September started out with warm weather but ended with the Keystone state feeling the full effects of Fall – including cooler temperatures and rain. Here’s hoping everyone around the country is having a safe and successful harvest season. Lights! Camera! Action! AgrAbility PA is please to share a new anthemic Read more
Master Gardeners Project staff Linda Fetzer and Abbie Spackman began working with the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program this spring to collaborate on creating accessible community garden spaces, recommend gardening assistive technology (AT), and educate on ergonomic gardening practices. This project will be an ongoing effort across the state Read more
This article appeared in Lancaster Farming on Jan. 27, 2022. View the article on lancasterfarming.com. Thanks to recent funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, or NIFA, a Pennsylvania-based program that assists farmers with disabilities will have strong funding for the next four years. AgrAbility PA, a partnership Read more
Dairy Farmer and AgrAbility PA Customer Chelsi Shultz shared her story with Farm and Dairy -- an agricultural publication that has served the rural communities of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia for more than 100 years. Shultz was diagnosed with shoulder impingement in both shoulders. “It was all of that Read more
At age 5, Garvin Schaffer knew he wanted to be a farmer. Despite health and market challenges, he has made that dream come true. Garvin Schaffer, known by his friends as Butch, grew up on Schaffer Farms and began farming at a young age alongside his father. “Farming was always Read more
Staying Busy: AgrAbility PA staff have been busier than ever and are moving full speed ahead with client assistance, project planning, educational opportunities, and outreach opportunities. Thank goodness for platforms like Zoom and Go To Meeting that have helped the staff remain engaged. Communication with farmers and ag workers has been steady and is Read more
Working with AgrAbility PA and PA’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Bob is able to work on his dairy farm despite health setbacks. About the Farm: • Located in Bedford County • 85 dairy cows with young stock • 500+ acres • Corn, alfalfa, hay, wheat, and oats About Bob: Read more
About the Farm: Located in Paxtonville, Snyder County | 55 dairy cows with young stock and 120 head of cattle The Back Story: Andrew was born on the farm – it’s always been a part of his life. His father milked cows for 25 years until Andrew bought the herd Read more
Working with AgrAbility PA and PA’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Brian has been able to succeed on his farm and continue his passion for agriculture. Brian Shepperson started farming after graduating from high school. It wasn’t long after working for someone else that Brian and his brother, William, had a Read more
The year was 1840: Martin Van Buren was president of the United States of America, Antarctica was discovered as a continent, and Philip Dean’s great-great-grandparents started a dairy farm in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. It may seem like a long time ago – it was. But Philip thinks back to that Read more