FARM SAFETY FIELD DAY
4-H and Youth Programming
Brooklyne Wassel
County Extension Agent
University of Georgia
Zebulon
Abstract
Farm safety education is a pressing need in the Pike County community, as multiple farm accidents involving youth—one fatal—have occurred in the past five years. Although safety training for adults covers topics like agricultural pipeline accidents, tractor rollovers, and baler entanglements, there has been a significant gap in youth-focused education. Pike County Extension, Farm Bureau, and FFA organized a Farm Safety Field Day in May 2024 for all seventh-grade students and their teachers—totaling over 275 participants. This hands-on event brought safety to the forefront by engaging students in interactive lessons on farm equipment, ATV safety, livestock handling and tractor implements. The event had four main stations: Animals, Equipment, Power and Environment. The animal station taught livestock movement with live ducks, biosecurity with handwashing demonstrations, and snake safety with an animal ambassador. Equipment safety focused on tractors, PTO’s and ATV’s, with students learning how to spot unsafe practices and the importance of using safe practices every time they use equipment through firsthand testimonies of tragic accidents. The Power station focused on 811 awareness through a flag relay race, electrical safety lessons from a local lineman, and a trailer demonstration where with students pretended to be transported livestock. Environmental safety lessons included Enviroscape watershed lessons, invasive species scavenger hunts, and prescribed fires talks with Georgia foresters. Students rotated through the station activities throughout the day while being led by a high school FFA member. Incorporating senior FFA students not only expanded the program’s reach but also provided them with valuable leadership opportunities. The event engaged over 250 students, 30 adults, and 30 volunteers in a full day of farm safety education. Both teachers and students praised the program for its organization and the increase in knowledge it provided to participants. All students left with valuable life lessons, memorable stories, and a goodie bag of educational materials. This program will continue in the future to promote safety awareness in the Pike County community—perhaps even saving a life.
Authors: Brooklyne Wassel
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Brooklyne Wassel County Extension Agent, University of Georgia , Georgia, 30256