AgrAbility of Wisconsin

Plowing Ahead

Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families

Farmer Receives Help After Second Injury  

Sitting around Tom Breeggemann’s kitchen table for an AgrAbility Neighbor-to-Neighbor meeting he was hosting, Tom told his neighbors that “ I never thought I had a disability till I got older and my hips and back started going out.” What’s remarkable about that statement is that Tom Breeggemann was born without arms below his elbows. His left arm extends to his elbow ending with two fingers that are joined together. His right forearm is approximately three quarters in length with three fingers and one thumb. He also has severe scoliosis. While others may have considered this a disability, Tom never has.

Tom began his farming career when he and his brother bought their father’s 200 acre farm in Minnesota in 1969, the same year he married his wife, Pat. In 1990, after selling the Minnesota farm, he bought a 480-acre farm in Wisconsin and moved his family and his dairy herd to operate his own dairy farm, Mellow-Brook Holsteins. He and his wife, Pat, have 9 children, and when she died thirteen years ago, he raised the six children still at home by himself while continuing to farm. To hear Tom talk, you’d think there was nothing to it.

Today, Tom and his second youngest son, Matt, have 80 registered Holstein . They milk 80 cows, have about 80 young stock and grow crops on 255 acres that are fed to the dairy herd for the production of quality milk. The cattle are of exceptional quality, producing above average milk for state standards.  Matt primarily does the milking and Tom handles feeding the cattle, cleaning the barns and doing most of the crop work, though he does occasional relief milking as needed. 

What brought Tom to AgrAbility? In 2001, Tom decided he needed help. Years of repetitively bending, reaching, stooping, climbing and lifting on his dairy operation, coupled with severe scoliosis, had resulted in constant pain in his hips, back and arms. Feeding his animals and cleaning the barn by hand were nearly impossible. A neighbor told him about AgrAbility of Wisconsin (AAW). Tom contacted AgrAbility and then, at AAW’s suggestion, also applied for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services. DVR contracted with AgrAbility to conduct a farm site assessment and to make recommendations that would accommodate his disability and make it easier and safer to work in agriculture. Laurie McLain, Tom’s DVR counselor, understood Tom’s needs and the adaptations to his agricultural operation that he needed to remain in his farming career. Ms. McLain was  “very respectful and understood me and my needs,” said Tom. DVR helped purchase a motorized feed cart to reduce the material handling of feed and a skid steer to reduce the physical labor of removing manure. Tom found these accommodations extremely helpful and his case was closed. Laurie McLain indicated that “I am glad that DVR was able to assist Tom in providing accommodations that allowed him to continue farming.  He has a very nice farm operation and works hard to keep it a success.”

In 2007, Tom broke his shoulder and hurt his back, which resulted in 4 ruptured vertebrae, and the pain and restricted motion returned. Despite ice packs and cortisone shots to relieve the pain, Tom found it harder and harder to even walk from the house to the barn. In the summer months, he used a golf cart for mobility but that didn’t work well during the winter snow and ice. Walking on the snow and ice was excruciatingly slow and occasionally he would fall. He could no longer pick up the 50 pound small hay bales, or even operate the feed cart because its jerky motions aggravated his back and arms. Operating his tractors to handle manure, to plant corn, cut hay, or haul grain and to till the land increased pain to his back, arms and hips. Tom decided to contact AgrAbility and DVR to see if they could help him again. Tom’s case was reopened and another farm site assessment was conducted.

The recommendations AgrAbility made for Tom to DVR included; a round baler to eliminate lifting 50 lb small bales, a new seat and air ride suspension for the tractor he uses to plant, cut and haul crops and air ride suspension for the tractors he uses hauling manure and preparing the land have minimized the bouncing and jarring to his back and hips. A new motorized feed cart would  reduce the vibrations and jerky motion from his current feed cart that caused pain in Tom’s shoulders and arms. A utility vehicle that Tom could use year round would allow him to travel safely and effectively around his farmstead was also recommended

Tom believes that the recommendations AgrAbility made and DVR purchased, will allow him to work safer and easier. In combination, he thinks that all the accommodations saved him from having a rod surgically placed in his back.

When asked to consider hosting an AgrAbility Neighbor-to-Neighbor get together, Tom readily agreed.  “I really appreciate what AgrAbility of Wisconsin did for me.” Hosting the Neighbor-to-Neighbor meeting may be a way to give back. “If I can help one other person out, I’ll be very happy.”

At 71 years, Tom is as active and engaged in his farm and his rural community as he ever was. He and his son, Matt, show their prize Holsteins at county fairs and district shows. Two years ago, Tom formed an LLC with Matt and hopes to keep working till his son is “on his feet”.  “I love my farm and my cows and want to get my boy going. Without AgrAbility I wouldn’t have been able to keep going.” 

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      SAFETY FIRST
                               Cold Hazards ....

Given the winter working conditions for many Wisconsin farmers, injuries resulting from unprotected exposure to the cold are a very real danger. Frostnip, frostbite and hypothermia are the most common cold weather injuries.

While the freezing point of skin is about 30°F, wind chill can be a significant factor in cold exposure injuries. If the temperature outside is 40°F and the wind speed is 35mph, it will feel like 11°F on skin. Frostnip, which often occurs to the cheeks, earlobes, fingers and toes, is the freezing of the top layers of skin tissue. Its affects are generally reversible. Frostbite is the actual freezing of the tissues or a body part and can destroy tissue and lead to loss of function or the need to remove the body part. The symptoms of frostbite include uncomfortable sensations of coldness, tingling, stinging, or aching feeling followed by numbness. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Severe hypothermia can lead to death. Treatments for all three conditions include the gradual re-warming of the affected area or the whole body in the case of hypothermia. To treat mild hypothermia you should re-warm your skin using warm water. Don’t rub the area because it can cause more tissue damage. Seek immediate medical attention for severe hypothermia. Also remember that skin that has been injured by cold before is more susceptible for a second injury.

 

Many conditions, medications, and diseases may interfere with you’re a person’s ability to heal or fight infection from injuries caused by cold exposure.

• Conditions that may change your mental awareness (mental illness, dementia)

• Conditions that affect body temperature regulation (stroke, head injury, Parkinson’s)

• Conditions that slow the body's ability to make heat (hypothyroidism, adrenal gland disorders)

• Immobility (spinal cord injuries, strokes)

• Medications (blood thinner, corticosteroids, anti-depressives)

• Diseases (arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis)

Common sense should prevail, despite the urgency of the work to be done. If something happens to you, who will do the work. Always protect feet, hands and face during winter months because heat is lost most quickly through extremities. Wear a hat and wear shoes or boots that protect against dampness. Dress in layers and avoid prolonged exposure to cold temperature. You can also use thermal insulating material on the handles of equipment to protect hands from touching frozen metal. When it is especially cold, take breaks to get warm and shield yourself from high winds. For more information on symptoms, treatment and protective measures to cold temperature exposure, visit WebMD at www.webmd.com