AgrAbility Virginia Peer Network

The newsletter of the AgrAbility Virginia can be seen by clicking below to view the newsletter (PDF format).

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The national newsletter- AgrAbility Quarterly is currently available online at: http://www.AgrAbilityProject.org

AgrAbility Virginia Peer Support Network

A growing strength of AgrAbility Virginia is the AgrAbility Virginia Peer Network. Members of the Peer Network are farmers who have experienced a disability or health problem and are willing to volunteer their time and resources to help others.

Responsibilities include:

Provide individual support of other farmers with similar needs
Share information about assistive equipment tools and devices that have been useful
Hospital and farm visits
Volunteer to staff awareness exhibits at farm shows and other events.

Below are a few of individuals who make themselves available as members of the AgrAbility Virginia Peer Support Network. If you would like to get in touch with one of these individuals to talk with, etc. please contact AgrAbility Virginia, and we’ll get you the contact information for the individual. Thanks.

BARRY ARRINGTON (44 years old; male): A fall from a hunting tree stand left Barry paralyzed from the chest down with some use of his arms and hands intact. He is able to do the business administrative work for his apple orchard business and beef cattle business, as well as use his specially designed Ventrac Tractor to clean out the barn, cut water ditches, haul stone/dirt/manure, mow grass and clip pastures. He also still remains an avid hunter.

RUDY RASH (52 years old; male): Rheumatoid arthritis has afflicted Rudy’s hands, feet, and back. He deals with daily pain and restrictions. But he is gradually building back up a beef cattle operation. His first steps require making his 1950 Ford tractor easier to mount and dismount, while assuring continued safety. He has extensively researched sources for upgrades and modification ideas for his tractor, and is in the process of implementing these. Once the tractor is modified and deemed safe he will proceed to the next steps of further developing his operation.

DALE KNICELY (49 years old; male): Dale (a Mennonite dairy farmer) lost a leg to a corn picker when he was 15. Through the use of a prosthetic leg he has continued to be involved in agriculture all of his life. He currently runs two dairy operations, and is able to do most of the work that is required for the operations. He also has his own shop where many of the necessary modifications for his machinery, etc. are made by him to accommodate the farm and his special needs. He is very open to assisting others do the same if they can bring their machinery to his shop. Dale along with his friend, Art Mitchell, run an amputee support group out of a Rockingham County hospital.

KATIE GWINN (55 years old; female): Katie is specialized crop farmer (organic produce, greens) and a dairy goat farmer. She also runs a “Homestead Farming” educational program, while personally maintaining the farming operation, including buildings, planting beds, fencing and roads. Katie suffers from chronic pain related to a car accident injury which affected her neck, shoulders and back, and is finding adaptive ways and means to reduce the strain on her body while maintaining her productivity.

BILL CRAWFORD (59 years old; male): Bill operates a hay growing business with his wife. They serve primarily horse owners. Bill suffers from a spinal disease that has affected use of both his arms/hands and his legs. He is seeking and developing ways to assist him in his ability to drive the tractors and to deal with hydraulic hose changes on the machinery.