Riding with Limitation

~Abi Jensen, AAW Intern

Though it may not seem likely that horseback riding can help with daily life on the farm, the facts say it all.

Studies on therapeutic horseback riding show that movement of the horse helps develop balance while strengthening core muscles, and the faster the horse goes the more these muscles improve and balance advances. The muscles in your core are those that help with posture, bending, twisting, lifting, reaching and standing — all activities that are necessary on daily basis, and more so with work on the farm.

Another benefit of horseback riding is relieving stress while exercising. Exercise is proven to improve heart health, but it is hard to find time for exercise, especially for those who are working on the farm day in and day out. The good news is that horseback riding, even though it seems like a leisure activity, is just as effective as the same hours spent in the gym and is more enjoyable. Horseback riding puts little pressure on joints, making it a great exercise for people who need the physical activity, but who cannot tolerate most other options.

However, horseback riding is not just for those who have physical improvements or limitations, the benefits of working with a horse have shown to improve many mental health issues, including depression. When riding, the horse and rider develop a connection, one that is not easily explained. The rider talks to their horse through body language, leg movements, specific sounds, rein movements, and pats on the neck. But no two horse and rider are the same; each has their own special language.

The benefits of horseback riding are evident and finding a riding facility should be easy because there are plenty to choose from in every county. Of course, each rider has their own reasons for seeking out a riding facility. Some are using horseback riding to ease the pain of arthritis, while another is managing the effects of a stroke, and a couple riders are trying to gain more joint mobility.

Now, the stretch to get in the saddle may seem impossible, but facilities strive to fit the needs of every rider with modified saddles, steps, ramps, reins and activities. A few riders may even require the assistance of wheel chairs and other walking aids, and with a little assistance and a helmet they are able to ride.

Though horseback riding will not guarantee miracles, it can give a second chance at improved mobility and less pain.

AgrAbility of Wisconsin Summit Recap

AgrAbility of Wisconsin hosted its annual summit on March 16th in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The day started with an introduction to Wisconsin agriculture from Zoey Brooks, Alice in Dairyland.

Brian Luck, AgrAbility Co-Director and UW-Extension Precision Agriculture & Machinery Specialist, discussed current and upcoming assistive technologies on the farm. Keith Posselt, a Wisconsin farmer, shared his story and experience with AgrAbility.

Kevin Bernhardt, UW-Platteville professor in Agribusiness, UW- Extension Farm Management Specialist and Director of the Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement (PACCE), covered financial management of farms and gave tips on handling transitions into and out of the family farm.

Karen Gefvert from Governmental Relations at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, covered many hot topics in agriculture including the current situation in the government in relation to agriculture and the endangered wolf population in Wisconsin.

The summit concluded with Tanya Schaer, an occupational therapist at Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital. Tanya provided many examples of safer ways to go about working on the farm to prevent body injuries and stretches to help with the completion of every-day tasks.

AgrAbility would like to thank project partners for the Summit for making this year’s summit a success, namely the National Farm Medicine Center, UW- Extension, and Easter Seals.

If you would like more information regarding the AgrAbility of Wisconsin Summit, please contact our office: (608) 262-9336 or email at aaw@ wiscmailplus.wisc.edu.

Watch your newsletters for information about next year’s AgrAbility Summit.

UW Extension’s Farm Succession Educational Programs

Farm succession is a process that can take years to implement and complete. For many farmers it is a process that happens once or twice in a career. In comparison, daily farm tasks and production management decisions can provide more immediate gratification to managers. For these reasons, it is easy to delay and avoid retirement and farm succession planning.

Yet the need and requests for farm succession education and facilitation continues to increase. Farmers are considerably older than the rest of the U.S. labor force. Over 25% of all farmers, and about half of all agricultural landlords are 65 or older, compared with only about 3% of the overall labor force. Older farm operators and landowners operate over one-third of all farm assets and are staying on the farm longer than previous generations. The 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture noted that the fastest growing group of farm operators is those 65 years and older, with a 22% increase over the 2002 Ag Census data. While Wisconsin principal operators’ average age is one of the younger averages, Wisconsin’s average age of the principal operator continues to move upward, from 52 years in 1997 to an average 55 years in 2007.

UW-Extension has developed and offered several types of educational and informational workshops to help farm businesses with their farm succession questions. These workshops range from one, two, three and even four day workshops. Returning to the Farm’s goal is to provide farms considering a multiple generation business the opportunity to begin the conversation and investigate the possibilities of farming together. The program is an opportunity for students and their families to discuss individual issues related to their farm transfer.

At the end of the session participants have an action plan for their next steps in the process and access to specialists and county faculty for continuing support with their families’ farm succession. UW-Extension educators also assists farm businesses as facilitators of the farm succession discussion. The facilitator can assist, guide and coach the farm business through a process that will result
in a farm business succession plan. It is the facilitator’s responsibility to manage the process. Those involved in the farm business are responsible for the decisions made and the final outcome.

The goals of Extension’s farm succession educational programs:
• Raise awareness of the issues
• Motivate them to take action
• Assist with goal and priority clarification
• Offer options and a framework for evaluation of those options
• Develop action steps
• Make their time with other professionals more effective and efficient.

Programs

Transferring the Farm in a High Stakes Era
•One day program
• Introduction of the common farm succession issues
• Motivation to take action
• Resources available

Returning to the Farm

• Held at UW Platteville or UW River Falls
• Total of 4 days (two Friday/Saturdays)
• Requires at least one person from each generation to attend.
• Planning sessions are scheduled into the agenda
• Follow up available to continue the planning work
Shifting Gears in Your Later Farming Years

• Two day workshops focusing on retirement planning
• Addresses estate, financial as well as lifestyle transition issues

Peer discussion groups

• Focused on farm succession
• A mix of speakers, peer discussion/ support and accountability to keep moving through the action plan

Succession Facilitation

• Helps farm businesses start the conversation
• Organize their goals and priorities and thoughts to make their meetings with ag service professionals more effective/efficient

A Tribute to a Life of Service

Manuel Lugo passed away peacefully on January 27, 2015 at the age of 67. Manuel Lugo has been described as a leader, mentor, educator and innovator with a one-of-a-kind personality by those who knew him. He spent his life devoting his time to serving others. After graduating with a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Manuel enlisted in the US Air Force where he spent four years of active duty and two years in the reserves.

Manuel began his career with the Wisconsin State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) in 1975. He served migrant farmers and workers as well as Native Americans during his early professional career. The experiences he had working with these cultures gave him a great idea of what to expect when he started working with Wisconsin farmers in partnership with AgrAbility.

While working with AgrAbility clients, Manuel enjoyed seeing how modifications and equipment worked on different farms. He appreciated and encouraged the get your “boots on the farm” atmosphere created by the staff and partners. In 2008, during his time with DVR, and assisting AgrAbility clients, the rate of individuals receiving services with successful employment was close to 95%. Obviously, Manuel had a great influence on Wisconsin farmers and the AgrAbility program.