Both Vern and Kathryn DeRaad grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota. After military service and 15 years working for the General Motors Corporation, Vern went back to dairy farming. The DeRaads have now run their 240-acre farm for 32 years. In 1991 Vern DeRaad was diagnosed with chronic leukemia for which there was no immediate treatment prescribed. In November 1993, he fell from a ladder while building a heifer shed and broke his back. He sustained a burst fracture of his L4 and L5 vertebrae, which required surgery to repair. Following the surgery he wore a body cast to keep his back stable and supported. The cast, however, often left him stiff, sore, and hot. In spring 2002 he was able to switch to a type of corset, which is much lighter and cooler.

After the accident his push-pull strength was diminished to 25 lbs. and he often experienced back pain, which together limited his ability to do the chores necessary to sustain the dairy operation. Kathryn could not handle all the chores by herself. They decided that to continue farming they would need to reorganize the operation. They chose to convert from a working dairy operation to a replacement dairy heifer operation. They sold the dairy cows, kept only the young Holstein heifer stock, and bought additional replacement heifers. It took about two years to build the new herd. During that time they had almost no farm income. Kathryn, a licensed practical nurse (LPN), started working full time at a regional hospital. After three years they had a 75 to 100 head herd but Vern still needed to find ways to modify the operation to accommodate his disabilities. In addition to the livestock, up until this spring 2002, the DeRaads grew corn, beans, hay, and oats.

While Vern was at home recovering after the back surgery, Kathryn received a call from a family friend (a social worker) who gave her information about the Minnesota AgrAbility Project. Kathryn contacted the AgrAbility Project staff and asked for assistance. Staff talked with Vern about his abilities and limitations and then conducted a worksite assessment. They discussed the results and decided that the modifications and accommodations necessary for him to continue to farm would include several items.

First of all, each of his three tractors were updated with several items including new, vibration-absorbing seats to minimize the discomfort and aggravation to his back, wide-angle mirrors to eliminate the need for him to twist in the seat to watch behind him when hitching and unhitching equipment, steps with a handrail to provide him easier access and more stability when getting on and off the tractors, and quick hitches to eliminate the need for him to get on and off the tractor to hitch and unhitch equipment. Electric winches were added to the silos to eliminate the need to hand turn the unloader crank and make it easier for him to operate the silo unloader without stressing his back and shoulder. Purchasing a Gator with a hydraulic lift on the box made it possible for him to back up to the feeders and fill them without needing to get off to fill them by hand. A self feeder for cattle was purchased to eliminate the need for him to stoop and bend when filling the feeders by hand. Two drive-though gates were added to save him time, energy, and discomfort caused by getting on and off a vehicle to open and close them. Kathryn says that, "AgrAbility staff told us about equipment we didn't know existed, like automatic hitching devices. We were so happy to learn about them."

In 2002, Vern injured his left rotator cuff and required more surgery. This year the DeRaads rented out their cropland and only handled their livestock. They have kept 80 acres and continue to raise heifers. Vern is now transporting the livestock to the buyers and is making an effort to establish a private trucking business.

The AgrAbility staff helped the DeRaads complete the necessary forms and paper work to request this assistance from the Minnesota Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). VR staff approved the request for purchase of the assistive technology. The DeRaads were then able to make all the modifications the AgrAbility staff recommended. The DeRaads say, "Without these changes we couldn't have stayed in business. We certainly appreciate what they [AgrAbility staff] did for us." They feel it is important to give something back to the program, so Vern has become an AgrAbility spokesperson for the Minnesota Farm Fest and a peer support volunteer. "It's [AgrAbility] there to help people it's a very good program and it's a deal!"