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GONZALES – The Ehrigs are not the average farm and ranch couple. Larry Ehrig, 55, works from a wheelchair due to a degenerative spinal condition and multiple sclerosis. His wife, Norma, suffered two strokes in one year.
But in spite of their physical impairments, the Ehrigs say they are blessed.
"We get a lot of support from our family and the community," Norma Ehrig said. "And the information and guidance we've gotten from the AgrAbility program has been really useful too."
The Ehrigs, who plant corn, milo and wheat, plus raise cattle on about 10,000 acres near Gonzales, are among an estimated 50,000 farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers in the state who have some type of disability.
"We have our problems, but they don't keep us from doing what we need to do," Larry Ehrig said.
The Ehrigs cite Texas AgrAbility as a factor in their ability to take care of their farming and ranching activities, as well as help take care of the feed store Larry co-owns with his two brothers.
The Texas AgrAbility Project is part of the National AgrAbility Project, which grew from the 1990 Farm Bill. The program is available to people with physical, cognitive or illness-related disabilities who work in agriculture or agriculture-related fields.
"We found out about AgrAbility when we saw their display at the rodeo," Norma Erich said. There they saw a tractor adapted for ranch use by a person with a disability and decided to find out more about the program.
About four years ago, the Ehrigs invited some people involved in Texas AgrAbility to their ranch for a site assessment.
"They spent the day looking around and told us about some products they knew of that we might want to look at for around our ranch and house," Larry Ehrig explained.
AgrAbility grants are awarded to Extension services of land-grant universities throughout the U.S. These grants require that Extension organizations partner with non-profit organizations serving people with disabilities.
In Texas, this partnership is between Texas Cooperative Extension, part of the Texas A&M University system, and the Warm Springs Rehabilitation System Resource Center.
Texas AgrAbility helps disabled agricultural workers through technical assistance, such as adaptive tools and technology, professional training and education, and access to useful resources, said David Smith, agricultural engineer with Extension farm safety and Texas AgrAbility project coordinator.
"We help determined people find the resources, training and equipment they need to get back to work in their agricultural profession," he said. "We help them locate and acquire what they need to maintain and improve their livelihood through better productivity."
Texas AgrAbility helped Larry Ehrig find a lift that could be welded into his truck bed in order to get in and out of his wheelchair, as well as onto other farm equipment. He is now having that lift transferred onto a trailer.
"That way, I can just use it when I need it, instead of having it in the back of my truck and having to take it with me any time I have to go somewhere," he said.
Disabled farmers and ranchers in Texas have additional challenges because they live in a large state with scattered resources, Smith said.
"One of the most crucial things we can do in this state is help agriculture workers with disabilities with any mobility problems they may have," he said. "We try to help them overcome physical barriers so they can do more by themselves."
Texas AgrAbility works with manufacturers who make equipment for impaired agricultural workers. They also help agricultural workers with disabilities identify and locate farming and gardening tools and equipment to improve their productivity.
"Along with tractors, lifts and other large pieces of equipment, there are things like shop and gardening tools designed to reduce the amount of pressure placed on the joints," Smith said. "There are also gates and latches designed to allow easy access to pastures or corrals."
In some instances, Texas AgrAbility helps agriculture workers with disabilities acquire the tools or equipment they need. In others, the program helps identify tools or items they can buy or make themselves, or have made locally.
For more expensive adaptive equipment, Texas AgrAbility helps people who cannot afford some of these items get in contact with agencies or organizations that provide grants or low-interest loans.
"We're here for anyone who's disabled and does agriculture-based work," said Donna Teall, AgrAbility program coordinator at the Warm Springs resource center in San Antonio. "This can be a disabled spouse or child who wants to contribute, as well as the farmer or rancher with a disability."
To qualify, a person only needs to demonstrate an income of $1,000 or more annually from an agriculture-related activity, Teall said.
"We work with farmers, ranchers, family members, primary care givers, health professionals, such as occupational therapists and physical therapists, and others to give people technical and practical support," she said.
One way Texas AgrAbility serves entire families in which someone is disabled is through its Caregiver Program, Teall added.
"This program helps family members learn strategies to care for themselves and others, as well as finding community resources that may provide care," she said.
Teall and Norma Ehrig recently talked about her participating in this program.
"That sounds wonderful," Ehrig said, "because even when I feel like I'm being helpful, I know there are times Larry would prefer I didn't help him. It would be nice to know more about what I should do or when I should do it."
Independence is a primary goal of Texas AgrAbility, Teall said.
"Sometimes it's difficult for independent-minded people to use our services," she explained. "We want people to understand we're here to empower them and add to their independence."
The Texas AgrAbility program is here to help people with disabilities succeed by introducing them to ways they can become more self-sufficient, she added.
"I've got a lot of people around who want to help me and who do help me," said Larry Ehrig. "But what I'd really like is to be able to go wherever I want and do whatever I want without having to rely on them."
Information on the Texas AgrAbility program is available at http://txagrability.tamu.edu/ or by calling the toll-free number, (866) 601-6444.
