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

Outputs
Target Audience:The Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities (Missouri AgrAbility Project) strengthened its teamwork with the University of Missouri Extension by broadening its partnerships with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (an 1890 Land Grant University), the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO), a private nonprofit disability organization, and several important agricultural, health, safety, social service, and rehabilitation cooperative allies. Each partner contributed their essential strengths to help us effectively implement the USDA NIFA's four priorities: education, direct assistance, networking, and marketing, aimed at increasing the chances that AgrAbility customers--farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and other agricultural operators with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities and their families involved in farming, farm-related jobs, or exploring new farming opportunities--will succeed in agricultural production. To meet the needs of AgrAbility customers and their families, Missouri worked to enhance connections throughout the state by involving rehabilitation case managers, extension specialists, occupational and physical therapists, independent living specialists, social service providers, agribusinesses, students who were undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, high school, 4-H youth, volunteers and others. Quickly identifying farm and ranch families who require specialized disability services is vital for creating the many supportive and necessary pathways. These pathways empower AgrAbility customers to lead safer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. This strategy not only encouraged civic engagement but also enhanced personal and mental well-being. Thus, it is important for our AgrAbility program in Missouri to collaborate with these statewide partners and key allies who support AgrAbility customers and their families in improving their quality of life. Overall objectives for the fiscal year were accomplished through statewide components that included awareness events and activities; direct educational and technical outreach assistance; production of educational and technical materials; and safe home, equipment, and work-site modifications. Team members successfully provided on?the?farm direct services to agricultural workers with disabilities and their family members to promote their return to farming, ranching, or an agricultural?related profession, to the community, and to independent living. We engaged our intended audiences using innovative formal and creative informal classroom instructional methodologies; practical hands-on experiential learning opportunities, practicum experiences; capstone projects; internships that also involved 4-H youth; virtual and in-person workshops, seminars, and webinars; along with extension and outreach initiatives. Different approaches were used to assess the success of our AgrAbility activities in four key priorities areas: education, networking, direct assistance, and marketing. Evaluation techniques and methods included Qualtrics pre- and post-surveys, QR codes, Google Forms, PhotoVoice Methods, electronic formats, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Additionally, Missouri concentrated on outcomes aimed at enhancing 1) the quality of life for AgrAbility customers, which includes the goal of safely returning to farming or ranching, to the community, and to independent living, and 2) the ability of MAP partners to deliver the necessary services to AgrAbility customers and their families in an efficient, timely, and satisfactory manner. Changes/Problems:Due to a series of unforeseen staff changes, illnesses, hiring freezes, and administrative transitions at both the national federal level and within Missouri, the University of Missouri Extension, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, and the Brain Injury Association of Missouri Inc. managed to successfully meet 75% of our FY 2024, Year 3 objectives, however on a slightly modified timeline. Like the adjustments made during the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted our delivery methods to offer AgrAbility programs, events, and activities that catered to Missouri's agricultural operators who are AgrAbility Customers and wish to stay actively involved in production agriculture. Also, during FY 2024, Year 3 programming year, our partner at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (ISFOP) team experienced significant staffing changes. In August 2024, Dr. Mark Lucas began his role as the full-time ISFOP Director. Other staffing changes included the departure of two Farm Outreach Workers, one from the Southwest region and the other from the Southeast region. The ISFOP also welcomed four new staff members across the Southwest Region, Central Region, St. Louis Region, and Southeast Region. All newly hired staff during the year 2024-25 participated in Missouri AgrAbility events. LUCE ISFOP also sent several staff members to the 2025 National AgrAbility Training Workshop. One final, noteworthy faculty update included the hiring of Dr. Allison Young as the new Extension Administrator, effective August 2024. With this new administrative hire, the ISFOP is managed under the Extension Administrator's oversight. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities and professional development are available for youth, including students from 4-H/FFA, high school, and college, as well as professionals, staff members, farmers with disabilities and their families, and others mentioned in theEducationAccomplishment section.Moreover, educational training in the production agriculture context is aimed at achieving learning goals that improve the skillsets needed to support individuals with disabilities and prevent secondary injuries among our AgrAbility Customers and their service providers. Also, all faculty members, extension specialists, staff members, collabortive partners, cooperative allies, and others associated with the AgbAbility programt in Missouri are strongly encouraged and supported to participate in og-going monthly health, safety, and well-being continuing education units offered at no-cost or low cost provided by BIA Mo, LUCE ISFOP, UME, NAP, AgriSafe, CDC NIOSH Centers, RESNA, ASABE, ISASH, and other professional organization. Funds are set aside for Missouri AgrAbility collaborative team members to participate in professional development classes, seminars, workshops, and webinars to ensure they remain well-trained and knowledgeable in assisting farmers and ranchers with disabilities and their families. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated and discussed at monthly Missouri AgrAbility Management Team meetings, quarterly Show-Me Farm Safety working group call-ins, and regular updates with stakeholders as well as weekly and monthly check-ins with rehabiliation case managers.All educational resources and curriculum created by UME, LUCE ISFOP, and BIA MO with USDA NIFA funding are classified as open source and available for public use. Moreover, we have shared our AgrAbility materials, toolkits, teaching tools, and resources with project partners, stakeholders, relevant working groups, and at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences. Electronical files of products were also shared for public use along with co-branding. Missouri regularly shares information every month through the AgrAbility eNote, BIA MO newsletter, UME, and LUCE publications. When suitable, demographic data gathered during the project period has been sent to the NAP and Ag Data Commons. Further information can also be found in the Data Management Plan "DMP". What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Missouri plans to use the requested FY 4 funds as outlined in the approved budget and budget narrative to provide NIFA AgrAbility education, networking, direct assistance, and marketing activities. Each collaborator will maintain both interdisciplinary and disciplinary responsibilities based on specified objectives and expected outputs, along with summaries of outcomes and impacts. NIFA PRIORITY 1. EDUCATION Activity 1: Educate college students by offering AgrAbility information about technologies and modified devices to remove employment barriers of AgrAbility Customers. Activity 2: Organize an Annual Statewide Conference with the BIA-Mo, Inc. Activity 3: Train 4-H youth to serve as 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors in their regions. Activity 4: Train 4-H faculty and staff on 4-H Save Your Brain Program across the state. Activity 5: Provide education for new AgrAbility staff and ongoing training for current staff. Activity 6: Create a collection of videos that showcase cost-effective technologies, useful ergonomic tools, and new technologies for livestock, vegetable farming, beekeeping, specialty crops, and commercial producers. Activity 7: Attend and present at the AgrAbility National Training Workshop. NIFA OBJECTIVE 2. NETWORKING Activity 1: Market AgrAbility Consumer Ambassador Advisory Committee to representatives from intended audiences outlined in the USDA NIFA RFA. Activity 2: Collaborate with the Show-Me Farm Safety committee whose hosts large networking opportunities to discuss AgrAbility project activities related to the safe accommodation of disabilities and prevention of secondary injury through health, safety, and well-being awareness. Activity 3: Collaborate with Heroes to Hives Missouri State Chapter to facilitate networking opportunities with veteran farmers, ranchers, and their families. NIFA OBJECTIVE 3. DIRECT ASSISTANCE Activity 1: Provide up to 80 direct onsite farmstead assessments to AgrAbility Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. Activity 2: Collaborative work with Mo VR&RSB to increase onsite farmstead consultations with "eligible" AgrAbility Customers. Activity 3: Partner with MU Department of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy to educate OT students about onsite farm stead assessments to MAP Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. NIFA PRIORITY 4: MARKETING Activity 1: Market future Brain Injury Annual State Conferences through printed materials, BIA-MO Quarterly Coffees and BIA-MO Connections Newsletter distributed at in-person and online events, activities and electronic communications. Activity 2: Produce up to five (5) videos specific to Brain Injury Facts and 26 captioned photos annually to be used as posts for Instagram, Twitter and Facebook during March Brain Injury Awareness. Activity 3: Exhibit AgrAbility at BIA Survivor and Family Seminars, school association conferences, rural health conferences, agricultural events and workshops around the state of Missouri to raise awareness about AgrAbility to intended audiences. Activity 4: Distribute the Missouri AgrAbility Resource Tool Kit to medical and healthcare providers and trauma centers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Overall Education Impact Include: Five 4-H faculty members and 15 staff received training on the 4-H Save Your Brain Program throughout Missouri. Ten 4-H youth were trained to act as 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors in their local areas. Launched 4-H Thank a Farmer Campaign (Rural Mental Well-being Awareness) to educate youth about rural mental and give tribute to farmers and ranchers in a creative and fun way while also learning about rural mental health. More than 150 college students learned how to assist AgrAbility clients. They were also given resources about digital technologies and new adapted devices that help meet the employment goals of AgrAbility customers and their families. The MAP PD and Co-PD offered orientation to 22 new AgrAbility staff and ongoing education for current staff from LUCE ISFOP regional faculty and farm outreach workers. Four educational beekeeping sites were established to offer accessible training in beekeeping, business, and holistic wellness for up to 432 veterans and their dependents, in collaboration with community leaders, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Twelve individuals from Missouri, including five AgrAbility clients, participated in the 2025 AgrAbility National Training Workshop (NTW) in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Six MO professionals and 6 AgrAbility customers also presented posters, gave presentations, and moderated conference sessions. Collaborative team members from UME, LUCE ISFOP, and BIA MO, in collaboration with the BIA's 290-member Volunteer Speakers Bureau, educated over 37,211 rural residents throughout Missouri's 114 counties, including St. Louis, by facilitating 29 AgrAbility educational, hands-on health, safety, well-being, and ergonomic tools. Over 700 young people improved their knowledge and understanding of brain injury prevention by 89% through involvement in eight educational sessions offered by the 4-H Save Your Brain program, along with participating in the general awareness activity at the Redbird Rookies Health Fair. 225 MAP customers improved their knowledge by participating in 15 educational sessions held during three BIA-MO Survivor and Family Seminars marketing events, empowering them to make well-informed choices about their health and future. 31 youth who stained concussions received support in their return to learning through the Get Schooled on Concussions Teachers Acute Concussion Tool (TACT). It should be noted that training was delivered to 600 school personnel, positively impacting around 30,000 youth through the TACT. 335 professionals took part insixeducational BIA-Mo sessions aimed at first responders, hospital case managers, rural health care workers, and service coordinators, improving their knowledge to more effectively assist farmers. 24 online beekeeping financial and personal wellness programs, complemented by 32 hands-on field training sessions, have been provided across 4 beekeeping sites for 432 veterans and their dependents. Missouri is the first state chapter of the national Heroes to Hives program to offer veterans free professional training and community development centered around beekeeping. These programs emphasize physical and mental health, safety, wellness, injury prevention, and enhancing overall quality of life. Overall Networking Impact Include: 5,000 people introduced to the MAP through BIA-MO initiatives tailored for farmers, individuals, families, and communities to obtain services focused on improving their quality of life. 320 residents of Missouri were provided with BIA-MO direct assistance and education concerning brain injuries to facilitate their access to Missouri AgrAbility and other resources. 200 Brain Injury Resource Kits, which included MAP information, distributed to assist farmers in understanding brain injury, access direct support, and its impact on daily life. LUCE ISFOP team members attended seven outreach and extension initiatives to network with roughly 487 participants and handout the MAP toolkit at the MO Farmer's Market Association Conference, Mo State Fair, Southwest MO District Fair, Jefferson County Agriculture Conference, Kansas City Annual Farmers & Friends Meeting, Kansas City Agricultural Excellence Conference, and the MO Organic Association Conference. Overall Direct Assistance Impact Include: A 100% success rate for opening and closing all AgrAbility customer cases with the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. Each year, over 66 AgrAbility Customers typically receive a Rehab Tech/Engineering Consultation in agribusiness, crop, and livestock evaluations for their farmstead, facilitated by case managers from the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and technical staff from MO AgrAbility. This initiative is valued at approximately $74,910. MO AgrAbility has two official vendor fee-for-service contracts that are renegotiated annually with DESE VR & RSB. 79 total AgrAbility customers from 23 MO Counties and St. Louis City. county logged 29 technical business planning sessions with to help Customer select the right technologies. A new Official Vendor MO AgrAbility Onsite Farmstead Fee-for-Service Contractual Agreement was established with the Department of Health and Human Services Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, which included a 15% increase in the service agreement rate. Annually, five or more AgrAbility customers undergo an onsite technical assessment of their farmstead organized by Missouri AgrAbility & Mo RSB. This effort represents an estimated value of $5,675. In January 2025, a new Director of Rehabilitation Technology was appointed to the MO State DESE, VR. This appointment has resulted in significant changes to the systems that support AgrAbility Customers, including new protocol guidelines and a revised fee structure. Overall Marketing Impact Include: On average, 1.2 million people learned about opportunities for AgrAbility customers, including military veterans with disabilities and their families, through education, marketing, and networking. During the Brain Injury Fact of the Day, we generated 597,659 impressions from website banner ads and social media posts, which showcased changes in daily life for farmers, veterans, families, and youth, including 4-H/FFA. This was an 8% increase from the 551,863 impressions noted in 2024. We also achieved 25,615 engagements and interactions on our websites related to healthcare, agriculture, business, community, and brain injury, along with BIA-MO social media posts for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day campaign. In 2025, the Brain Injury Fact of the Day Campaign had a 4% engagement rate, leading to increased awareness of MO AgrAbility among farmers, which was an 18% rise from the 2024 engagements of 21,694. The BIA-MO website had 3,449 views, raising awareness among farmers, veterans, and youth about MO AgrAbility during the Brain Injury Fact of the Day campaign in March 2025. This represents an 182% increase compared to the views in February 2025. Finally, we promoted 92 networking opportunities, which included 41 meetings with MAP collaborative organizations and groups outside of project partnerships with Missouri and national health, disability, vocational, rehabilitation, veteran services, and agriculture professionals. This initiative emphasizes the significance of physical and mental health, safety, wellness, injury prevention, and enhancing overall quality of life.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Funkenbusch, K.E., Doosing, E., Downs, H.W., Funkenbusch, K.A., Jaster, S., Middleton, D., Neuer, K., Picking, E., Schreck, B., & Asher, G. Missouri AgrAbility Assist Client Farmers to Promote Independence and Accessible Self-Employment in Agriculture. Oral Poster Presentation. 2025 National AgrAbility Training Workshop, 25 Mar 2025, Las Cruses, New Mexico. http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2025-agrability-national-training-workshop/.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Funkenbusch, K.E., Jaster, S., Middleton, D., & Boswell, M.D. Farming Like Its 2025! Adaptive devices and technology for safety and well-being. Oral Presentation. 2025 National AgrAbility Training Workshop. 25 Mar 2025, Las Cruses, New Mexico, http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2025-agrability-national-training-workshop/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Swain, S.J., Gorucu, S., Jarmen, R., Funkenbusch, K., Boswell, D., Asher, G., & Delisle, T. Vocational Rehabilitation Services Panel. 2025 National AgrAbility Training Workshop, 25 Mar 2025, Las Cruses, New Mexico. http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2025-agrability-national-training-workshop/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Ambrose, K.R., Funkenbusch, K., & Byerly Head, J., Managing Arthritis for Women In Agriculture. 2025 National AgrAbility Training Workshop. Oral Presentation. 26 Mar 2025, Las Cruses, New Mexico. http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2025-agrability-national-training-workshop/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Oguche, F.M., Zhou, J., Funkenbusch, K.E., Shannon, M.C., Aloysius, N., & Lim, T.T. "Design and Fabrication of Ergonomic Auxiliary Handles for Agricultural Tools." Oral Presentation. 2025 ASABE Annual International Conference. 2500900 (doi:10.13031/aim.202500900). Toronto, Canada.

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

Outputs
Target Audience:Missouri AgrAbility programmatic efforts reached the intended farming and ranching population with disabilities and their family members that were 1) Aging farmers, 2) U.S. military veterans, 3) Women in agriculture, 4) Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), 5) underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including Hmong and Mennonite, and 6) high school students. Changes/Problems:During this reporting period LUCE ISFOP, BIA Inc., and MU Extension experiencedstaff turn overs, changes in administration, unexpected illnesses, and several deaths amongst staff members which caused several delays. Collaborators meet regularly to discuss Plan of Work and ways to successfully move forward. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two BIA-MO Conference presentations were provided by Missouri AgrAbility Project Director Karen Funkenbusch and Missouri AgrAbility partner Amy Patillo, Workforce and Labor Specialist with MU Extension. Twelve Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Innovative Small Famers' Outreach Specialists were professional development trainings. A formal training held in October 2023 at the Lincoln University George Washington Carver Farm facilitated by Karen Funkenbusch and Mary Keeter on the AgrAbility program, and printed materials were provided to 10 ISFOP employee to distribute in their regions.Mary Keeter also provided a professional development on the Jesup Wagon 2.0.Missouri AgrAbility staff also worked individually with each team member updating them on programming information. October 2023, ten ISFOP employee received a toolkit containing printed materials for them to distribute throughout their regions. MissouriAgrAbility materials included ag safety, health, prevention, and well-being educational resources to be disseminated atregional farm seminars, workshops,farmersmarkets,community events, and conferences.In November 2023 ten ISFOP employees also received professional development training on how to facilitate an onsite farmstead assessment. Two LUCE ISFOP staff members presented at the 2024 National Training Workshop in Atlanta, GA. Susan Jaster was a co-presenter on the session titled "Farm Like It's 2024!". Presentation may be accessed athttp://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2024-agrability-national-training-workshop/. Mary Keeter from LUCE ISFOP and MU Extension Missouri AgrAbility Project Director Karen Funkenbusch co-presented a poster titled "Jesup Wagon 2.0 Strengthens Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Missouri AgrAbility Client Farmers." Three NTW sessions highlighted Missouri AgrAbility. Sessions included an encore of "Brain Injury as a Chronic Health Condition" from 2023. Sessions at the 2024 NTW included "Improving Vocational Outcomes for Persons with TBI." A CDC session shared data of brain injury in rural communities. 35 professional staff members from Rehab Services for the Blind received professional development training, "On how to work with Missouri AgrAbility" and, "What happens when you make a referral." How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Missouri AgrAbility disseminated results duringmonthly agricultural, health, safety, rehabilitation, and well-being stakeholder meetings. Next, wecontributed 12 submissions to the National AgrAbility eNote. Rural and Urban communities of interest also learned about Missouri's results via postings over social media platforms such asFacebook, X, Instagram, and Twitter; facilitatingradio andtelevision interviews; publishingarticlesinmagazines, newsletters, and other media outlets; presenting at local, state, national, and international seminars,workshops, and conferences.Over 12 months,roughlyone million rural and urbanMissourianswere made aware of how Missouri AgrAbility enhances the quality of life of farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to success in rural and urban agricultural sectors. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Education initiatives within the context of production agriculture, learning objectives focus on enhancing competencies necessary to accommodate disabilities and avoid secondary injuries in AgrAbility Customers. Activity 1: BIA-MO, in conjunction with University of Missouri will host a Brain Injury Association Annual State Conference. Activity 2: Train 4-H faculty and staff on Save Your Brain Program across the state of Missouri. Activity 3:Train 4-H youth to serve as 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors in their respective regions. Activity 4:Educate college level students by providing relevant AgrAbility information about new and emerging assistive technologies and adapted devices that accommodate and support employment goals of AgrAbility customers and their rural families. Activity 5:Provide orientation (for new AgrAbility staff) and continuing education (for existing staff) Lincoln University regional faculty and farm outreach workers about the MAP. Activity 6:Establish educational commercial urban agricultural plot in conjunction with community leaders, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Activity 7:Develop series of videos to highlight affordable assistive technologies, practical ergonomic tools, and new emerging technologies for livestock, specialty crop and urban/rural commercial producers. Activity 8: Atttend AgrAbility National Training Workshop (NTW). Networking objectives include sharing information among, and the provision of services, value, or funds from, individuals or organizations not employed by AgrAbility. Activity 1: Expand AgrAbility Consumer Ambassador Advisory Committee to include representatives from underserved populations. Activity 2: Collaborate with theShow-Me Farm Safetycommittee whose hosts large networking opportunities to discuss MAP structure, goals and project activities related to accommodation of disabilities and prevention of secondary injury through health and safety awareness. Activity 3:Collaborate with Hereos to Hives Missouri State Chapter to explore networking opportunities. Activity 4:Partner with Pennsylvania AgrAbility/Pennsylvania Schools of Nursing to develop materials and connect with Amish communities. Direct Assistance focuses on the early identification of farm and rural families who need services related to their disability and provide individualized consultative services that increases the likelihood that AgrAbility customers and their farm operations experience success. Activity 1:Provide up to 80 direct onsite farmstead assessments to AgrAbility Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. Activity 2:Collaborative work with VR and RSB to increase onsite farmstead consultations with "eligible" AgrAbility Customers. Activity 3:Partner with UMC Department of Occupational Therapy Department to educate OT students about onsite farmstead assessments to MAP Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. Marketing goals concentrate on program and project awareness, intended to make key audiences aware of Missouri's effort. Activity 1: Market future Brain Injury Annual State Conferences through printed materials, BIA-MO Quarterly Coffees and BIA-MO Connections Newsletter distributed at the face- to-face and online events, activities, and electronic communications. Activity 2: Produce up to 5 videos (donation provided) specific to Brain Injury Facts and 26 captioned photos annually used as posts for Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to be used during the month of March to raise Brain Injury Awareness. Activity 3: Exhibit AgrAbility at BIA Survivor and Family Seminars, school association conferences, rural health conferences, agricultural events, and workshops around the state of Missouri to raise awareness about AgrAbility to Target audiences. Activity 4: Distribute the Missouri AgrAbility Resource Tool Kit to medical and healthcare providers and trauma centers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Provided five BIA-MO Speakers Bureau presentations for rural health, disability, rehabilitation, and medical care professionals as well as AgrAbility clients. Provided five BIA-MO Support Group meetings and four BIA-MO One-Day Regional Outdoor Camps for survivors of brain injury and families. Updated two BIA-MO Speakers Bureau standardized presentations by University of Missouri OT student group resulting in more than 7,500 unduplicated contacts with current and potential AgrAbility clients. Facilitated 62 marketing and networking opportunities: including 31 meetings with MAP collaborative organizations and "outside of project partnership" groups with Missouri and national health, disability, vocational, rehabilitation, Veteran services and agriculture professionals. Provided five exhibits with education professional audiences highlighting Missouri AgrAbility, 4-H curriculum and content, and Get Schooled on Concussions for Missouri. Conducted 80 direct onsite farmstead assessments to AgrAbility Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. Facilitated 25 collaborative work with VR and RSB to increase onsite farmstead consultations with "eligible" AgrAbility Customers. Partnered with University of Missouri Department of Occupational Therapy Department to educate master and doctoral level OT students about how to facilitate onsite farmstead assessments to AgrAbility Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. It is estimated that 225 first-time AgrAbility clients for brain injury-related direct assistance and education with follow-up direct assistance estimated at 675 contacts with the individuals. Marketed nine activities for the 4-H Save Your Brain curriculum and content. This also included exhibits at the three BIA-MO Sports Concussions Seminars, Missouri State Teachers Association Conference, and a Transition from High School Seminar. Presentations to four rural classes of 7thGrader. Collected 551,810 impressions through website banner ads and social media posts for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day that focused on farming, Veterans, youth, and changes in abilities and life due to brain injury. Increased engagements (21,694) and interactions from healthcare, agriculture, business, community and brain injury websites as well as BIA-MO social media posts for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day media campaign resulting in 72% increase for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day Campaign in 2024. Increased views (4,163) of the BIA-MO website from the increased engagements and website views during March 2024 resulting in 155% increase over February 2024 BIA-MO website views. Partnered with LUCE and MU Extensionto develop video,"Taking Agriculture to New Heights with Drones". The video debuted at the NTW in Atlanta, GA and, can be accessed at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd2Z2eyTm-M.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Funkenbusch, K. (2023, December). The gift of better mental health. Missouri Soybean Farmer, decisions in December.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Baker, D., Dauber, B., Funkenbusch, K., Keyser, S., Moffett, A., Powers, J. & Winterberg, L. (2023, October). Navigating Community and State Resources for Long-Term Support. [Panel Presentation]. Brain Injury Association of Missouri Statewide Conference. Chesterfield, MO. https://www.biamo.org/bia-mo-annual-statewide-conference-oct-19-21-2023/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Funkenbusch, K., Zhou, J. & Shannon, M. (2023, November). Better Farm Tools and Equipment for Women Urban and Rural Agriculture: Survey on the Health and Safety Issues of Farm Tools and Equipment used by Women Farmers. [Research Poster]. Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Conference. Dubuque, IA. https://icash.public-health.uiowa.edu/2023-mrash/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Patillo, A., Funkenbusch, K. & Pezold, M. (2023, November). Missouri farm and ranch stress project accelerator. [Research Poster]. Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Conference. Dubuque, IA. https://icash.public-health.uiowa.edu/2023-mrash/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Zhou, Z., Funkenbusch, K. & Shannon, M. (2023, July). Survey of the Health and Safety Issues of Farm Tools and Equipment used by Women Farmers. [Research Poster]. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 2023 Annual International Meeting. Omaha, NE. https://www.asabe.org/Portals/0/Events/2023%20AIM/Events.pdf?ver=c0HycJpdRcZoOSx9DyzoUA%3D%3D

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

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached by Missouri's effort during this reporting period included 1)Aging farmers, 2)returning U.S. military service veterans, 3)Women in agricultureand 4)Black, Indigenous and People of Color(BIPOC) underserved racial minority and socially disadvantaged farmers, including Hmong and Mennonite.Education and training objectives targeted students that included 4-H/FFA, pre-professionals, stakeholders and health professionals who work with AgrAbility Customers and farm families. Changes/Problems:At the start of FY 2022-2023, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) ISFOP (Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program) staff unfortunately said goodbye to two valued members of the team.Shon Bishop, the previous Co-PI from Lincoln University for the Missouri AgrAbility Project, left Lincoln University in the spring of 2022.Shon had worked with AgrAbility throughout his ten years with ISFOP. The ISFOP team also lost David Middleton, another seasoned employee who had worked with the Missouri AgrAbility Project for many years.Both Shon and David served clients directly, contributed to new staff training, and were frequent presenters at National AgrAbility training programs. Moving forward, Lincoln University has done an excellent job toreplace the team members that were lost and trained the new employees in AgrAbility.The AgrAbility team welcomed a new Small Farm Specialist in the Kansas City region, Haze Gaddie as well as a Farm Outreach Worker in the Southeast Region, Demetrius Moore.Both Mr. Gaddie and Mr. Moore have attended Missouri AgrAbility events in their regions, co-presented AgrAbility information at Activities, and have received printed literature to share with their farm clients.Mary Bolling, an ISFOP farm outreach worker in the East Central region of Missouri, joined the Missouri AgrAbility project as the new CO-PD representing Lincoln University. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Due to the staff turnover that the LUCE ISFOP team experienced this programming year, a formal training for the entire team was put on hold until the fall of 2023 to ensure that positions would be filled prior to the training and the training would include all new employees. In lieu of an in-person training, Missouri AgrAbility staff worked individually with each team member updating them on programming information. Two (2) presentations were provided that highlighted the Project partnerships. AgrAbility Customers and staff learned about brain injury as a chronic disease at the National Training Workshop. Dr. Brent Masel, an internationally known neurologist and Medical Director for the Brain Injury Association of America, presented the session. Missouri AgrAbility partnership's success was shared with the TBI Grant Access to Services workgroup, in collaboration with Paul Jones with the National AgrAbility Project. 7 Networking Coffees for Professionals; 17 meetings with MAP collaborative organizations and "outside of the project partnership" groups with Missouri and national health, disability, vocational, Veteran services and agriculture professionals; 3 BIA-MO Speakers Bureau exhibits for rural health and education professional audiences highlighting Missouri AgrAbility; 1 BIA-MO Speakers Bureau presentation for Veterans and farmers; and 2 support group meetings for survivors of brain injury and family members. BIA-MO Conference involvement of a presentation by AgrAbility Director Karen Funkenbusch, sponsorship featured in printed registration brochure and event program, signage displayed during event, and recognition during Event Welcome and on BIA-MO website; 3 BIA-MO Survivor and Family Seminars program partnership recognition on event registration material and online access webpage. These activities resulted in more than 7,000 unduplicated contacts with current and potential AgrAbility Customers. LUCE ISFOP had two teams present at the National Training Workshop in Spokane, WA. The presentations were titled, "Think Outside of the Box to Increase Income of Small Farmers" and "AgrAbility Farmers Need to Work Smarter, Let the Microbes in Your Soil Take the Hard Work Out of Growing Anything!" Presentations can be viewed in the NAP archives at http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2023-agrability-national-training-workshop/ Missouri AgrAbility sent 12 delegates to the 2023 AgrAbility National Training Workshop in Spokane, Washington. Participants included the University of Missouri Extension, 4-H, Lincoln University Missouri Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (ISFOP), Brain Injury Association of Missouri, a Missouri AgrAbility client farmer, and four veteran farmers. Missouri AgrAbility also exhibited, presented during the poster session, and provided four conference breakout sessions. Missouri AgrAbility co-hosted a successful Armed to Farm Sustainable Agriculture Training, April 10 - April 14, for Military Veterans in partnership with the Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and Veterans Urban Farm in Columbia, Missouri. The week-long training featured daily farm tours and hands-on activities at a variety of successful farms. Participants learned from seasoned farmers and gained direct experience on livestock, vegetable, fruit, and agritourism operations. While in the classroom participants learned about sustainable agriculture that included how to adopt climate-resilient practices in regenerative approaches, introduced to agroforestry as a land management approach, and accessible sustainable beekeeping to address financial and personal wellness. At the end of the conference, veteran farmers reported having gained 100% new knowledge about 1) how to run a successful business, 2) market their products, 3) access USDA programs, 4) set business goals, 5) develop meaningful mentorships, 6) manage their physical health, recognize personal stressors, and request information and resources for agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training for veteran farmers and ranchers, and 7) selecting ergonomic tools and anti-vibration gloves for small-scale farmers and ranchers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated in the monthly eNote; BIA newsletters; MU Extension newsletters; LUCE newsletters, partnerships Facebook Pages and websites; and Public Service Announcments as well as during stakeholder, professional, farmer/rancher, collaborative and cooperative meetings, and presentations provided at professional workshops, seminars, and conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Missouri will utilize request FY 2 funds in accordance with the approved budget and budget narrative to deliver NIFA AgrAbility education, networking, direct assistance, and marketing Activities. Each collaborator will continue to have interdisciplinary and disciplinary responsibilities as summarized below by objectives and expected outputs in addition to outcomes and impacts summary. NIFA PRIORITY 1. EDUCATION Activity 1: BIA-MO, in conjunction with MU, will host a Brain Injury Association Annual State Conference in October. Activity 2: Train 4-H faculty and staff on 4-H Save Your Brain Program across the state. Activity 3: Train 4-H youth to serve as 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors in their respective regions. Activity 4: Educate college level students by providing relevant AgrAbility information about new and emerging assistive technologies and adapted devices that accommodate and support employment goals of AgrAbility customers and their rural families. Activity 5: Provide orientation (for new AgrAbility staff) and continuing education (for existing staff) Lincoln University regional faculty and farm outreach workers about the MAP. Activity 6: Establish educational commercial urban agricultural plot in conjunction with community leaders, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Activity 7: Develop series of videos to highlight affordable assistive technologies, practical ergonomic tools, and new emerging technologies for livestock, specialty crop and urban/rural commercial producers. Activity 8: Attend and present at the AgrAbility National Training Workshop (NTW). NIFA OBJECTIVE 2. NETWORKING Activity 1: Expand AgrAbility Consumer Ambassador Advisory Committee to include representatives from underserved populations. Activity 2: Collaborate with the Show-Me Farm Safety committee whose hosts large networking opportunities to discuss MAP structure, goals and project activities related to accommodation of disabilities and prevention of secondary injury through health and safety awareness. Activity 3: Collaborate with Veterans Urban Farm to explore networking opportunities. Activity 4: Partner with Pennsylvania AgrAbility/Pennsylvania Schools of Nursing to develop materials and connect with Amish communities. NIFA OBJECTIVE 3. DIRECT ASSISTANCE Activity 1: Provide up to 80 direct onsite farmstead assessments to AgrAbility Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. Activity 2: Collaborative work with VR&RSB to increase onsite farmstead consultations with "eligible" AgrAbility Customers. Activity 3: Partner with MU Department of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy to educate OTs about onsite farmstead assessments to MAP Customers and their families through customized consultative services that increase operator success. NIFA PRIORITY 4: Marketing Activity 1: Market future Brain Injury Annual State Conferences through printed materials, BIA-MO Quarterly Coffees and BIA-MO Connections Newsletter distributed at the face- to-face and online events, activities and electronic communications. Activity 2: Produce up to 5 videos (donation provided) specific to Brain Injury Facts and 26 captioned photos annually used as posts for Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to be used during the month of March to raise Brain Injury Awareness. Activity 3: Exhibit AgrAbility at BIA Survivor and Family Seminars, school association conferences, rural health conferences, agricultural events and workshops around the state of Missouri to raise awareness about AgrAbility to Target audiences. Activity 4: Distribute the Missouri AgrAbility Resource Tool Kit to medical and healthcare providers and trauma centers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the past year, Missouri AgrAbility provided programs in a digital platform to achieve outputs and outcomes that impacted Activities. Goals were achieved on a different time frame among travel and in-person restrictions. Virtual and online platforms became the norm followed by creatively implementing new methodologies and diverse platforms to effectively deliver Year 1 Plan of Work. Like other AgrAbility programs across the country, Missouri faced some challenges, a few hiccups along the way, however, we did achieve tangible results. Missouri AgrAbility Project (MAP) maximized its diverse partnership between the University of Missouri Extension by expanding roles with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (an 1890 Land Grant University), the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO), a private non-profit disability organization and several cooperators. Using a comprehensive participatory approach, each partner used their unique attributes to successful implement the Project Activities to increase the likelihood AgrAbility Customers and farm family members with disabilities experience success in production agriculture. Missouri's priorities successfully addressed the needs of AgrAbility Customers and aligned with NIFA objectives in three program areas: education, networking and direct assistance. While our marketing initiatives in electronic, social media and print format provided cost-effective and efficient means for AgrAbility education, awareness, outreach and training. Activities also increased the likelihood AgrAbility Customers and farm families became more successful by providing direct assistance and customized onsite farmstead assessments. Underserved groups within the farm community included: 1) Aging farmers; 2) Black, Indigenous and People of Color; 3) military veterans and 4) women. Education and training objectives targeted students that included 4-H/FFA, pre-professionals, stakeholders and health professionals who work with AgrAbility Customers and farm families. The MAP successes were measured by impact on improved 1) customers' quality of life, work productivity and 2) the increased capacity of collaborative partners to equitably deliver services to Customers in a timely and satisfying manner. Professionals trained in evaluation methods assisted with our overall program evaluation, and the MAP continued to participate in NAP-led demographic data evaluation. Missouri AgrAbility Marketing, Networking, and Education activities lead to Direct Assistance for farmers with brain injury to utilize BIA-MO and Missouri AgrAbility services. Programmatic efforts provided more equitable and inclusive opportunities to meet the demanding needs of farmers and ranchers with disabilities including their families. For a variety of reasons Missouri continued to provide user-friendly online platforms to reach our diverse audiences. For example, online social media outlets were used to disseminate e-publications, digital and web-based format resources while virtual teaching platforms were used to facilitate online programs and classes such as webinars, videos, live chats, podcasts, etc. Moving to an online, virtual platform contributed to Missouri's overall accomplishments of increasing the likelihood that AgrAbility customers and farm family members with disabilities experienced success in production agriculture. Changes in delivery styles and methodologies also achieved an "unanticipated" surprise with an increase in provision of services, in-kind donations and fee-for-service agreements as well as significantly increased program awareness among AgrAbility customers, service providers and stakeholders. For example, virtual, online platforms allowed Missouri AgrAbility staff to 1) produce electronic marketing materials; 2) develop education and outreach e-publications; 3) present oral and poster presentations at local, state, regional, national and internationals workshops/conferences; 4) create a Missouri Library of AgrAbility materials that included videoclips, photographs, podcasts and other digital formats; and 5) construct education hands-on displays. Due to the staff turnover that the LUCE ISFOP team experienced this programming year, a formal training for the entire team was put on hold until the fall of 2023 to ensure that positions would be filled prior to the training and the training would include all new employees. In lieu of an in-person training, Missouri AgrAbility staff worked individually with each team member updating them on programming information. Increased awareness about brain injury causes, effects and resources through the Brain Injury Fact of the Day media campaign lead AgrAbility clients to seek direct assistance through the Project and the BIA-MO. Rural and urban youth learned about brain injury prevention by schools utilizing the 4-H Save Your Brain curriculum co-authored by Missouri AgrAbility and the BIA-MO. This knowledge helped to prepare youth for farm life and to make safer, more holistic decisions that reduce risks of brain injury and potentially prevent resulting disabilities or secondary injuries. Snap shoot of specific accomplishments: Renegotiated a new, fee-for-service agreement with the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and Department of Health and Human Services Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) that will go into effect July 1, 2023. Co-facilitated 22 VR/AgrAbility and 7 RSB/AgrAbility fee for service onsite farmstead consultations with an additional 76 AgrAbility customers on the waiting list. 12,577 engagements and interactions on healthcare, agriculture, business, community, and brain injury websites as well as BIA-MO social media posts for Brain Injury Fact of the Day media campaign. 24,000 individuals were reached by AgrAbility related Facebook posts for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day that focused on farming, Veterans, youth, financial costs, and changes in functioning related to brain injury. 3,824 visits/reviews of the BIA-MO website from the increased engagements and website views during March 2023. This outcome is a 62% increase from February 2023. Five (5) Brain Injury Fact of the Day video posts were produced to reach diverse BIPOC populations and message format for the Brain Injury Fact of the Day media campaign. Eight (8) marketing activities for the 4-H Save Your Brain curriculum. This included presentations and exhibits at the BIA-MO urban and rural Sports Concussion Seminars and Exhibits at the Missouri State Teachers Association and Missouri Assistive Technology Power Up conferences. 15 medical based, rehabilitation, vocational, community support and agricultural service providers shared the MO AgrAbility/Brain Injury Resource Kits that included the Brain Injury Recovery Step by Step brochure and Diary for Hope for survivors of brain injury.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Jepsen, S., Akgerman, L., Funkenbusch, K., Calero, J., & Kelejian, H. (2022). Accessibility and Inclusion as an Approach to Enhancing Local Extension Programs. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 10(2), 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54718/ITWF8303
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Patillo, A., Funkenbusch, K. and Pezold, M. (2022) A case study of how to use digital dashboards to improve program implementation and evaluation, Extension Foundation. Available at: https://connect.extension.org/db/epublications/record/a-case-study-of-how-to-use-digital-dashboards-to-improve-program-implementation-and-evaluation.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Doosing, E. and Funkenbusch, K. (2023) Save your Brain: Equipping Agriculture Teachers with Resources to Promote Brain Injury Prevention, https://www.naae.org/. Available at: https://www.naae.org/profdevelopment/magazine/archive_issues/Volume95/2023%2003%20--%20March%20April.pdf. Patillo, A., Funkenbusch, K. and Pezold, M. (2022) A case study of how to use digital dashboards to improve program implementation and evaluation, Extension Foundation. Available at: https://connect.extension.org/db/epublications/record/a-case-study-of-how-to-use-digital-dashboards-to-improve-program-implementation-and-evaluation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Funkenbusch, K. et al. (2023) Missouri AgrAbility assist client farmers to promote hope, independence, equity, diversity, and accessible self-employment opportunities in agriculture, National AgrAbility. Available at: https://www.naae.org/profdevelopment/magazine/archive_issues/Volume95/2023%2003%20--%20March%20April.pdf. Patillo, A., Funkenbusch, K. and Pezold, M. (2022) A case study of how to use digital dashboards to improve program implementation and evaluation, Extension Foundation. Available at: https://connect.extension.org/db/epublications/record/a-case-study-of-how-to-use-digital-dashboards-to-improve-program-implementation-and-evaluation.
• Type: Websites Status: Submitted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Funkenbusch, K. (2022) Missouri AgrAbility Project website, Missouri AgrAbility Project . Available at: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/agrability.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Masel, Brent, Cunningham, Maureen, Funkenbusch, Karen, Mehrnoosh, Nicholas, and Minor, David. Brain Injury: Chronic Health Condition and Management for Farmers. 2023 National AgrAbility Training Workshop, 21 Mar. 2023, http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2023-agrability-national-training-workshop/.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Bolling, Mary. Think Outside of the Box to Increase the Income of Small Farmers. 2023 National AgrAbility Training Workshop, 21 Mar. 2023, http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2023-agrability-national-training-workshop/.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Jaster, Susan. AgrAbility farmers & ranchers need to work smarter. Let microbes in your soil take the work out of growing anything! 2023 National AgrAbility Training Workshop, 21 Mar. 2023, http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2023-agrability-national-training-workshop/.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Doosing, Emily, Cunningham, Maureen, and Funkenbusch, Karen. 4-H Save Your Brain. 2023 National AgrAbility Training Workshop, 22 Mar. 2023, http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/2023-agrability-national-training-workshop/.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Funkenbusch, Karen, Cunningham, Maureen, Downs, Willard, Edmonston, Andrew, and Uthlaut, Tevin. Brain Injury Awareness Month Toolkit 2023 Promotional Toolkit. University of Missouri Extension, March 2023. https://www.biamo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Brain-Injury-Awareness-Month-Toolkit-2023.pdf.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Funkenbusch, Karen, and Uthlaut, Tevin. 2023 Mental Health Awareness Month Promotional Toolkit. University of Missouri Extension, May 2023. https://extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pro/MHFA/Docs/MentalHealthMonthToolkit2023.pdf.