Diane Stamm | The Imperial Republican
At the “look alikes” session taught by Nutrien staff, youths were shown a suitcase of chemicals that contained ones that are unharmful if eaten and dangerous ones that look similar. The youths tried to identify the safe ones.
Ag Safety Day brings in 535 youths for day of learning
More than 500 youths learned how to identify and deal with hazards on the farm at Friday’s Progressive Ag Safety Day.
Registrations tallied 535 children from Chase County Schools, Wauneta-Palisade, Dundy Co. Stratton and home-schooled students, who attended 10 different sessions during the day at the fairgrounds.
The Chase County 4-H Council and CCS event drew children from grades K-6 who received information on taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting parents’ safety rules and sharing safety tips with family and friends, said coordinator Chris Tomky.
Hands-on experience led by community members and many out-of-town educators taught participants lifelong farm safety lessons.
Sessions were held on ATVs, electricity, grain safety, first aid, look-alike chemicals, firearm smarts, fire safety, PTOs, moving parts danger and more. One of the sessions titled “A Safe You” had participants making bracelets using UV lights.
In addition to the sessions, supporters provided attendees with snacks and a noon sack lunch,
The Safety Day’s continued success is due in large part to the generous support of many organizations, businesses and a large team of energetic volunteers, Tomky said.
The program is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. The Progressive Agriculture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation with a mission to provide education, training and resources to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for all children and their communities.
The vision of the PAF is that no child becomes ill, injured or die from farm, ranch or rural activities.
Tomky said the future of Chase County Safety Day events will rely on volunteers taking on the responsibility to train as coordinator through the foundation.
Tomky said she would assist in the transition as much as possible. Individuals or groups with an interest in taking on the event in the future are invited to contact her at 308-882-6513.