In 1979, a farmer with severe disabilities asked Purdue's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering for help with modifying his tractor so he could continue farming. His request ultimately led to the establishment of the Breaking New Ground (BNG) Resource Center, now an internationally recognized source of information on assistive technology for agricultural worksites.
Soon after it started, the BNG Resource Center established the Breaking New Ground Outreach Program to serve rural Indiana residents affected by disabilities. The BNG Outreach Program, a part of Purdue Extension, became a model for the USDA AgrAbility Program that now supports similar projects in more than 20 states, including Indiana.
The Indiana AgrAbility Project serves farmers and other rural residents with disabilities through a collaborative effort between the USDA, the BNG Outreach Program, and several disability- and agriculture-related organizations, Easterseals Crossroads, Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation, the Veterans' Administration, and Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Click here to view the Indiana AgrAbility brochure
Indiana AgrAbility Team
Meet the team