In 1966 Richard and Beth Maurer bought Richard’s family’s farm. Maurer never considered doing anything other than farming. “ I grew up with it [farming], liked doing it, and stayed with it,” he said. Maurer’s current farm operation includes 450 acres, a 60-cow herd of Holsteins, 60 head of heifers, and 125 steers.

Five years ago, at age 56, Maurer had a stroke. He spent a total of 59 days in the hospital and rehabilitation. During his time in rehabilitation he said his mind was on relearning everyday tasks, not on farming. “The last week in rehab they told me I could possibly go home at the end of the week and then it hit me,” Maurer remembered.

For the first year after the stroke, which affected his right side, he was unable to do much inside or outside the house. Gradually, as he recovered, he made his way outside with the use of a cane. As Maurer walked around the farm he would, “try what I could and couldn’t do. The doctors told me I would be starting over. One day, I went to run out feed and all the switches looked the same [to me]. I took time and thought about it and it came back to me, ” he noted.

A short time after he got home from rehab, his sister-in-law read about AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians in a farm magazine. She called Pennsylvania State University (PSU) to find out more about the program. AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians is a partnership between PSU Cooperative Extension and Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania. AgrAbility staff worked with Maurer suggesting a variety of modifications for his operation. Staff connected Maurer with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), which provided financial assistance that made it possible for him to make the needed improvements in his milking system. Among the several changes Maurer made to his equipment and operation, those made to his milking system were of the greatest value to him. “The milking system is something we use every day,” he says. About three years after the stroke he decided to purchase automatic detachers for the milking units. The detachers, however, were heavy and made it difficult for Maurer to move the units between cows with his limited balance and use of right hand.

Maurer learned that DeLaval (a milking equipment company) made a track system (an overhead monorail) for moving milking units between cow stations. With help from OVR, Maurer purchased the new system, which made it easier for him to switch milking units between cows without using energy to carry the units. The Delaval dealer waited to order the system until a new attachment for the milk-line connecter (a one-handed snap-on for electricity and vacuum connection cluster) was available. Given Maurer’s limited use of his right hand, this new feature made connecting the milking unit to the pipeline easier for him. The new system also made it easier for his wife to help with the milking.

Through his involvement with AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians, Maurer has learned to look for alternative ways to do tasks. “I try different things, mainly things I have to get a hold of with my hands. Try welding with your left hand! You learn to do it whether you want to or not,” he commented. A positive attitude has been a major factor in Maurer’s continued success in farming. He says, “You just have to have a good outlook and keep going. There are days you get extra tired and can’t do something…do the best you can and keep going.”