National Training Workshop Encore Webinars
Webinar Date: June 23 - October 27, 2022
Join AgrAbility for 10 webinars from some of the most requested sessions of the 2022 in-person National Training Workshop
Each one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 p.m. EDT on the given Thursday
- June 23: “Design by What You Can Find”
- Ingenuity is the prize quality of a farmer far from town with a problem that needs solved without spending half a day driving to stores and buying materials. Once the problem to be solved is apparent, the process begins with a stroll around the farm to see what existing materials are available and may be useful…then back in the shop figuring out how to use the tools already there to create the assistive device.
- Ned Stoller – Michigan AgrAbility and Kyle Haney – Georgia AgrAbility
- Ingenuity is the prize quality of a farmer far from town with a problem that needs solved without spending half a day driving to stores and buying materials. Once the problem to be solved is apparent, the process begins with a stroll around the farm to see what existing materials are available and may be useful…then back in the shop figuring out how to use the tools already there to create the assistive device.
- July 7: “Taking Care of ALL Generations on the Farm”
- You don’t have to be a tech wizard to benefit from automation. There are lots of simple, inexpensive solutions that can make a task easier, safer, or save you time. Whether you’re concerned about options for a stay at home parent, tracking an active child, monitoring livestock, or automatically lighting areas of your home or farm site, there are solutions. This session will highlight simple, smart technology that can be used to make a household task easier then provide a farm application using the same technology.
- Karin Rasmussen – Kansas AgrAbility, and Cassie Ramon – Assistive Technology for Kansans
- You don’t have to be a tech wizard to benefit from automation. There are lots of simple, inexpensive solutions that can make a task easier, safer, or save you time. Whether you’re concerned about options for a stay at home parent, tracking an active child, monitoring livestock, or automatically lighting areas of your home or farm site, there are solutions. This session will highlight simple, smart technology that can be used to make a household task easier then provide a farm application using the same technology.
- July 21: “Becoming an Informed Champion and Collaborator with Behavioral Health”
- This session will provide an overview of farmer mental health, given the current economic and environmental conditions, including the recent trends. Importantly, this session will teach attendees the signs and symptoms of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression to better prepare individuals to intervene. Identify individuals in the agricultural community who can help farmers’ in crisis. During this session, participants will learn about the importance of mindfulness practice as a stress-reduction technique.
- Robert Fetsch, Ph.D, LMFT and Chad Reznicek, MA, LPC – Colorado AgrAbility Project
- This session will provide an overview of farmer mental health, given the current economic and environmental conditions, including the recent trends. Importantly, this session will teach attendees the signs and symptoms of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression to better prepare individuals to intervene. Identify individuals in the agricultural community who can help farmers’ in crisis. During this session, participants will learn about the importance of mindfulness practice as a stress-reduction technique.
- August 4: “Farm Rescue – Helping Farm Families in Crisis “
- Farm Rescue wants to get the information out to help family farms and ranches bridge crises, so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations. Farm Rescue provides planting, haying, harvesting, and livestock feeding assistance to farm and ranch families that have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster. The financial drain is more pronounced on a farm where a family’s livelihood depends on the ability to plant, harvest, or provide for their herd. Farm Rescue gives families a chance to continue their livelihood by providing the necessary equipment and manpower (free of charge) to get the job done.
- Lynne Hinrichsen – Farm Rescue
- Farm Rescue wants to get the information out to help family farms and ranches bridge crises, so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations. Farm Rescue provides planting, haying, harvesting, and livestock feeding assistance to farm and ranch families that have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster. The financial drain is more pronounced on a farm where a family’s livelihood depends on the ability to plant, harvest, or provide for their herd. Farm Rescue gives families a chance to continue their livelihood by providing the necessary equipment and manpower (free of charge) to get the job done.
- August 18: “Vision Solutions for Farmers”
- Gain a deeper understanding of different vision impairments and assistive technology to use when working with farmers.
- Kyle Haney – Georgia AgrAbility and Ned Stoller – Michigan AgrAbility
- Gain a deeper understanding of different vision impairments and assistive technology to use when working with farmers.
- September 1: “Working with Capstone Students to Augment AgrAbility Services”
- Texas AgrAbility has facilitated relationships with both engineering and occupational therapy capstone project students at two different universities to achieve success for AgrAbility clients through assistive technology modifications and occupational therapy assessment. This presentation will explore the process for building a relationship with students, facilitating relationships with students and AgrAbility clients, and enhancing their hands-on learning through farm & ranch assessments and assistive technology adaptations.
- Makenzie Thomas, Faye McGuire, and Dr. Cheryl Grenwelge – Texas AgrAbility, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- Texas AgrAbility has facilitated relationships with both engineering and occupational therapy capstone project students at two different universities to achieve success for AgrAbility clients through assistive technology modifications and occupational therapy assessment. This presentation will explore the process for building a relationship with students, facilitating relationships with students and AgrAbility clients, and enhancing their hands-on learning through farm & ranch assessments and assistive technology adaptations.
- September 15: “Managing Stress on the Farm”
- This session introduces theory and strategies to increase farmers’ (occupational) stress awareness and develop stress resilience strategies. The first part of the workshop will provide a theoretical background of occupational stress, defining, assessing, and recognizing its symptoms and consequences. The second part will explain and apply practical strategies to cope with stress and communication strategies to help people manage their stress levels.
- Dr. Suzanna Windon – The Pennsylvania State University
- This session introduces theory and strategies to increase farmers’ (occupational) stress awareness and develop stress resilience strategies. The first part of the workshop will provide a theoretical background of occupational stress, defining, assessing, and recognizing its symptoms and consequences. The second part will explain and apply practical strategies to cope with stress and communication strategies to help people manage their stress levels.
- September 29: “Making Lemonade When Outreach Events Hand You LEMONS!”
- We work very hard on our exhibits for outreach events, and always expect to showcase the best of AgrAbility: farmer success stories, accessible agriculture, professional and dedicated staff, educational resources and assistive technology to help farmers keep farming. Sometimes the weather (or other factors – illness, injury, exhibit space) make putting on a great event difficult. Join us as we share ideas for exhibits, posters, displays and interactive activities to engage your audience.
- Laura Akgerman and Dee Jepsen – Ohio AgrAbility/Ohio State University, Lani Carlson – Maine AgrAbility, Kendra Martin – AgrAbility PA, and Tawnie Lawson – Kansas AgrAbility
- We work very hard on our exhibits for outreach events, and always expect to showcase the best of AgrAbility: farmer success stories, accessible agriculture, professional and dedicated staff, educational resources and assistive technology to help farmers keep farming. Sometimes the weather (or other factors – illness, injury, exhibit space) make putting on a great event difficult. Join us as we share ideas for exhibits, posters, displays and interactive activities to engage your audience.
- October 13: “Build Resilience into Your Farm: Let Nature do the Heavy Lifting”
- When we use regenerative practices, we are also using risk management techniques; these techniques will provide layers of protection in our operations through soil health, healthy plants, healthy livestock and nutrient dense foods for humans while cutting down on synthetic chemicals and sequestering carbon to drawdown CO2 levels. The best part of regenerative farming is that nature is doing all the heavy lifting: we are lowering our inputs, stress levels and getting our lives back. AgrAbility clients who use regenerative agricultural practices will give their farms a better future due to lowering the need and costs of inputs; fewer inputs require less physical labor, causing less fatigue, especially as we age.
- Susan Jaster and David Middleton – Lincoln University and MO AgrAbility
- When we use regenerative practices, we are also using risk management techniques; these techniques will provide layers of protection in our operations through soil health, healthy plants, healthy livestock and nutrient dense foods for humans while cutting down on synthetic chemicals and sequestering carbon to drawdown CO2 levels. The best part of regenerative farming is that nature is doing all the heavy lifting: we are lowering our inputs, stress levels and getting our lives back. AgrAbility clients who use regenerative agricultural practices will give their farms a better future due to lowering the need and costs of inputs; fewer inputs require less physical labor, causing less fatigue, especially as we age.
- October 27: “Low Stress Marketing for Farmers”
- While it seems like marketing is the least important part of your agriculture business, it should actually be at the forefront! Marketing should start before the seeds are planted and continue well-past harvesting, but it is not always easy to do and even harder to stick to a schedule with the daily changes on the farm. Learn how to tell your story through low stress marketing strategies and walk away with a clear action plan for your farm for 2022!
- Abi Quinlan – AgrAbility of Wisconsin
- While it seems like marketing is the least important part of your agriculture business, it should actually be at the forefront! Marketing should start before the seeds are planted and continue well-past harvesting, but it is not always easy to do and even harder to stick to a schedule with the daily changes on the farm. Learn how to tell your story through low stress marketing strategies and walk away with a clear action plan for your farm for 2022!