, 2007, the AgrAbility of Wisconsin (AAW) program worked with 403 farmers.
Of these, 143 farmers were new AAW clients.
Being
able to reach so many farmers is impressive. This success is due in part to
the number of farmers that we work with on an annual basis. They have
invested their time in the programs implemented to help farmers the first
time they call AgrAbility. Some
of these programs include the Farmer’s Network, which consists of over
fifty former AAW clients who volunteer their time to speak to farmers
interested in AgrAbility. This allows prospective clients the opportunity to
discuss the program from the farmer’s point of view.
Participation in the Farmer’s Network is offered to every farmer
who contacts the program.
Former
and current AAW clients conversing during a 2006
Neighbor-to-Neighbor meeting at a Southwestern
Wisconsin Farm.
The
Speaker’s Bureau is another farmer-to-farmer program that promotes
AgrAbility. It consists of ten farmers who participate at the AAW booth
during various farm shows throughout the state. Through this program, local
communities and organizations are able to learn about AgrAbility from our
clients directly.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor
meetings are hosted on former clients’ farms annually.
These meetings provide an informal setting where farmers in various
stages of the AAW Program meet and talk about AgrAbility, disabilities,
farming or any other topics the farmers feel comfortable discussing with
each other.
Every
four years, Wisconsin applies for the funding that supports AgrAbility of
Wisconsin. The farmers, family members, and clients who volunteers in our
events help to strengthen our reputation and credibility, increasing our
chances at being awarded the grant. This partnership is what has made AAW
the only state AgrAbility project in the nation to be continuously funded
since 1991.
tending the AAW booth at a farm show.
Our
volunteers inspire us to continue to find ways to reach more farmers. AAW
staff is always trying to implement new ideas and events that will benefit
farmers and their families. One
such new event is the AAW Assistive Tech Awareness Day.
This will be an annual event, with the first Awareness Day being held
on July 18, 2007, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Big Kitchen in the
Marathon County Park in Wausau. All
farmers-whether they are AAW clients or not – are invited to attend this
meeting where they will learn about resources available to the agriculture
community. Farmers will have
the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from programs around
the state including the Wisconsin Farm Center, the Division of Vocation
Rehabilitation, and the Farmer’s Health Cooperative.
AAW will also present information regarding comparisons of utility
vehicles in a recent study completed by the National AgrAbility Project, as
well as photos and examples of assistive technology available to farmers.
They will also have the chance to talk with other farmers in the
community, including former and current AAW clients. AAW hopes this meeting will bring together farmers, their
friends, and other members of the community to learn more about agriculture,
AAW and other programs available in the agriculture community.
Please
feel free to attend the AAW Assistive Tech Awareness Day on July 18th,
2007 and invite your friends and family members.
Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.
If you have any questions about the AAW Assistive Tech Awareness Day,
please feel free to contact Cally Ehle at 608.262.9336.
We hope to see you in July. Together, all of us are making the
impossible possible.
ESW Recognition Dinner Honors AgrAbility of Wisconsin Volunteers and Staff
Paul
Karch, Chairman of the Easter Seals Wisconsin
Board, (left) and Mark Novotny, Personal Growth
Award winner, at the Easter Seals Recognition
Dinner.
Paul
Karch, Chairman of the Easter Seals Wisconsin
Board, (left) presents Mary Dunn, with the Outstanding
Volunteer Award.
Also receiving recognition was AgrAbility of
Wisconsin’s own Ron Schuler, for the Easter Seals Wisconsin Lifetime
Achievement Award. The AgrAbility of Wisconsin and Easter Seals FARM staff was
honored to have three outstanding
representatives of the program recognized at this
annual event.
Photos submitted
by: Brian Schuetz, ESW Director Marketing Communications
Partners...
My
name is Lonnie Holthaus. I have been involved with AgrAbility of Wisconsin
(AAW) and Easter Seals FARM Program (FARM) for about 4 years Easter Seals
helped me during a bad time in my life when I wanted to continue to work
but did not think I was able too.
AAW and ESW’s assistance showed me that I could again support my
family and myself. Most people working in agriculture are independent and
proud, they want to work and accomplish their tasks their own way on their
own. However age, accidents and unforeseen events sometimes restrict our
independence and livelihood. FARM is not a charity organization; their job
is to get people like me back to work, which was the same goal I had. In
my eyes it is a win-win for me.
I have since been asked to serve on the newly formed AAW Focus Group. This group consists of farmers that have been helped by AAW and FARM. This group along with AAW and FARM support staff brainstorm ways to improve and get the word out on this awesome organization. They really do want to help and they are very easy to work with and talk too. They know our business and have seen it all. If you are having problem with some of your tasks on the farm you owe it to yourself and your family to look into what Easter Seals has to offer.
I have been asked to share a few words with you regarding the Assisitive Tech Awareness Day coming soon in Wausau, Wisconsin. This is a gathering of valuable information and resources available to you that typically are not available in one place. This gathering will allow you to meet with other farmers that have been through the program as well as representatives form the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Wisconsin Farm Center, UW Extension County Agents and numerous other organizations. You need to mark your calendar and remind yourself and your neighbor to make this gathering. If you or someone you know would like more information about the services AAW and FARM supplies this would be a great place to also visit with them.Lonnie
Holthaus
Former AAW Client and Focus Group Member
AgrAbility of Wisconsin Summer Schedule
AgrAbility of Wisconsin has several events and shows scheduled throughout the summer. Below is a list of the upcoming farm shows for 2007. If you plan to attend a show or event, please feel free to stop by and say hello. These events are a great opportunity to pick up literature for friends or family members that may be interested in AgrAbility or to bring an interested farmer along to speak with a staff member in person. If you have any questions regarding the events, please feel free to contact Cally Ehle at 608.262.9336 or aaw@mailplus.wisc.edu. Additional shows and events will become known and will be updated on the AgrAbility of Wisconsin website at www.bse.wisc.edu/agrability. We hope to see you this summer!
- Assistive Technology Demonstration & Resource Fair, WITC Conference Center, Superior, WI June 19, 2007 9:30am – 4:30pm
- AAW Assistive Tech Awareness Day, The Big Kitchen at Marathon Cty Park, Wausau, WI July 18, 2007 1 – 5pm
- Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, Albany, WI September 18-20, 2007
Tilmicosin phosphate, known by the
name Micotil 300®,
is an animal antibiotic developed to treat “shipping fever,” a bovine and
ovine respiratory disease. This
antibiotic is commonly prescribed by veterinarians to many farms throughout
the United States, however what many may not be aware of is the dangers of
exposure to this drug. The
company that developed the drug, Elanco, received 13 confirmed human
fatalities worldwide since 1995 due to exposure to Micotil 300®.
By following a few simple steps, you can avoid potential exposure to
Micotil 300®:
SAFETY
FIRST
Antibiotic Handling
Safety....
Information by: National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health