Ontario Farmer Overcomes Obstacles
For people like Alan Martalock, farming is in their blood. Having been born and raised on a farm, he now owns and operates a 245 acre farm in Ontario, Wisconsin.
Many years of farming have started to take their toll on Alan’s body. Along with a shoulder replacement in 2005 and a knee replacement in 2006, Alan had multiple hernia surgeries as well as three disks fused in his lower back. He was also suffering from arthritis in his right hand and developed carpal tunnel syndrome in his left wrist. To accomodate Alan’s impairments, his wife Carolene took over many of the daily farm chores. “I learned how to do everything except run the corn picker,” she said. However, Carolene began to have issues with arthritis as well and farm tasks were becoming tougher to accomplish.
Alan and Carolene heard about the AgrAbility program from one of their former farm assistants whose new employer had been a former client of AgrAbility. Garolene said, “He told us to contact his employer because he thought there was a good chance that they would be able to help us.”
In the past few years, the Martalocks have switched from a dairy herd of approximately 45 cows to a beef herd of comparable size. In doing so, they were able to eliminate some of the tasks that were giving them trouble, but it was still a struggle to complete many tasks. This struggle, coupled with a reduction in available labor, lead them to contact AgrAbility.
Following an assessment, several modifications were made to the farm. Alan mentioned that he was having difficulty lifting and moving square hay bales so a round baler was purchased. Round bales are easier to manipulate mechanically and eliminate the need for a bale thrower.
When Alan noted that he had difficulty climbing on and off of his tractors, step kits were added to reduce the distance from the ground to the first step. Along with the steps, new seat cushions were put in the tractors to reduce his back pain.
The Martalocks now use a Gehl skid steer to accomplish many tasks around the farm. Carolene noted that the skid steer has made it easier to move small loads around the farm and to lift and move the round bales. The skid steer’s size is convenient for fitting into tighter areas around the farm so there is less lifting and less hauling than was needed when they used the tractor for the same purpose.
Another addition to the farm is a Kubota utility vehicle. According to Carolene, the utility vehicle “has been a godsend. We use it to distribute sand and stone, as well as a manure spreader.”
“I wish there were more people that could be helped by this program,” said Carolene. “I know there are other people out there that are caught in the same position as we were. AgrAbility has meant more years that we can continue to farm.”
SAFETY FEATURE: WARNING SIGNS OF A STROKE
By: Ryan Adams, Doctor of Physical Therapy student at UW-Madison
FARM program Assistive Technology Assistant
As I train for my future career as a physical therapist, I have learned to spot a range of diseases as they occur. It is critical that patients quickly receive the medical attention that is needed to prevent further damage. Today I am writing about recognizing traditional and somewhat less well-known signs and symptoms of a stroke.
Most symptoms of a major stroke are easy to spot. Cardinal indicators include: weakness and/or numbness in an arm, leg, or face, sudden dimness or loss of vision, diffuculty speaking or understanding speech, a splitting headache, and unexplained weakness or dizziness. If a smaller artery is blocked the results might be more difficult to recognize. They could include delayed processing, exaggerated/abnormal sensations, hallucinations, and failure to recognize familiar objects/people.
This list is an extensive but not exhaustive list of symptoms that could result from a stroke. Equally important is that a stroke can include a combination of symptoms. Some strokes arise progressively while others come on rapidly. If you have a combination of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
If you are worried about or have a family history of stroke, the best thing you can do is try to keep your blood pressure low. Research has shown that lowering the diastoloc blood pressure can decrease your risk of stroke by up to 40%.
I do not intend to make you think that every little ache or pain could be caused by a stroke. Rather, I hope this helps you recognize groupings of symptoms so that you may know when to seek medical help.
Partners….Vicki Cooper
Hello, my name is Vicki Cooker and I am new to AgrAbility of Wisconsin, serving as your Outreach Specialist here in Madison.
I am the third generation in our operation’s small family dairy farm in DeForest, WI. Working on our family farm and other farms, I know the danger of farming and the dedication it takes to pursue such a passion. This has allowed me the chance to gain an appreciation for production agriculture and the difficulties along the long road to success.
I was a typical kid looking forward to summer and showing my holsteins. When I was young, I was involved in 4-H, FFA, and numerous agriculture groups in the state. My experiences growing up were very different from those of my town friends. I was given responsibility and accountability at a young age.
With my life filled with agriculture, I am excited to be a part of this organization. I have a unique opportunity to bring my experiences to build on the solid foundation that has been there for twenty years.I started my position after the first of the year and I am familiarizing myself with my duties. In the short time I have been here,I have learned how important this program is to so many people in the agriculture industry. I have met amazing people that are involved in the program and I am excited to hear stories and get to know clients all over Wisconsin.
If you attend one of the farm shows and see the AgrAbility of Wisconsin booth, I hope you will stop by and say ‘hi’ or share a few stories.
Vicki Cooper
Outreach Specialist
AgrAbility of Wisconsin
Upcoming Events:
AgrAbility ofWisconsin is always looking for better ways to serve farmers. This spring we will be visiting several farm shows throughout the state of Wisconsin. Feel free to stop by and speak with a member of our team. If you have worked with us in the past, we would love to hear about your experiences with AgrAbility. We will be at the following shows:
March 18-19
Wisconsin Agriculture Women’s Summit
Wisconsin Dells, WI
March 29-31
WPS Farm Show-
Oshkosh, WI
June 13-16
Wisconsin State FFA Convention
Madison, WI
June 12-14
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days
Marshfield, WI
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This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under special project number 2014-41590-22330. UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA. If you need this material in another format, please contact AgrAbility of Wisconsin at (608) 262-9336. |
Plowing Ahead