Nothing Can Keep Her Down
Laurie Praises and Inspires Her Community
Laurie H. has spent most of her adult life farming alongside her husband, Dale. The couple began their farming journey together after marrying in 1983 and built a successful corn and soybean operation near Plymouth, Indiana. Today, they farm with Dale’s brother and his wife, continuing a family partnership that has been central to their livelihood and way of life.
But a tragic accident during the 2018 harvest season changed Laurie’s life in an
instant.
On just the second day of harvest that year, Laurie was working near a combine operated by her brother-in-law and could not see or hear the machine approaching. In a devastating moment, she was pulled into the corn head, where her left arm and leg became entangled.
Emergency responders arrived and were able to extract her and provide life-saving care, but Laurie ultimately lost her left arm just below the shoulder and her entire
left leg.
In the weeks following the accident, help began to arrive from unexpected places.
Steve Swain with Indiana AgrAbility saw a newspaper article about Laurie. He forwarded it to Farm Bureau representatives in Marshall County, along with information about AgrAbility and Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services.
“While I was in the hospital,” explains Laurie, “they immediately stepped up.”
Once Laurie enrolled, Indiana VR connected with Swain to conduct a full assessment of Laurie’s family farm and identify ways assistive technology could help her remain active in agriculture.
Two key solutions quickly emerged: a platform lift that would allow Laurie to access the cab of their tractor and a utility vehicle with an enclosed cab to help her move safely around the farm. Indiana VR also funded several home modifications to improve accessibility, including changes to the kitchen, bathroom, and basement stairs.
“Now we can’t keep her down,” says Swain, commenting on the impact of the
platform lift. “That’s the fun part of my job, to see people like Laurie get to do what they want to do.”
Today, Laurie continues to stay active both on and off the farm. She and Dale still enjoy traveling and hiking together, and she remains an avid baker. Her determination and upbeat outlook have also made her an inspiration to others. In 2023, she was invited to serve as the keynote speaker at the AgrAbility National Training Workshop in Spokane, Washington.
“I literally tell everybody call Vocational Rehab and farmers AgrAbility. They’re amazing at helping you get back going again.”