Mendon, IL — Off-road vehicle accidents send more than 100,000 people to the emergency room each year in the U.S., with an average of 500-700 lives lost annually. Many of these accidents involve youth—and many are preventable. That’s why Illinois Extension and a coalition of local partners came together to host the Ride Right Rally, a hands-on safety event designed to equip sixth-grade students with the knowledge and skills to stay safe around ATVs, mowers, and other equipment.
Held at the Adams County Fairgrounds, the event brought together over 340 sixth-grade students from Adams, Hancock, Pike, and Schuyler counties. Led by local 4-H and FFA members, participants rotated through five interactive stations covering ATV safety, mower safety, rollover protection safety, power take-off (PTO) safety, and bicycle safety. The day concluded with a powerful mock ATV/UTV accident simulation, giving students a firsthand look at how emergency responders handle real-life emergencies.
Students were asked to share one thing they learned at the Ride Right Rally, and their responses reflected the event’s lasting impact. Many mentioned key safety takeaways like always wearing a helmet, letting others know where they are, understanding what a PTO is, and knowing the legal rules for riding on the road. One student summed it up powerfully: “It’s never if, it’s always when. Always wear a helmet and always ask permission. Safety is very important.”
The simulation featured Adams County EMS, the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, and Air Evac from Macomb, who walked students through the 9-1-1 response process—from dispatch to helicopter evacuation. Students were even able to explore the inside of the Air Evac helicopter, turning a dramatic scenario into a memorable learning experience.
The event was made possible through a strong network of community partners, including Adams County Emergency Management Services, Adams County Sherrif’s Department, Adams County Fair Board, Birkey’s Farm Store, Heritage Tractor, Smith Brothers Powersports, and the Farm Bureaus from Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike, and Schuyler counties, who also provided lunch for participants. Additional contributions were provided by Knox Seed, First Bankers Trust, Refreshment Services Pepsi, and Ursa Farmers Cooperative.
“By giving students a chance to see, hear, and experience what safety looks like in action, we’re helping them make smarter choices that could one day save their lives,” said Siera Duesterhaus, Adams County 4-H Coordinator.
Thanks to this collaborative effort, hundreds of local youth are now better prepared to navigate the risks of rural life with confidence and care. Because of Illinois Extension and its partners, safety isn’t just a lesson—it’s a legacy.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.