Not Done Yet

Len Redefines ‘Young at Heart’

Six decades is a long time to endure the challenges of the agricultural profession. But, at 87, Len V. is more determined than ever to continue working alongside his son and grandson as they farm their 2,700-acre corn and soybean operation in Preble County, Ohio.

“I get tired, but not retired,” he says. “I enjoy getting out every day.”

One of the toughest challenges occurred about ten years ago, when severe back problems threatened Len’s routine. After multiple surgeries, he could no longer climb the steep steps into his combine cab.

That’s when Ohio AgrAbility stepped up.

Led by Ohio State University Extension in partnership with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (Ohio Vocational Rehabilitation) and the nonprofit Easterseals Redwood, the Buckeye State’s AgrAbility program connects farmers with assistive technology, on-farm assessments, and other resources that allow them to continue working.

For Len, this included a mechanical lift installed on his combine, which raises him safely into the cab and allows him to continue harvesting each fall.

“The first time he used that lift, he looked over at me and smiled,” says grandson Adam. “It was a really cool moment. I was just so happy for him.”

According to Laura Akgerman, a disability services coordinator with the program, it was a gift that gives to a world much bigger than Len’s family farm. “Our food does not come from the grocery store. It comes from a farmer,” she asserts. “We need them to continue growing.”

And that’s a mission that’s looking at a cloudy future, to say the least. Apart from the inherent rigors and dangers of ag (according to program data, one out of every 14 Ohio farm families experiences a farm-related injury each year), the farming population is aging, with the average Ohio farmer now about 58 years old.

Toward that mission, more than 5,000 Ohioans participated in AgrAbility outreach and services in 2024. Through on-farm assessments and referrals, coordinators work directly with farmers to understand what tasks are difficult and how they can be adapted.

Rather than focusing on limitations, Akgerman said the goal is to help farmers build on what they can still do.

“It’s too easy to focus on what you can’t do,” she said. “They know exactly what they can’t do. We want to talk about what they can do.”

For Len, the assistance means he can continue contributing to the family farm he’s loved working his entire life—a job that remains deeply meaningful to him and his family.

Learn more about Len and his journey with AgrAbility

Photos by Logan Wallace – The Ohio State University