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December 2002

A View from the Field: Erie County

The ability to live with a disability
Editors note: This article was first published in the Dairy Farmers of America’s publication, the Leader.

As he went about the chores on his Erie County, Pa., dairy farm on a bitterly cold January morning, Randy Meabon was thinking that 1977 was going to be a very good year. Just two months before, he had become the sole owner of a third generation farm not far from the shores of Lake Erie. By the time the snow thawed in April, Meabon would bring a partner into his farm and into his life — his bride, Paula.

Just after 10 a.m., Meabon struggled with the frozen silo unloader. In his knee-high rubber boots, he straddled the auger to add weight to the iced-up equipment. One good jerk of the machine, and merely seconds later, Meabon’s left foot slipped and was pulled into the auger. For more than two hours, Meabon fought to stay conscious while the 20 degrees below zero temperature congealed his blood and constriction of the machine caused a tourniquet that kept him from bleeding to death.

“I lay there for more than two hours, knowing I needed to stay conscious, trusting that my Dad’s hired hand and my friend, Richard Gilkinson, would likely check in with me sometime around noon,” explained Meabon. When Gilkinson found Meabon, he quickly alerted rescue teams to extract him from the equipment.

Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia struggled to save Meabon’s leg, but an artery burst and they were forced to amputate. It took three more surgeries before the doctors were satisfied with the remaining stump and would allow Meabon to return home — nearly three months after his ordeal began.

His bride still wanted to go through with their April wedding. Meabon, however, insisted it would not happen until he could walk down the isle. It was that spirit and determination that helped him get through the next few months as he struggled with his dependence on everyone to do, what seemed like, everything. “I learned patience the hard way,” says Meabon. “My stump took a long time to heal and I was dreadfully weak, having been down to 104 pounds at my sickest in the hospital. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life or the farm. My Dad had sent Richard to manage my farm, and things were getting done, but I was having trouble seeing how I was ever going to be able to farm on my own again.”

It was the height of summer and Meabon recalls worrying over 75 acres of hay that needed to be cut. One morning, a friend called and told Meabon to mow all the hay because he had enlisted enough people to bale it. More than 25 people worked in shifts over three days using 12 wagons and 2 balers to make over 7,000 bales of hay.

“That was a turning point for me. I started to believe that I could continue to farm, and I understood that though it was difficult to accept, all the help I needed was right there for the asking. Our friends, the church, my faith in God, were all that I needed to move forward and make my dreams a reality.”

The Meabons devised creative ways for him to return to farm chores. “I wore a St. Bernard dog collar around my neck,” explains Randy with his trademark grin. “That way I could use my crutches in the barn and I could hook the milkers on my collar to get from cow to cow.” Meabon was also able to operate tractors with a flat platform that would allow him to use his right leg for all operations.

At the time of Meabon’s accident, no formal programs were in place to provide the support to help him keep farming. That all changed with the 1990 Farm Bill when the AgrAbility program was launched.Today, when a farmer or rancher faces a health related crisis, AgrAbility provides support as soon as a person is ready to explore assistance opportunities. AgrAbility itself does not provide direct funding for any proposed recommendations, but rather connects clients with the state’s existing resources that can provide the necessary funding.

By 1997, the Meabon farm was thriving and they had developed systems to allow him to do the things that needed done throughout the farm. On-farm mobility continued to be a challenge, however, since farm grounds by nature are uneven and diverse — a real challenge for anyone using a prosthesis. After meeting with Meabon in 1997 to determine his remaining needs, AgrAbility staff approached Pennsylvania’s Office for Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to seek financial support to help purchase the equipment necessary to meet those needs.

Meabon was the first farmer that his regional OVR had ever worked with, but they were willing to accept the AgrAbility team’s assessments and support. Staff determined that a four-wheel drive utility vehicle would significantly improve his ability to move about the farm. Today, the John Deere Gator purchased by OVR has become his ‘legs.’

“I can’t imagine how I got around without it,” says Meabon enthusiastically. “Each time a person who is struggling with some type of disability is able to do a task, job, or activity alone, it goes a long way to restoring a sense of personal self-worth,” notes Meabon. “Everybody wants to feel useful, and it’s a shame to waste a person’s talents when there are ways to help someone be actively involved in life again. AgrAbility doesn’t just help restore people’s careers; it helps restore their self-worth.”

Bridging Horizons FFA Contest becomes reality!
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians is pleased to announce a new opportunity for our state, the “Bridging Horizons” FFA Contest. This program, which was originated by Breaking New Ground Outreach Program at Purdue University, provides FFA chapters around the state of Pennsylvania an opportunity to perform community service by seeking and completing projects that are beneficial to agricultural residents with disabilities. According to Breaking New Ground, the core outcome is “Enhancing independence and success in agriculture for individuals with disabilities and their families.”

An initial announcement has been sent out to all state FFA Chapters and detailed information will soon be following. Sample project ideas are also included and range from home accessibility modifications to modifying equipment that creates greater independence for the farmer or farm family. Pennsylvania’s pilot contest will begin in January 2003 and project completion reports will need to be returned by May 2003. Projects will be judged and winners will be announced at the State FFA Convention in June 2003. Monetary awards of $500, $250 and $100, sponsored by the Agway Foundation, will be given to the top three projects.

The outcome of this contest should be “win-win”. The individuals that are being assisted by the projects will gain further independence and are winners. The FFA chapter members are also winners as they promote a “living to serve” attitude in their community. These fine young individuals will make a positive difference in their communities by helping farmers or farm families overcome physical barriers. They will also experience a community-oriented agricultural educational experience that will further develop their premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Should you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to give us a call. Also, if you know of a project idea or an individual that a local chapter could assist, become a catalyst in communicating the need to your local FFA members. Contact Linda Fetzer at 814-863-7490 for more information.

From the Director’s Desk …
My daughter asked me a very important question over the weekend. She asked “what is AgrAbility?” I explained that AgrAbility is a national program that helps farmers and farm families remain in or return to agricultural production after experiencing an accident or medical problem. My daughter then asked if farmers have health insurance like my wife and I at Penn State University. I explained that farmers are self-employed and some farmers can’t afford the high cost of private insurance. She said that “farmers make lots of money because I bought an apple from the machine at school and it cost $.75.” It was sad that I had to explain that although she paid $.75 for an apple from a vending machine, the farmer probably received about 5 cents.

This line of questioning by my daughter gave me an opportunity to further explain AgrAbility and why the program is so important. I talked about workmen’s compensation that we have as a benefit at Penn State University by explaining that group health insurance plans and workmen’s compensation spread the cost over many employees of a company. Workmen’s compensation helps employees injured on the job. When a farmer is injured at his/her farm, there is not a program to help this farmer. This is where AgrAbility fits into the scenario. If AgrAbility knows about the injury and if the farmer wants help, we can make a professional evaluation and make recommendations to help. In many cases, the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) may assist by subsidizing needed equipment for the farmer. AgrAbility and OVR help to keep farmers farming. My daughter’s reply was “oh.”

As I think about the innocence of a child asking exploratory questions, I know that there are many adults who are uninformed as well. For anyone unfamiliar with AgrAbility, I hope these words enlightened you also.

Dr. Connie D. Baggett
AgrAbility Principal Investigator/Project Director
The Pennsylvania State University

Assistive Technology Highlight
Rollover Protective Structures have been voluntarily added safety feature on tractors since 1985, unless the tractor is being used for some specialized operation in fruit or vegetable production. Most farmers are using one or multiple tractors that were built prior to the voluntary action of tractor manufacturers in 1985. Tractors without ROPS do not provide a safety barrier against being crushed by a tractor that is rolling over. Ultimately, it is strongly recommended that tractors used in agricultural production be equipped with a ROPS. Along with the ROPS, a secure seat belt must be present and used by the operator during tractor operation.

A ROPS can also be viewed as Assistive Technology for farmers with an impairment, injury or disability as these conditions can often slow an individual’s reaction time. A ROPS and the proper use of the seat belt can keep the farmer secured in the operator’s seat on rough terrain and on slopes as well as provide protection from a rollover. AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians can assist in trying to locate ROPS for older model tractors. Call us at 866-238-4434 and adhere to safe tractor operations on your farm.

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For more information about AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians or share any ideas about articles for future editions, please contact either Linda or David.

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