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Rancher gets back on his feet thanks to Colorado AgrAbilityColorado Ranching has been a lifelong commitment for Gary Sandoval. It is something he planned on doing his whole life. That was until he developed serious back pain caused by years of hard work. Three back surgeries later, the pain had only gotten worse. He knew if he didn't get some relief, his way of life was threatened. Then he saw an ad for the Colorado AgrAbilty Workshops. These workshops, which are held every winter in different locations throughout Colorado, address issues unique to farmers and ranchers facing challenges due to injury, illness or disability. Sandoval signed up. That's when Colorado AgrAbility stepped in. Easter Seals Colorado's AgrAbility Coordinator, Jason Beck and occupational therapist Marsha Hunt visited Sandoval at his home to see how they could help. "After seeing the tractor Gary was working on, it was obvious the seat was part of the problem," states Beck. "I knew we would have to replace it with one that would support his back more." And that's what they did. After researching what was available, Hunt found the seat that Sandoval needed. Through a grant from National Easter Seals, the seat was purchased and installed on the tractor. The day it was installed, Sandoval was able to level 180 acres. "Everything was going great," said Hunt. "Then, on another visit, I saw the seat on a second tractor that Gary used. It was so bad we decided it needed to be replaced too." Sandoval has worked on a ranch his entire life and most of that time it has been for someone else. "I always wanted to work for myself," states Sandoval. "Now I have 180 acres, and I couldn't work for more than an hour before I had to stop. The pain was so bad, I thought if I can't work the farm, I'm going to have to sell it. Now I can work all day." Sandoval grows, cuts and bales hay three times each season. Although Sandoval still suffers from back pain, he is able to work and has decided not to sell. This year the Colorado AgrAbility Project will offer 16 free workshops in 8 communities throughout the state (see schedule below). On most days there will be a workshop in the morning and a workshop in the afternoon. The morning workshop, titled "Got Knee/Hip/Joint Problems on the Ranch/Farm?" is open to farm and ranch families and will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Lunch will be provided for those who pre-register. The afternoon workshops are for professionals who work with farm and ranch families with disabilities. The workshop will focus on "AgrAbility & Utilizing Knee, Hip, and Joint Problem Resources with Farmers and Ranchers with Disabilities." The afternoon workshops will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to pre-register for a workshop, contact Dr. Bob Fetsch at 970-491-5648 or e-mail fetsch@cahs.colostate.edu. Colorado AgrAbility workshop schedule: --Monte Vista: Jan. 29, San Luis Valley Information Center at 947 1st Ave. with Eleanor West 719-852-7381. Pre-registration Deadline: Jan. 22. --Trinidad: Jan. 30, Trinidad Junior College Sullivan Student Center at 600 Prospect Ave. with Dean Oatman 719-846-6881. Pre-registration Deadline: Jan. 23. --Westcliffe: Jan. 31, Cliff Lanes at 25 Main St. with Karen Crumbaker 719-783-2514. Pre-registration Deadline: Jan. 24. --Sterling: Feb. 5, Logan County Extension Office at 508 South 10th Ave., Suite 1 with Bruce Bosley 970-522-3200, ext. 285. Pre-registration Deadline: Jan. 28. --Yuma: Feb. 7, First Presbyterian Church at 110 W. 4th Ave. with Dennis Kaan 970-345-2287. Pre-registration Deadline: Jan. 31. --Aurora: Feb. 8, Arapahoe County Fairgrounds at 25690 East Quincy Avenue with Dale Edwards 303-738-7907. Pre-registration Deadline: Feb. 1. --Meeker: Feb. 20, Meeker Extension Office at 779 Sulphur Creek Road with Bill Ekstrom 970-878-9490. Pre-registration Deadline: Feb. 13. --Walden: Feb. 21, Soil Conservation District Building at 312 Fifth St. with Debbie Alpe 970-723-4298. Pre-registration Deadline: Feb. 14. Colorado State University Extension and Easter Seals Colorado work together on the Colorado AgrAbility Project to provide workshops, on-site evaluations, and information directly to farm and ranch families for equipment modification and assistive technology. The USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service funds the Colorado AgrAbility Project, a Colorado State University Extension Program, which aims to keep farmers and ranchers healthy and able to continue their agricultural operations. 1/14/08 Date: 1/9/08
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