Agronomy Club Helping the Heart of Agriculture.

To improve the lives of farmers and ranchers going through cardiac rehabilitation, the Wheat State Agronomy Club (WSAC) had the opportunity to participate in a study done through Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital (BHVH) in mid March. After suffering from heart problems, it is hard for those who have more physically demanding jobs to get back to a functional level. BHVH has developed rehabilitation programs tailored to those physically demanding jobs so workers can successfully return to the workforce. Two current programs have been designed for firefighters and automotive mechanics. The purpose of this study was to research the metabolic demands of farmers and ranchers in their everyday work. The information gathered will be used to develop a cardiac rehabilitation program so cardiac patients can return to a functional work level in the agricultural community. The common tasks used for this study were digging a post hole, shoveling corn into a wheelbarrow, throwing bales onto a flatbed truck, and loading a planter. Over a three-day period, 25 WSAC members were fitted with a mask and various other instruments in order to measure heart rate and oxygen use during these activities. After each task, the club member would spend five minutes cooling down in order to decrease their heart rate for the next task. Eight additional club members assisted by unloading hay bales, sweeping up spilled feed, and other various activities needed to keep the study running smoothly. Members gained personal satisfaction from this service project by providing information needed to develop a rehabilitation program which may someday help them, classmates, or family members.