Progress 07/30/24 to 07/29/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The primary audience for assistance is farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and other agricultural workers impacted by disabilities, including veterans. Education about the program is also provided to persons working in both the private and public sector of the agricultural industry to improve awareness and access to the program. Changes/Problems:There are no major changes/problems in approach. Challenges Due to the success of the program, staff have had many client requests for assistive technology consultations in a geographically large state. Mr. Stoller's expertise is in high demand, and he has both time and geographic constraints. As such, Ms. Berens and Ms. Wolfe completed initial intakes and site assessments and then worked with Mr. Stoller towards appropriate solutions. Additionally, the Michigan AgrAbility team has also begun to explore the feasibility of working with subcontracted occupational therapists to conduct even more initial site evaluations before Mr. Stoller's first farm visit, helping reduce and streamline his workload to more specific engineering and assistive technology-related content. Ms. Matlock's training and certificate are a step towards implementing this streamlined approach to client intake. An ongoing challenge for many projects is ensuring consistency and building trust and reliability with the agricultural community. The Michigan AgrAbility team of four is small but mighty and does its best to maintain a presence at the largest agricultural events across the state. Sometimes this becomes cost-prohibitive or there are geographic or time constraints, but in the past year staff have greatly expanded outreach efforts, particularly with the work of the new Extension Educator, Ms. Wolfe. Due to changes within the Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) organization, the team has not done as much with them as had been planned. The MIFFS Family Farms Conference and Vets in Ag network monthly resource webinars were paused or canceled due to funding. Vets in Ag, (previously affiliated with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and now a program of MIFFS), is working on a summer conference in July, which Michigan AgrAbility is helping coordinate. Staff continue to maintain a good relationship with MIFFS leadership. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?To support ag service providers, Mr. Stoller presented at an Upper Peninsula Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) Counselor webinar via Zoom and the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive Technology Society (RESNA) annual conference in Chicago, IL. He presented during the Regional Training Workshop (RTW) in Guam and worked with several farmers while visiting the island, and at the AgrAbility National Training Workshop (NTW) in Las Cruces, NM, on topics including the Outdoor Assistive Technologies (AT) demo, worksite assessment training, farm shop design, and smart phone apps for low vision. Two farmer clients and one caregiver from Michigan also attended the NTW on sponsorship from The Andersons, Inc., and the National AgrAbility Project. The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) invited Extension Educator Samantha Wolfe to present at their annual symposium in Mt. Pleasant, MI, in April. More than 50 people, including administrators and healthcare workers from rural health centers, insurance companies, and medical students attended the session and all received brochures. She also presented twice via Zoom for the SW MI Migrant Resource Council (20 people), first for council members and later during their annual symposium of about 50 participants. In July 2024, Michigan AgrAbility partnered with the National AgrAbility Project, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) to host a Regional Training Workshop (RTW) on Assistive Technology in Agriculture in Ann Arbor, MI. This two-and-a-half-day event featured sessions on topics including chronic and progressive disabilities, appropriate terminology when referring to people with disabilities, assistive tools and technology, caregiver involvement, and more - all framed within a farming context. Mr. Stoller, occupational therapists from Davenport University and Easterseals MORC, and a RESNA board member and University of Michigan Senior Rehabilitation Engineer and ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) provided instructional sessions. Attendees participated in an on-site farm assessment and enjoyed dinner at the farm with AgrAbility clients from nearby Saline. The workshop drew 44 participants from 11 states - including Washington, Idaho, and Maine - as well as from Saipan. RESNA offered up to 10 ATP continuing education units (CEUs) for those attending. The National AgrAbility Project also captured footage from the event to develop an online training resource that would provide a certificate of completion for farm AT assessors. Michigan's AgrAbility staff (Ms. Berens, Ms. Garza, and Ms. Wolfe) all attended the in-person workshop and have since conducted on-farm evaluations and provided recommendations to Mr. Stoller as part of their training. Mr. Stoller and Ms. Wolfe served as mentors for Concordia University (Ann Arbor, MI) Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) candidate Sarah Matlock from January to April 2025. Ms. Matlock attended several farm calls with Mr. Stoller, completed 24 outreach surveys in Livingston County, and created and posted an AgrAbility flyer at ag businesses and community hubs to improve program awareness in Central Michigan. She provided excellent recommendations for a young dairy farmer with a traumatic brain injury at the end of the semester and completed the online training content from the RTW and was the first person to formally receive a certificate of completion. In June 2025, the team hosted an AgrAbility Farm Visit and Field Day with client Mr. Doug VerHoeven, on his corn and soy farm in Holland, MI. Thirty-six people attended, including occupational therapists and staff from Michigan Rehabilitation Services, four representatives from Michigan Center for Rural Health, the Kent County Farm Bureau coordinator, field staff from Representative Huizenga's office, several Extension educators, and two families with sons who aspire to farm using a wheelchair - individuals who consider Mr. VerHoeven a role model and mentor. Of those who responded to evaluation, 100% said their knowledge in operator health and well-being increased, with 73% reporting a "moderate" or "great deal" of improvement, and 27% reporting only "slightly". How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Public Outreach Michigan AgrAbility maintains a website (http://www.michiganagrability.org/)Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAgrAbility); and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAvhxXy6BHvsl5KSLVZNQ). Throughout 2024, the website received 1,896 visits (1,672 of these unique) and 59 clicks on the Donation button; from January 1 to date,there have been 766 website visits. Staff posted five new blogs to the website in the latter half of 2024 and six to date in 2025, received 28 inquiries from the Contact form, and 25 new email subscribers. Throughout the year, Ms. Wolfe also received two inquiries via phone and four via email. The team also revised, updated, and printed more informational brochures and flyers promoting arthritis screening programs. Michigan AgrAbility has 2,100 Likes and 2,250 Followers on Facebook, which reached 4,357 people from July 2024 to date in 2025. The YouTube channel has 75 videos with 5,465 views since July 2024. A paper Year in Review was mailed to 1,743 individuals in early spring 2025. The Michigan AgrAbility tag under the Easterseals MORC MailChimp account has 249 subscribers who received six emails to this audience between during the project year. Topics included: farm stress, AGR's annual hog roast, Giving Tuesday, the fall capstone project, a thank-you to AGR, and a reminder about a 5k fundraiser to be hosted at a local senator's farm. Michigan AgrAbility also leveraged shared marketing and promotion of AgrAbility content, which appeared in MI Ag Ideas to Grow With (a large webinar conference with 1,000 attendees, hosted by MSU that takes place over multiple weeks), MI Pork Quarterly magazine, MCRH's Strength of Rural series, and other publications. Ms. Wolfe worked with MSU Extension communicators to incorporate AgrAbility content into 20 different statewide agriculture monthly News Digests with a total of 153,297 subscribers, the "Inside MSU" internal newsletter, and other modes of digital outreach. AgrAbility content has also appeared on Easterseals MORC's blog and MI Ag Today through a paid advertisement campaign that featured three clients and shared their stories in both written and podcast formats. Michigan AgrAbility contacts farmers injured in agricultural work that are seen at a Michigan hospital for their injury. The program sends information on Michigan AgrAbility directly to these patients. The Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) sent four letters throughout the year, targeted towards injured individuals on a case-by-case basis. Michigan AgrAbility engaged with five occupational therapists who have directly expressed an interest in providing initial site evaluations for AgrAbility, to serve more clients across the state and maximize the use of Mr. Stoller's time. As staff works through the logistics of signing them on as contractors, we are maintaining contact and providing updates as they become available. Ms. Wolfe distributed bundles of 10 or more AgrAbility brochures to various Extension staff to place at their offices including: Berrien, Cass, Clinton, Charlevoix, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Macomb, Mason, Mecosta, Oakland, Oceana, Sanilac, and St. Joe Counties, as well as the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center, Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, and Tollgate Farm. A few educators (equine, dairy, beekeeping and pollinators) took additional brochures to include during tabling at their events. Ms. Wolfe spoke with two staff members and distributed AgrAbility flyers and brochures to the Region 7 Healthcare Coalition that serves 17 rural counties in northern lower Michigan. Michigan AgrAbility made 21 presentations and had nine display booths from July 2024 to mid-June 2025. There were about 2,050 total attendees at events from January to date in 2025, and 5,500 in the second half of 2024, 7,550 in total. The team presented directly or talked with 300 farmers and their familes during these events. Theytabled at the annual AgroExpo, St. Johns, Michigan (MI), Farm Bureau Upper Peninsula Farm Safety Summit and Ag for Tomorrow Conference, Escanaba; MI Farm Bureau State Annual Meeting and Great Lakes Fruit & Vegetable Growers Expo, Grand Rapids; an Ottawa County resilient farming event; Alpha Gamma Rho Annual Beef Preview, MI Pork Symposium, and Beef Expo, East Lansing. Mr. Ned Stoller provided presentations to farmers and agricultural communities at the Upper Peninsula Farm Safety Summit in Escanaba, Frank's Crop Watch in Hemlock, and Southwest MI Horticultural Days in Benton Harbor. Agricultural and Occupational Health Extension Educator, Ms. Samantha Wolfe, presented both a round table session and a farm walk at the Northern Michigan Small Farms Conference in Benzonia, the Farm Women's Symposium in Lansing, the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With online conference, a Southeast MI grower spring meeting in Novi, a community college horticulture class in Kalamazoo, and at a middle school career day in Traverse City. At the December 2024, Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Growers Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan AgrAbility sponsored a Caregiver session presented by Mr. Stoller and Ms. Bev Berens, staffed a table displaying many Assistive Technology solutions, including the just-completed self-propelled rolling kneeler cart built by MSU mechanical engineering students, demonstrated exoskeletons, and talked with workers during Worker Protection Standards training. MI AgrAbility shares part of their space at the booth with Davenport University occupational therapy college students who offer arthritis screening during the event. Approximately 30 students typically provide this service, with 80-100 farmers participating during the two-day event. The Michigan AgrAbility team summarizes and reports educational outreach evaluation data each year during its annual meeting. The team also shares this information in an annual AgrAbility updates article published by MSU Extension and cross-posted on the Michigan AgrAbility blog. In January, Ms. Wolfe provided a 15-minute AgrAbility presentation during an MSU Extension Agricultureand Agribusiness Institute all-staff meeting. There were nearly 50 people on the call and the recording has been viewed 13 times. On June 28, 2025 Michigan state Senator Kevin Daley hosted a 5K memorial fundraiser event at his farm in the "Thumb" of Michigan with over 100 runners, with this year's proceeds donated to MI AgrAbility to help fund assistive technologies for farmers that cannot be purchased using MRS or USDA funding. Ms. Berens and Dr. Bates spoke at the start of the event. Also on that morning, Ms. Garza hosted an outreach table for incoming seasonal workers in southwest Michigan. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Throughout the year, the MI AgrAbility team (Mr. Stoller, Ms. Berens and Ms. Wolfe) will meet weekly to discuss client cases and will also meet quarterly with leadership to provide updates and work towards strategic goals. Mr. Stoller will regularly refer clients to MRS to purchase AT and for other services. Ms. Wolfe will collect demographic information, case closing evaluation data for new clients, annual surveys for returning clients, and will continue to distribute Quality of Life surveys to new clients. Ms. Wolfe will submit monthly reports to the NAP for e-Note distribution and will keep running lists of donations, sponsorships, and other metrics to include in annual reporting to NAP and USDA NIFA. OEM will continue to compile agricultural and occupational injury and death metrics and create hazard reports, curriculum, bulletins, and safety alerts, and send letters to potential AgrAbility clients injured in agricultural settings and will contact farmers injured in agricultural work to share information about AgrAbility. Throughout the year, Ms. Wolfe and the team will provide educational presentations and outreach to and connect with farmers and ag service providers and collect contact information for potential clients. She will also continue to solicit feedback on the content of these presentations, as well as desired future educational opportunities as suggested by the target audience. Much of this content will also appear online on social media and through Extension publications, as well as various other media channels that may pick up particular stories, with the goal of expanding the AgrAbility audience to farmers of all ages working in different commodities and geographic areas. Michigan AgrAbility staff will work with project partners to promote services and materials and will continue to steward good media relations. This will all conclude with a presentation at the annual meeting, which will bring together partners from OEM, MCRH, MRS, Farm Bureau, and others, as well as farmer clients. The team has a wide array of plans for the first quarter (July-September). In July, the team will meet with the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, a residential incubator farm property, to provide their residents and clientele more information about AgrAbility's technical assistance and education. Michigan AgrAbilitywill provide support for the inaugural Vets in Ag conference in Shipshewana, IN. Ms. Garza will attend a Family Fitness night with Aetna in Coloma, MI, and a resource fair to provide education and arthritis screenings. In August, Ms. Wolfe will present at the Northern Michigan Small Farms Conference in Leelanau County, provide AgrAbility outreach materials at the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba, and staff a table at the Dirt to Glass grape grower and winemaker's conference in Traverse City. At the beginning of the semester, Mr. Stoller will begin working with an engineering Capstone team to develop an assistive technology for an AgrAbility client, and onSeptember 5, he plans to present to 500-1000 veterans, VA staff, and beekeeping educators at the National Virtual Veterans Beekeeping Conference. During the second quarter (October-December),in October, Ms. Wolfe will provide an AgrAbility presentation with first responders and other participants at the Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock (ERAIL) program in Lansing. ERAIL is a nationally recognized safety training program for responders in agricultural transport emergencies. In December, the team will staff an exhibitor booth and provide a presentation at the Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Grower's Expo in Grand Rapids, the largest fruit and vegetable trade show in the Midwest, with an estimated 4,000 attendees. At semester's end in December, the MSU Mechanical Engineering 481 Capstone Design Day will culminate with the presentation of the prototype, which will then be presented to the intended client. Finally, the Michigan AgrAbility annual meeting also takes place in December and brings together the leadership team, partners such as Farm Bureau and Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and farm clients. For the educational season, during the third quarter of the grant year (January through March), Ms. Wolfe is planning to give AgrAbility program presentations during the Great Lakes Crop Summit (Mt. Pleasant), MIFFS Small Farms Conference (Kalamazoo) and Michigan Manure Haulers Summit (location TBD). The team also plans on tabling at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (Mt. Pleasant), MI Pork Expo (Grand Rapids), MI Beef Expo (Lansing), Franks Crop Watch (Hemlock), the NW MI Orchard and Vineyard Show (Traverse City), Michigan Beekeepers Association (location TBD), MI Cattlemen's Association Round-Up (Sault Ste. Marie), Cultivating Resilience Conference (Zeeland), MSU Extension events (statewide), and Vets in Ag meetings (Zoom). Ms. Wolfe is working with the with the Michigan Corn Growers Association to make an AgrAbility program presentation at an upcoming board meeting. She also plans to develop tailored articles for each industry audience. Michigan Farm Bureau is interested infeaturing an assistive technology session at its 2026 Young Farmers Conference, which typically takes place in early spring. The team will also continue to post articles through Extension, partner organizations, commodity groups, rural newspapers, blogs and social media. At the end of the quarter, Michigan AgrAbility plans to host the 2026 National Training Workshop in Traverse City. In the fourth quarter (April-July), Mr. Stoller and Ms. Wolfe anticipate workinganother capstone project with a Concordia University OTD student in spring 2026. Ms. Wolfe will continue to providemonthly Extension/AgrAbility check-ins with other SRAP staff and has joined a cohort of colleagues in Michigan who work with new and beginning farmers to provide information about the AgrAbility program to this audience of agricultural service providers. Ms. Berens will continue to send information and content to e-news subscribers, and Ms. Berens and Ms. Wolfe will continue providing content to various media channels, working with clients, and maintaining a presence at events. Heroes to Hives is planning to host an assistive technology in beekeeping demonstration event in Newberry, MI in June 2026. By the end of project year, the team will reach 150 clients during at least 60 on-farm evaluations. Client demographic data will be maintained and submitted to the NAP alongside other metrics in June/July 2026. Ms. Wolfe will provide evaluation data to the leadership team during the annual meeting, and compile other data such as demographics, in-kind donations and sponsorships, economic value of services, for annual reporting. Ms. Wolfe will distribute updated and timely content, such as OEM's hazard and injury reports, to MDHHS and other healthcare partners. Throughout the year, she will also contribute to news stories for the public about Michigan AgrAbility and the contributions of its partners.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Michigan AgrAbility staff, including Mr. Ned Stoller, ATP; Ms. Andrea Garza, COTA; Ms. Beverly Berens; and Ms. Samantha Wolfe, M.A., worked with a total of 164 clients with disabilities. They provided site assessments and learned about individual client operations, pain points, challenges, and needs. 54% of these clients were new and 46% returned from previous years, as recent as 2023 and from as long ago as 2012. For this project year Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) opened 22 cases, with 22 cases also currently open, and 18 cases closed as "exit-employed" since last July. MRS provides financial data based on their fiscal year, so from October 2023 to September 2024, they spent $382,256 on 82 items for farm rehabilitation client cases, and from October 2024 to date, they have authorized $331,684 for 61 accommodations. Improvements included quick-attach implements for farm tractors; lifts added to tractors, combines and other large equipment; cattle feeding and management systems; and more. Throughout the year, these assistive technologies enabled farm clients to continue their livelihood, creating a positive rippling impact on the individuals, their families, communities, markets, and more broadly through the continued production and contribution to Michigan agriculture. In 2024, staff began tracking metrics on items donated back to the program; there were approximately nine items that were donated directly to the program (several from the family of a deceased client, a few from people no longer using them) or others who had heard about AgrAbility since losing a loved one - and in two cases, the donors began working with Mr. Stoller as new AgrAbility clients. The donated items include multiple electric wheelchairs, scooters, a broken track chair that was repaired by the recipient, electric pruners, a UTV-mounted crane, and steps for a skid loader. Estimated values for each item suggest that $29,175 worth of items were donated back to the program from January, 2024 through the end of the project year. Additionally, Easterseals MORC approved use of donor dollars totaling $9,500 to purchase 12 low-tech and lower-cost Assistive Technologies (AT) for clients, ranging from hand control levers to an air ride seat. These funds are from the MSU Tau chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity's donations from their Annual Beef Preview, which amounted to $23,000 in 2025. Hand control levers enabled a farmer who was paralyzed in 2022 to begin farming again, while an air ride seat alleviated back pain from bumping and bouncing for another farmer during the many hours he spends in the fields. A few other items paid in part included mobility devices: an electric scooter allows farmers with mobility impairments or fatigue to cover more ground and keep working through the day. Even these seemingly minor improvements to equipment enable farmers to continue working. Funds donated to Michigan AgrAbility are used to cover the costs of AT items needed by disabled farmers that are not covered within the AgrAbility grant, nor Michigan Rehabilitation Services. This allows the program to provide crucial support to farmers that they may not be able to afford on their own.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. From barn to breathing: Protecting human health in pork production. Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Hailey TenHarmsel, MS Laurel Harduar Morano, PhD, MPH Kenneth Rosenman, MD. 2025. Work-Related Non-Fatal Farm Injuries in Michigan: Fourth Report (January 2022  December 2023). Michigan State University, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Hailey TenHarmsel, MS Laurel Harduar Morano, PhD, MPH Kenneth Rosenman, MD. 2025.Tracking Non-Fatal Work-Related Farm Injuries in Michigan. Michigan State University, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: MSU Extension launched Canr.msu.edu/agrability in 2024. The page currently contains 16 articles and three publications.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. Reflections on the 2025 NTW in Las Cruces. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Garza, Andrea. 2025. T�cnicas de levantamiento adecuadas o Proper Lifting Techniques. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Berens, Bev. Michigan AgrAbilityFarm Countrys Hidden Gem Spotlight. Strength of Rural, Michigan Center for Rural Health Newsletter.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2024. Bee Environment Elevation System (BEES) Building Instructions. Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. Explore adaptive farming in action: Visit an AgrAbility client's farm in Allegan County. Michigan State University Extension News article.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2024. Regional Training Workshop Reflections. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2024. Swarm Trap Lifter Design Plans. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2024. Guam Regional Workshop Training Reflections Fall 2024. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Berens, Bev. 2025. Meet Cade! Michigan AgrAbility Helps Young Adult Continue His Passion for Farming. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Berens, Bev. 2025. AGR Beef Preview proceeds benefit AgrAbility. Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rice, Remington and Samantha Wolfe. 2024. The Deadly Mix of Substance Use and Farm Machinery. Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. Your voice matters: How farmers can shape the future of AgrAbility. Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. Rolling Kneeler Cart Design Plans. Michigan State University Extension News article, Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. AgrAbility mechanized rolling kneeler cart helps small farms tend low crops. Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Wolfe, Samantha. 2025. Michigan AgrAbility 2024 updates Michigan State University Extension News article, Michigan AgrAbility Project Blog.

Progress 07/30/23 to 07/29/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and other agricultural workers impacted by disabilities. Farm family members, caregivers, and others impacted by disabilities. Professionals serving the aforementioned audiences. Special subcategories include Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers, veterans with disabilities interested in agriculture, and Plain Clothes communities. Changes/Problems:Several of Michigan AgrAbility's partners have undergone significant changes over the past year. From leadership changes at the state level in Farm Bureau to a complete restructuring of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, now Veterans in Agriculture Network housed within MIFFS, opportunities to connect with these organizations have been limited. Given these challenges, Michigan AgrAbility has remained resilient and found other opportunities to connect with local Farm Bureau groups, particularly in Kent County and Northwest Lower Michigan, and started to build other partnerships with other organizations filling similar roles. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Ned Stoller presented "What Tools are in your AgrAbility Truck?" in November as part of the ongoing virtual session follow-up from the National Training Workshop. Mr. Stoller also participated in the 2024 National Training Workshop in Atlanta in March 2024. He helped present five sessions on assistive technologies including Worksite Assessment, Secondary injury, and AT Selection; Accessible Beekeeping: Improving Quality of Life Through Therapy and Assistive Technology; Assistive Technology for Hitching Equipment; Creating Reliable Plans for DIY Assistive Technology; and SRAP Panel Discussion on Taking the RESNA AT Fundamentals Course. Extension Educator Samantha Wolfe went to the NTW as an attendee and attended new NAP staff training as well as a farm tour to an indoor mushroom farm operation, a Dirt Dog manufacturing facility, and a small farm belonging to an AgrAbility client with sheep and other livestock. A Michigan farmer client and his caregiver also attended the NTW as clients of AgrAbility with support from The Andersons INC. They also attended the farm tours with Ms. Wolfe. In July 2024, the Michigan AgrAbility team, in collaboration with the National AgrAbility Project, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, and RESNA (the Rehab Engineering Society of North America) coordinated an Assistive Technology in Agriculture Regional Training Workshop opportunity in Ann Arbor. The two-and-a-half-day workshop consisted of content about chronic and progressive conditions that lead to disability, disability language, assistive technology, caregiver buy-in, and more, all in an agricultural context. The event included a farm visit assessment and dinner on the farm of a client local to the area. Forty-four attendees traveled from eleven states, including Washington, Idaho, Maine, and others, as well as Saipan. Participants were able to earn up to 10 ATP CEUs from RESNA for their participation in the event, which the National program recorded to edit and include as an online video resource for new AgrAbility staff. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Public Outreach Michigan AgrAbility has a website (http://www.michiganagrability.org/), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAgrAbility/), and videos on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAvhxXy6BHvsl5KSLVZNQ). The website received 6,177 views throughout 2023, and from January 1 to June 11, 2024, received an additional 2,950 views. Staff also posted three new blogs to the website, received 25 inquiries from the Contact form, and 25 new email subscribers. Michigan AgrAbility has 2,100 Likes and 2,245 Followers on Facebook (40% male, 60% female), which has reached 13,900 people to date in 2024 and reached 14,800 people in 2023. Through the 2023 Virtual State Fair, three posts reached a total of 3,610 people. The YouTube channel has 285 subscribers with 75 videos and one short, making for more than 112,600 views in total. Staff posted one video last year. It received 25 new views. The Michigan AgrAbility News year-end mailing was delivered to 1,698 recipients across the state. Presentations/Display Booths Michigan AgrAbility conducted two presentations, had six display booths, and other outreach events between July 2023 and June 2024. Mr. Stoller attended the HiveLife Conference in Sevierville TN, and Ms. Berens attended Frank's Crop Watch in Merrill, the Pork Symposium in Lansing, and Michigan Sheep Producers Association's Shepherd's Weekend in Lansing. AgrAbility sponsored a session and had a table at Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo in Grand Rapids. Extension Educator Samantha Wolfe presented at the Great Lakes Crop Summit in Mt. Pleasant. The Michigan AgrAbility Project hosted display booths at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Mt. Pleasant, MIFFS Small Farms Conference in Kalamazoo, Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District Career Tech Center career fair, Outreach Worker Training at the Ottawa County Health Department in Holland, and a health outreach event at Campo Manzana in Conklin, with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The team is also working on revitalizing print materials in both Spanish and English. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Future plans by summary of activity by objective, year of grant and description of activity are outlined below: • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Reach 150 clients per year (new and returning). • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Conduct 60 on-farm site evaluations each year. • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (3rd quarter) Work with engineering students on Capstone projects for development of assistive technologies. • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Monthly meetings to discuss AgrAbility client cases. • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Referral of clients to MRS for purchasing assistive technology, additional services, set-up or training on devices or equipment. • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Collect case closing evaluation data (new clients), annual client survey (returning clients), collect pre- and post- Quality of Life Survey and demographics from new clients. • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Monthly activity summarized and provided to NAP. • Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Monthly injury summary, annual injury and occupational death reports, other reports produced. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Presentations and displays made on-farm, with large groups such as at industry trade shows, and via virtual outreach with a registration process to collect client contact information and to gain referrals to Michigan AgrAbility. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Collect evaluation feedback of presentations made by Michigan AgrAbility at events from participants to appraise efficacy. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Educational outreach evaluation data is summarized and reported annually to Michigan AgrAbility team and partners. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Michigan AgrAbility contacts farmers injured in agriculture work who are seen at a Michigan hospital to send them information on Michigan AgrAbility. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Collect client contact information at education events. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Produce animal injury reports and Hazard Alerts; Create new curriculum/educational materials to teach industry how to reduce incidences of injury or death. • Education, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Michigan AgrAbility contacts MDHHS with updated changes to materials to County Health Departments. • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Meet quarterly and annually as project team • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Annual meeting with Michigan AgrAbility partners including input from a farmer panel of past clients. • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Partners promote Michigan AgrAbility services and materials through shared marketing and promotion. • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Media relations • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Document in-kind donations and sponsorships to Michigan AgrAbility; produce annual reports to partners, NAP, USDA NIFA. • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Write and distribute news stories for the public about the contributions of Michigan AgrAbility partners. • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Measure economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its clients (donations, return on investment, public value) • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Discuss partnership network at quarterly meetings to identify limitations and/or opportunities in achieving greater inclusion of diverse farmers. • Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (2nd quarter) Attend annual AgrAbility National Training meeting. • Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Provide content for websites and social media accounts. • Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (2nd quarter) Michigan AgrAbility News (4 times a year). • Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (1st and 3rd quarter) Michigan AgrAbility e-newsletter (8 times a year). • Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Incorporate Michigan AgrAbility website and social media content into MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and MSU Extension websites. In addition the Michigan AgrAbility project team will complete an strategic planning exercise with AgrAbility partners to help set the course for the future of the AgrAbility program in Michigan.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Mr. Stoller and Ms. Garza assisted 212 farm clients with disabilities; 112 of these were new. They closed 11 cases. Mr. Stoller conducted 89 farm site evaluation visits and Ms. Garza trained 65 migrant workers. Staff referred 17 farmers to Michigan Rehabilitative Services (MRS) and Independent Living Center. MRS or Easterseals MORC provided or donated assistive technology to 47 farmers. Staff responded to about 48 calls on the Michigan AgrAbility toll-free line. In addition, there were about 36 new inquiries directly to Mr. Stoller on his cell phone or to Ms. Berens or Ms. Garza through email or the Facebook messenger, and three inquiries to Extension Educator Samantha Wolfe via email and phone. Ms. Andrea Garza, a certified occupational therapy assistant with Michigan AgrAbility, completed 65 joint pain and arthritis assessments with Hispanic migrant and seasonal workers between June 2023 and June 2024. The assessments consisted of checking the range of motion of joints of each worker, educating them on arthritis, ergonomics, hot/cold therapy, and appropriate exercises and stretches for each person's context. She also provided workers with a folder that included written information, in Spanish, that complements their conversations and provided them with a piece of low-tech assistive technology. She followed up with everyone via phone and conducted a more in-depth evaluation whenever further assistance was necessary. Also, Ms. Garza provided an on-site health fair at a farmworker camp in West Michigan's fruit ridge where Ms. Garza conducted 11 evaluations. Michigan AgrAbility has solicited statewide and local funding sources to assist impaired farmers. Michigan State University Alpha Gamma Rho, Rau chapter, donated $37,300, through their annual Beef Preview, which is the largest philanthropic event in MSU's Greek life, and is the largest individual financial supporter of AgrAbility within the state. Michigan AgrAbility also received $7,500 from the Potgeter Family Fund, $3,000 from The Andersons Foundation, $500 from Kent County Farm Bureau, and other/miscellaneous donation and memorials in the amount of $1,515 through Easterseals MORC. Michigan Rehabilitation Services provided assistive technologies in the amount of $392,056 in 2023, and $285,000 to date in 2024.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Developing Accessible Apiaries, June 2023
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Farming Made Accessible with Michigan AgrAbility, EastersealsMorc Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Meet Kevin Klink EastersealsMorc Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Continuing a Family Legacy for the Future EastersealsMorc Blog
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: AgrAbility program aids aging, disabled farmers in Benzie, Manistee counties, Benzie County Record Patriot Manistee News Advocate
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Time to Evaluate Processes, Traverse City Record Eagle
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: MSU Extension hires agricultural and occupational health educator Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Michigan AgrAbility 2023 Updates Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Promoting health and productivity through ergonomic practices for farming and gardening, Michigan State University Extension News article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Michigan AgrAbility to host regional workshop, Michigan State University News Article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: AgrAbility mechanical engineering capstone project designs portable swarm trap lifter for veteran beekeeper, Michigan State University Extension News Article
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: The Michigan AgrAbility tag under the Easterseals MORC MailChimp account has 245 subscribers and sent nine emails to this audience between July 2023 and June 2024.

Progress 07/30/22 to 07/29/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and other agricultural workers impacted by disabilities. Farm family members, caregivers, and other impacted by disabilities. Professionals serving the aforementioned audiences. Special subcategories include Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers and veterans with disabilities interested in agriculture. Changes/Problems:An important component to the project is hiring an Extension Educator to develop more broad-based education and marketing of the AgrAbility program and to provide further support for on-farm technical assistance. The recruitment for this position has been on-going for nearly 10 months. The search for this position has been stymied due to difficulties in securing qualified pools of candidates to interview. The marketing for this position has had to be re-opened three times and extensive marketing and recruiting efforts have occurred to secure an applicant pool of qualified candidates. A more qualified pool of candidates has been secured and interviews are underway with final interviews occurring in July, 2023. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Ned Stoller, Michigan AgrAbility ATP, participated in the 2023 AgrAbility Virtual Training Workshop (VNTW) in Spokane, WA in March 2023. Mr. Stoller did presentations on Assistive Technology Lessons from Ethiopia, What Items to Carry Along to Farmsite Assessments, Accessible Apiaries, and How to Conduct an Ag AT Worksite Assessment and attended the PI Meeting with USDA. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Public Outreach Michigan AgrAbility has a website (http://www.michiganagrability.org/), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAgrAbility/), a Pinterest account (https://www.pinterest.com/MichAgrAbility/) and videos on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAvhxXy6BHvsl5KSLVZNQ). Michigan AgrAbility has 1,644 Facebook likes and 188 following; 18 boards/categories, 1,455 pins, 143 followers on Pinterest and 110,340 views on YouTube for 74 videos; with six new videos this year with 857 views. There was an end of the year emailing to 1,742 recipients: Michigan AgrAbility News. Michigan FarmNews The Michigan Farm News is published 20 times per year and mailed to the 48,000 active farmers who are members of Michigan Farm Bureau and 2,000 agricultural related organizations. An electronic version is posted as well to 15,000 users. The Michigan Farm News has committed to continuing this valuable in-kind support. Presentations/Display Booths Michigan AgrAbility made 10 presentations, had nine display booths and attended 18 conferences/trade shows/meetings: UP State Fair, Kent County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Farm Bureau State Annual Meeting, Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Grower's Expo, Beef Preview Show, Michigan Beekeepers Association Conference, National AgrAbility Training Workshop, Jiffy Mix Meeting, Heroes to Hives Training Session, HiveLife Conference, Ag-Jobs-For-All Job Fair at Michigan Works, Frank's Crop Watch, Michigan Shepherd Weekend, Fort Wayne Farm Show, FVC Annual Meeting, Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, Michigan Pork Symposium, Farmer Resource Meeting, and Ag Expo Safety Day. There were 15,014 attendees and a total of 967 brochures and 119 business cards were distributed. News Media about Michigan AgrAbility Public Relations Material submitted to Bradley Rein and Victoria Finkenstadt, USDA: 1) 2022 AgrAbility Year In Review Newsletter; 2) MSU's AGR donates $15,000 to AgrAbility (Michigan Farm News, 5/3/2023). E-Notes submitted to Charles Baldwin (National AgrAbility Program (NAP) E-Note Coordinator, Purdue University): Eight Michigan E-Notes: September 2022, October 2022, November 2022, December 2022, February 2023, March 2023, April 2023, and May 2023. Email Listing Michigan AgrAbility maintained and expanded an email list of all Michigan Farm businesses, cooperatives, MSU extension specialists, and commodity organizations. There are 1,688 entities on the list. Beginning Farmers Michigan AgrAbility worked with the Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS). People with disabilities who are interested in farming were referred to MIFFS for guidance on starting a farm business. Veterans were also referred to MIFFS as they also have a program to serve veterans working in agriculture.? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Future plans by summary of activity by objective, year of grant and description of activity are outlined below: Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Reach 150 clients per year (new and returning). Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Conduct 60 on-farm site evaluations each year. Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (3rd quarter) Work with engineering students on Capstone projects for development of assistive technologies. Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Monthly meetings to discuss AgrAbility client cases. Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Referral of clients to MRS for purchasing assistive technology, additional services, set-up or training on devices or equipment. Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Collect case closing evaluation data (new clients), annual client survey (returning clients), collect pre- and post- Quality of Life Survey and demographics from new clients. Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Monthly activity summarized and provided to NAP. Direct Assistance, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Monthly injury summary, annual injury and occupational death reports, other reports produced. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Presentations and displays made on-farm, with large groups such as at industry trade shows, and via virtual outreach with a registration process to collect client contact information and to gain referrals to Michigan AgrAbility. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Collect evaluation feedback of presentations made by Michigan AgrAbility at events from participants to appraise efficacy. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Educational outreach evaluation data is summarized and reported annually to Michigan AgrAbility team and partners. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Michigan AgrAbility contacts farmers injured in agriculture work who are seen at a Michigan hospital to send them information on Michigan AgrAbility. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Collect client contact information at education events. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Produce animal injury reports and Hazard Alerts; Create new curriculum/educational materials to teach industry how to reduce incidences of injury or death. Education, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Michigan AgrAbility contacts MDHHS with updated changes to materials to County Health Departments. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Meet quarterly and annually as project team Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Annual meeting with Michigan AgrAbility partners including input from a farmer panel of past clients. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Partners promote Michigan AgrAbility services and materials through shared marketing and promotion. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Media relations. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Document in-kind donations and sponsorships to Michigan AgrAbility; produce annual reports to partners, NAP, USDA NIFA. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Write and distribute news stories for the public about the contributions of Michigan AgrAbility partners. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (4th quarter) Measure economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its clients (donations, return on investment, public value) Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Discuss partnership network at quarterly meetings to identify limitations and/or opportunities in achieving greater inclusion of diverse farmers. Networking, years 1,2,3,4 (2nd quarter) Attend annual AgrAbility National Training meeting. Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Provide content for websites and social media accounts. Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (2nd quarter) Michigan AgrAbility News (4 times a year). Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (1st and 3rd quarter) Michigan AgrAbility e-newsletter (8 times a year). Marketing, years 1,2,3,4 (each quarter) Incorporate Michigan AgrAbility website and social media content into MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and MSU Extension websites.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Agricultural Injury Data Michigan AgrAbility has been gathering agriculture specific work related injury data from Michigan hospitals, contacted injured farmers, followed up with education and assistance, and tailored educational efforts according to the injuries identified. All 134 acute care hospitals in Michigan were informed that beginning January 1, 2015 they were required to report all injuries and illnesses related to farming that required hospitalization or an emergency department visit. We have compiled the third report on occupational farm-related injuries in Michigan: "Work-Related Farm Injuries in Michigan: Third Report (January 2020-December 2021)" available at https://oem.msu.edu/images/annual_reports/2020/2020-2021_Farm_Report.pdf Since January 2022, we have reviewed 498 medical records and confirmed 345 farm-related work-related injuries hospitalized or treated in an emergency room department. Since January 2022 to date, in order to inform more injured farmers about the AgrAbility services, a letter about AgrAbility and the AgrAbility brochure have been mailed to forty individuals with farm-related work-related injuries. Maintain Relationships and Work with AgrAbility Champions around theState Michigan AgrAbility has solicited local funding sources to assist impaired farmers; Michigan State University Alpha Gamma Rho, Rau chapter donated $15,000, EOTECH and Greenstone Farm Credit Services donated $10,000. Approximately $255,000 in assistive technology was provided to farmers by Michigan Rehabilitative Services in 2022. There are 1,655 organizations and individuals that Michigan AgrAbility networks with and reaches out to in Michigan with an annual newsletter. MSU Heroes toHives Ned Stoller, the Michigan AgrAbility ATP, did a beekeeping assistive technology evaluation training onsite with the leaders of Southeast Michigan Beekeeping Association on February 2, 2023, and another in person evaluation training for Kalamazoo Beekeeping Club on April 13, 2023, and training presentation on setting up an accessible apiary at the Michigan Beekeeping Association annual meeting on March 11, 2023. A series of three beekeeping assistive technology community of interest calls have been conducted during the fall and winter of 2022/2023. Network with InterCare to Market to Migrant Workers Michigan AgrAbility networked with InterCare, a program that provides health care to migrant farm worker families throughout Michigan, to do outreach to health care providers employed by InterCare as well as directly to the farm workers they provide services to. Andrea Garza, Michigan AgrAbility certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), compiled folders to be handed out to Hispanic agricultural workers on the range of services provided by Michigan AgrAbility. These included information on osteoarthritis, how to protect your joints/ergonomic tips in the workplace, exercise sheets, arthritis Spanish booklet, Michigan AgrAbility services and a business card. Ms. Garza completed nine joint pain and arthritis assessments with Hispanic migrant and seasonal workers between October 2022 and May 2023 at four Michigan farms. The assessments consisted of checking range of motion of joints of each worker, educating workers on arthritis, ergonomics, hot/cold therapy, and excerices and stretches. Workers were given a folder with information on what they had been verbally educated on. Workers were also given a piece of low AT for participating in the assessments. Follow up was done with all workers via phone call. if further assistance was needed, a more in depth evaluation was completed. Michigan Food & FarmingSystems Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) no longer operates an incubator farm, but they continue to support beginning farmers. In place of the MIFFS demonstration farm, Doug Verhoeven from Holland, Michigan has offered his farm as an assistive technology demonstration site for farmers to come visit by appointment. He has been farming with a spinal cord injury for over 40 years and regularly uses assistive technology. His farm is already open to the public since he operates Fulfilling Life Ministries from his farm office, helping children with disabilities learn to do outdoor activities. Assistive technologies available for demonstration are Doug's devices plus the items provided by Michigan AgrAbility ATP Ned Stoller. Doug has recently received a tractor with cab for planting crops without exposure to infection-causing dust. It came equipped with electro-hydraulic valves. AgrAbility helped him modify the controls so he can raise and lower his corn planter without releasing the tractor hand control levers. This assistive technology piece improves his efficiency while he works planting corn and the tool is also available for demonstration at Doug's farm. Network with the Farmer Veteran Coalition to Market toVeterans Bev Berens, Michigan AgrAbility Case Manager, is on the advisory board for the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) - Chapter, which was formed in November 2015. The relationship with the Farmer Veteran Coalition has allowed Michigan AgrAbility to connect with leadership in other organizations working with veterans such as Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), MSU Vets to Ag Program and Heroes to Hives, National FVC, Homegrown by Heroes, MSU Extension Veterans Resources, Easterseals MORCVeterans Resources. As proposed by Michigan AgrAbility, Michigan Farm Bureau approved language updates in support of veterans in their Agricultural Vocational Rehabilitation policy.In early 2023, MI FVC held a business symposium and workshop in northern Michigan. Assistance Since September 1, 2022, Ned Stoller, ATP, and Andrea Garza, COTA, assisted 174 farm clients with disabilities; 71 were new. 72 cases were closed. Mr. Stoller conducted 68 farm site evaluation visits and Ms. Garza trained 33 migrant workers. 23 farmers were referred to Michigan Rehabilitative Services (MRS) and Independent Living Center. 51 farmers had assistive technology purchased by MRS or donated to them via Easterseals MORC. In 2022, the value of the assistive devices provided to farmers was approximately $255,000. We responded to about 45 calls on the Michigan AgrAbility toll-free line. In addition, there were about 35 new inquiries directly to Mr. Stoller on his cell phone or to Ms. Berens or Ms. Garza through email or the Facebook messenger. Collaboration with the Michigan Center for Rural Health The Michigan Center for Rural Health has distributed AgrAbility materials to their statewide members.?

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: "Work-Related Farm Injuries in Michigan: Third Report (January 2020 - December 2021" available at www.oem.msu.edu