Bridging Horizons in West Virginia
Youth Community Projects
Sponsored by West Virginia AgrAbility
"How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
- Anne Frank (1929-1945)
What is Bridging Horizons?
Farming in West Virginia is a rich part of our Appalachian Heritage. Farming can sometimes be risky, however, and many farmers experience injuries and age-related health conditions. These limitations can make work or daily life on the farm more difficult, whether working with livestock, equipment or a variety of tools.
Youth groups in West Virginia have a long history of making a positive difference in their communities. Bridging Horizons is designed to provide support to youth groups as they help members of their rural communities.
The challenge is to identify low cost modifications to overcome physical barriers and increase independence and success for a farmer, or farm family member with a disability in your community.
A youth group might also choose to coordinate a fundraising campaign for a local individual to help cover the cost of a device that would allow the individual to continue farming.
Project Ideas
The following are ideas that might help your group get started on a project for Bridging Horizons in West Virginia. For more project ideas call us at 800-841-8436 or e-mail agrability@hsc.wvu.edu Remember, your potential project is only limited by your creativity.
Do you know someone with a big garden who has trouble squatting down to maintain it?
Purchase and donate a cart that can be scooted through a garden or around a shop for people who have trouble walking.
Do you know someone who harvests vegetables?
Make a seated harvest cart from existing designs.
Is your school's farm plot or greenhouse accessible?
Clear a pathway, build a bridge over a ditch, remove big rocks and twigs, mow some of the tall weeds, compact soil or make a walkway out of crushed limestone or woodchips so that a wheelchair can maneuver more easily.
Do you know someone with a neck injury?
Install rearview mirrors on farm equipment to reduce twisting when backing up.
Do you know someone with a hand or foot injury?
- Build hand controls to operate a tractor's clutch pedal or brake for an individual with limited leg strength.
- Design shovels, rakes or other tool handles that make the tool usable with one hand.
Do you know a farm family member with a visual impairment?
Install wind chimes in different locations to assist them in getting around the farm by listening to the chimes.
Do you know someone who has trouble getting on and off their tractor?
Install a self-attaching tongue hitch on a trailer so they won't have to get off the tractor each time they hook on an implement.
Do you know someone with livestock?
Build a swing-out-door feeding system so an individual won't have to climb into a pen with the animals to fill feed buckets.
Do you know someone who needs an all terrain wheelchair or tractor lift?
Sponsor a fundraiser for a farmer in your community to help pay for an expensive equipment modification.
How can we help?
West Virginia AgrAbility offers education and assistance to farm families impacted by disability or chronic health conditions. We work with farm families around the state, whether they have arthritis, an amputation or other kind of physical limitation, to identify ways to modify equipment, tools and tasks for easier use.
We can provide plans, a list of vendors and other resources to assist youth groups with their community service projects. We will also help promote your good deeds through the media and through our statewide exhibits, to make sure your group receives recognition for its efforts.
How do you get started?
- Identify a community need or an individual who could benefit from your service by talking to your parents, grandparents or other community members
- Research the various tools or modifications to existing tools that might make a specific task easier
- Design, construct, install or raise money to purchase a tool or device
If you find yourself at a loss for ideas in any of these stages, give us a call. We can help connect you with farm families in need, as well as provide you with resources on tools and plans already available.
c/o Center for Excellence in Disabilities
959 Hartman Run Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
