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Agribility presenter urges farmers with disabilities to seek assessments and assistive technology
Summary
Martin Frick, a retired MSU agriculture professor, described Agribility’s on‑farm assessments, assistive‑technology recommendations and youth farm‑safety outreach; board members suggested school safety sessions and community outreach at county fairs.
Martin Frick, a retired professor from Montana State University working with Agribility, told the Madison County Board of Health on June 16 that the USDA‑funded program performs comprehensive assessments for farmers and ranchers with physical disabilities and helps identify assistive technologies to keep them working safely.
"We go out and do an assessment," Frick said, describing long assessments that examine all aspects of an operation and lead to recommendations such as vision cameras for drivers and tire‑changing machines for farms with many pieces of equipment.
Frick said Agribility also helps people with arthritis, MS and Parkinson’s disease and partners with vocational rehabilitation when equipment funding is needed. He described the Agribility “toolbox,” a searchable database of assistive technologies useful to farmers recovering from injury or losing function.
Board members and attendees discussed opportunities for youth education and farm‑safety outreach. Frick described classroom substitution and four‑wheeler safety sessions he has delivered in local high schools and said he plans to have a presence at county fairs (Twin Bridges, Sheridan) to raise awareness and gather referrals.
Board members offered local examples and volunteered to help coordinate school visits and community events. No formal action was requested or taken; Frick invited attendees to contact him for assessments or referrals.
