February 2023: AgrAbility PA Project Highlights

Published by agrabilitypa on February 1, 2023February 1, 2023

Here in Pennsylvania – home of the weather-predicting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil who predicted six more weeks of winter on Feb. 2 – staff made their way around the state conducting farm visits, educating organizations and groups about farming with a disability, and exhibiting at outreach events to share the services and support available through AgrAbility PA.

Staffers Abbie Spackman (project assistant) and Linda Fetzer (project manager) were featured in two Bovine Banter podcasts through the Penn State University Extension Dairy Team. AgrAbility PA was highlighted in both podcasts.

Listen here: https://extension.psu.edu/bovine-banter

The same staffer duo, Abbie and Linda, provided interactive demonstrations and educational information at the Lebanon County Crop Conference, attended by over 200 production farmers. Demonstrations included low-tech AT items and seasonal AT such as heated gloves, gripping aids, and ice cleats. Ag safety and health information, high-visibility clothing, and educational information on blind spots were also part of the team display.

Staffer Kendra Martin (outreach coordinator) had her fill of all things dairy at the 2023 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit. The two-day event offered great opportunities to talk to dairy farmers and network with vendors. Kendra was interviewed by radio and TV personality Dave Williams with American Farm Country Radio, PA Farm Country Radio, and the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. The interview aired in conjunction with AgrAbility PA’s anthemic video on Feb. 19’s Pennsylvania Country Roads show on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN).

Learn more: https://pafarmcountryradio.com/index.html

Kendra attended the Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Network Conference on Feb. 25. The event for 50 Veterans actively pursuing farming in Pennsylvania featured information from AgrAbility PA, Rodale Institute, NRCS, and USDA.

To end the month, Abbie and Linda prepared outreach bags for a safety event for Amish families in Lancaster County on February 25. The bags included AgrAbility PA information, Plain Facts about arthritis, low-tech AT handout, ag safety and health information, and PPE. Linda presented an animal safety session for the participants at the event.