Living in rural America, people tend to have a general idea of the accidents that can happen on the farm. Thanks to the annual Farm Safety Day, 160 youth have a better understanding of how to stay safe on the farm, in their homes, and in their communities.
“Safety awareness, in general, for kids is important. That we can do it at a fun event like Farm Safety Day is wonderful,” stated Fulton County Farm Bureau manager Elaine Stone. “While the kids are having fun, we are helping them develop safety habits and skills that last a lifetime.”
Each June, University of Illinois Extension Fulton and Mason 4-H programs, partner with Fulton and Mason County Farm Bureaus to present Farm Safety Day. This annual event, which began in the early 1990s, is targeted at youth ages six and older to educate them on a variety of topics related to safety, not only on the farm but also personal safety.
This year’s sessions focused on safety lessons related to ATVs and mowers, weather, livestock, internet safety, chemicals, poisonous plants, and electricity. The participants also enjoyed a session with Fulton County Sheriff’s Office mobile Special Response vehicle.
“My favorite part was trying on the deputy’s vest, getting to hold his badge, and sitting in the police vehicle!” exclaimed one young participant.
Another child said visiting Miss Lexy’s healthy snack table and building a personal snack bag was ’yummy and fun!’ A group of kids who had never been up close to beef cattle were attentive to the presenters who instructed them on the proper way to look for signs if an animal was calm or stressed, and how to approach livestock safely.
Representatives and staff from Bass Equipment, Fulton County ESDA, Eathington Angus, Double Nickel Cattle Co., Bald Man Marketing, Prairieland Ag, Illinois Extension Master Gardeners, Illinois Extension Master Naturalists, Illinois Nutrition Education Program, Spoon River Electric Cooperative, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office volunteered their day to share their knowledge and educate youth and adults how to keep themselves safe while on the farm, in their home, and out in their yards and neighborhoods. Approximately 160 youth and 75 adults attended this year’s program, held at Fulton County Fairgrounds. 4-H Federation members served as group leaders, and lunch was prepared and served by volunteers from the Farm Bureaus.
The event concluded with a fun and educational program by Gateway Sled Dog Club from St. Louis, Missouri. The club promotes the safe and humane training of dogs for sledding, backpacking, and other types of pulling.
Thanks to funding received from Spoon River Electric Cooperative’s “Operation Round Up” grant and other generous donors, everyone is able to attend Farm Safety Day free of charge.
PHOTO CAPTION
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists Nancy and Jeff Staecker taught youth how to identify poisonous plants during Farm Safety Day 2024. The event taught 160 youth important lessons to help keep them safe on the farm, in their homes, and in their communities.
MEET THE AUTHOR
4-H has been a big part of Krista Gray's life since she was a youth member, now it is her career. After serving as a SNAP-Ed instructor for four years, Krista joined the 4-H team in 2021. Her past 4-H experiences have included 4-H club member, leader, foundation board member, and 4-H Show judge. She draws from all of those experiences as she leads the 4-H program in Fulton County.
After growing up in Peoria County, Krista attended Illinois State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture science. Now Krista lives in Lewistown with her husband. They have two grown children.
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