From Injury to Innovation: Sydni Mell’s Journey with AgrAbility
Sam and Sydni Mell
The Wisconsin FFA Half-Time Leadership Conference is a great opportunity for FFA members to create valuable connections and develop skills they will use in their future careers. As a tradition, the conference hosts a service project, and this year, attendees participated in a coin war challenge while raising money to support AgrAbility. Now, what exactly is AgrAbility?
Coins for a Cause Fundraiser for AgrAbility at the Wisconsin FFA Half-Time Conference.
Sydni Mell’s Story: Overcoming Challenges
Section 5, Wisconsin State Vice President, Sam Mell, was first exposed to this program when his sister, Sydni Mell, was severely injured on her farm about four years ago. Sydni recalls, “I was helping cut open a bunker so my uncle could feed that morning. I slipped off the edge and fell about 12 feet onto a concrete pad. As a result of the fall, I sustained a complete T5 spinal cord injury and was instantly paralyzed from the chest down. I also suffered broken ribs and a fractured skull. I was hospitalized at the UW Madison Hospital for a week, and then I spent about a month and a half at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago for rehabilitation.”
Adapting to paralysis has been an incredibly difficult journey, and Sydni notes that one of her greatest challenges was returning to the activities she loved, knowing she would be doing them differently. For example, she knew that showing cattle would be an uncomfortable obstacle to overcome. With much support and training from her family and friends, however, Sydni was not only able to get back into the show ring, but she also won showmanship, which opened her eyes to more opportunities. Over time, she began approaching tasks more creatively so she could continue contributing to her farm. This experience has shaped her viewpoint by pushing her to overcome what at first seemed impossible.
Sydni Mell winning showmanship.
Furthermore, Mell says, “Technology, innovation, and adaptive equipment have opened doors I never knew existed. I’ve learned the importance of asking the right questions, connecting with the right people, and staying motivated. It’s inspiring to see how companies and individuals are creating new solutions that make agriculture more innovative and inclusive, and it’s given me hope for what’s possible in the future.”
Sydni’s supportive family.
AgrAbility: A Source of Support
AgrAbility, according to Sydni, is one program that has helped her find solutions to challenges on the farm. They’ve worked with her to adapt and adjust tasks, allowing her to continue her work before the accident. AgrAbility has also helped Sydni realize she’s not alone in the farming world and encouraged her to connect with others going through similar experiences. Sam Mell adds, “The purpose of AgrAbility is to enable a high-quality lifestyle for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities. For my family, they have come out to our farm and given suggestions on things that might help our farm become more accessible. They have suggested different tools that we did not know about, and they can even financially assist families to pay for these pieces of equipment.”
Innovation and Adaptations
Sydni Mell is currently working with a team to design a milk taxi, which would allow her to feed calves independently. At this time, there are no practical options for individuals in wheelchairs to milk cows, and creating more accessible solutions like this would allow more people with disabilities to stay involved in agriculture. Mell believes it is important that the agricultural industry become more inclusive by offering adaptive options when purchasing equipment and technology so that people with disabilities can continue doing the work they are passionate about.
Sydni and Sam Mell working in their barn.
How FFA Members Can Help
Donating to organizations like AgrAbility is a great way that FFA members can support individuals with disabilities in agriculture, according to Sam Mell. “Having fundraisers like we had at Half-Time is an easy way to raise funds for this program,” Sam Mell said. “Members can also spread the word about it because there are not many agriculturists who know about AgrAbility.”
Resilience and Perseverance
Sydni’s perspective has truly transformed as a result of her encouraging family and friends, as well as help from supportive organizations and programs. She adds, “I’ve learned that other people’s opinions don’t matter as much as I once thought, even though I have to remind myself of that. I want to farm just like everyone else, and while I continue to pray and hope for a miracle, I’ve learned that I can’t put my life on hold. Farming and working are what I love, and if I don’t find ways to keep doing them, I risk letting my fears stop me from living. These experiences have taught me resilience and the importance of continuing to pursue what I love, no matter the obstacles.”
