2014 Virtual NTW

December 2-4, 2014

Tuesday, December 2

Wednesday, December 3

  • 11:00 a.m. EST: Changes in Marketing: Integration of Messages across all Channels of Communication to Assure Success
    • Presentation file
    • Jerry Shafer, Purdue University Agricultural Communications
      • Digital technology is rapidly changing communications…into targeting! The old paradigm viewed learning as a transaction, but the new paradigm holds learning as a process. Learn how to identify your target audience, build your database, and engage in cost-effective, targeted marketing. A variety of mechanisms will be discussed, including social media, email, text messaging, and leveraging other organizations to help spread your message.
  • 3:00 p.m. EST: Agritourism: Accessibility and Profitability
    • Presentation file
    • Steve Swain, National AgrAbility Project/Indiana AgrAbility

      • Agritourism has become a growing enterprise on many farms. Agritourism includes CSAs, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, farm markets, and many other enterprises. But is it right for you? This session provides an overview of agritourism from selecting an enterprise to safety, accessibility, and liability concerns. Additional resources are provided so an informed decision can be made.

Thursday, December 4

  • 11:00 a.m. EST: Recommending Seating Supports for Agricultural Equipment
    • Presentation file
    • Carla Wilhite, Kevin Sullivan, and Mark Jaramillo, University of New Mexico-School of Medicine – Occupational Therapy Graduate Program
      • Agricultural machinery operators with disabilities often require one or more seating supports to function safely and effectively. In absence of a research foundation, specialists must make critical recommendations for seating supports based on experience and knowledge. The session focuses on findings from a recent feasibility study that trialed five different seating conditions using pressure mapping technology to investigate seated distribution of pressure, areas of high pressure, envelopment in the cushion material, and findings of significance between seat supports. Participants will increase their knowledge of seating support issues in tractors and critique current methods of assessing the seat interface for customers at risk for skin injuries when seated in tractors
  • 3:00 p.m. EST: Prostheses: What do Farmers and Ranchers Use; What do They Want?
    • Presentation file
    • Craig Heckathorne,
      Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center

      • The Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center conducted a study of prostheses used by agricultural workers with limb amputations and problems they are encountering. Results from the interviews and survey are presented with recommendations for improving prosthetics service and prosthesis design.

Past VNTW Archives

Click here for archived webinars from the AgrAbility Webinar Series