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Colorado AgrAbility hosts workshopsColorado Getting out of bed can be difficult for a person with rheumatoid arthritis or muscular sclerosis. For ranchers and farmers, these types of diagnoses can make running their agricultural operations nearly impossible. Colorado AgrAbility Project, a NIFA-funded program run by Goodwill Industries of Denver and Colorado State University Extension, will host a series of local workshops to provide information to farm and ranch families with disabilities and to professionals who work with them about programs and tools to help operate their farm or ranch despite physical challenges. "Sometimes simple steps like retrofitting a tractor with a swiveling seat and extra rails and steps can be enough to get ranchers or farmers back to work," said Colorado State University professor and Colorado AgrAbility Project Director Bob Fetsch. "These workshops teach ranchers and farmers about changes they can make to help them work their businesses." The effects of long-term scoliosis, multiple joint replacements and numerous broken bones resulted in reduced lung volume capacity, limited mobility and work productivity for Jackie Weimer. The breathing difficulties and restricted ability to move about her horse ranch in Bennett, Colo., caused Weimer trouble completing daily chores such as training, feeding and cleaning out the horse stalls. Her husband, Jim, was left both maintaining the ranch and overseeing the breeding operation for the professional race horses they raise. Colorado AgrAbility and the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation helped Jackie get a utility vehicle that she uses to help her get around her ranch, as well as a manure-vacuum to help clean the horse stalls. Colorado AgrAbility will host free workshops across Colorado this winter. For more information about the Colorado AgrAbility Project or to pre-register, participants can call Fetsch 970-491-5648 or robert.fetsch@colostate.edu or visit www.agrability.cahs.colostate.edu. Colorado State University and Goodwill Industries of Denver work together on the Colorado AgrAbility Project to provide on-site evaluations, resource information, disability workshops, equipment modification and assistive technology. The US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides funding for the Colorado AgrAbility Project. --Steamboat Springs, Jan. 18, Routt County Commissioners' Hearing Room, 3rd floor at 136 6th Street, Old Courthouse with C.J. Mucklow, 970-879-0825. --Trinidad, Jan. 31, Trinidad College Sullivan Student Center at 600 Prospect Ave. with Dean Oatman, 719-846-6881. --Lamar, Feb. 1, Lamar Community College, Trustee's Building at 2401 South Main with Bruce Fickenscher, 719-438-5321. --Pueblo, Feb. 2, Pueblo Zoo at 3455 Nuckolis Avenue with Marvin Reynolds, 719-583-6566. --Holyoke, Feb. 7, Extension Office Events Center at 22505 Hwy. 385 with Dennis Kaan 970-345-2287. --Ft. Morgan, Feb. 8, Ft. Morgan Extension Office at 914 E. Railroad Ave. with Bruce Bosely, 970-768-6449. --Aurora, Feb. 9, Arapahoe County Fairgrounds & Event Center, Room 1 at 25690 East Quincy Avenue with Dale Edwards, 303-730-1920.
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