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Workshops focus on helping ag operators with disabilitiesColorado George Golen won't dispute that he cooks a mean beef stroganoff, but despite severe rheumatoid arthritis, he also still likes to get out in his tractor and help out on his family's 5,000-acre ranch. The arthritis, which he was diagnosed with in 1996, makes it difficult for him to bend his knees or twist his neck. Despite this, a new seat recently installed in his tractor through help provided by the AgrAbility Project, will allow Golen to still bale hay. The specially designed seat, purchased through a grant provided by Sodexo and Easter Seals, includes suspension and a swivel. Plans call for AgrAbility to also install a step and rail on the tractor to ensure Golen's disability doesn't keep him out of the field on his family's ranch located on the Colorado/Wyoming border near Glendevey, Colo. "The ranch has been in my wife's family--the Hohnholz family--since 1917," Golen noted. "I enjoy cooking, but it's nice also to get out on the tractor," said Golen, 58. "We're working to build up our herd of Black Angus cows after the drought knocked us for a loop a few years back. We had 200 head then, but just have 50 now." AgrAbility is a unique government-funded program run by Colorado State University Extension and Easter Seals Colorado. The program assists farmers and ranchers with disabilities so they can stay on their farms and ranches. The project is holding a series of workshops across the state this winter. An AgrAbility workshop will be conducted in Yuma at the First Presbyterian Church Feb. 11, 2010 at 9 a.m. AgrAbility will provide free workshops in eleven communities throughout Colorado this winter, with Yuma among those communities. "Living with Visual Impairments and Other Physical Challenges on the Ranch/Farm" is this year's workshop topic. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon with a free lunch from noon to 1 p.m. for those who pre-register at least one week before the workshop. This workshop is for farm and ranch families with disabilities and other challenges and for professionals who work with them. For more information about the Colorado AgrAbility Project please contact Bob Fetsch at Colorado State University Extension (970-491-5648 or fetsch@cahs.colostate.edu).
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