| Progressive
Agriculture Safety Day® camp planned
A Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® for children ages 5 to 11 is being planned for Saturday, May 20th , 2006, at Nezperce, Idaho, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Several local as well as national sponsors in conjunction with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation are sponsoring the event. According to Shari Kuther, coordinator for the event, children often see farm and livestock operations as an exciting playground – providing endless hours of fun and adventure. But these facilities and the livestock and equipment on them also can set the stage for tragedy. Each year, many children are killed or injured on America’s farms. This spring and summer, Shari said, farm safety day camps, such as this one, are being held in 39 states across the U.S. and Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and 3 Canadian provinces to teach rural children how to prevent injuries and reduce the risk of farm accidents. During the camps, children participate in interactive activities that reinforce the importance of taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting parents’ safety rules and sharing safety tips with their family and friends. Hands-on demonstrations teach participants lifesaving first aid techniques and reveal the hidden hazards of farm surroundings. Camp demonstrations this year will focus on farm hazards associated with power lines, tractors, combines, PTO’s, augers, bicycles and semi-trucks, and even the sun. National and local sponsors of the safety day camps hope participants will maintain a healthy respect for farm hazards throughout their lives, and that, ultimately, the numbers of deaths and injuries among rural children will decline. Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® Camps are sponsored nationally by Bunge, Farm Plan, Bayer, Case IH, The Farm Credit System Foundation, Kawasaki, Monsanto, Shell Lubricants, and State Farm Insurance. The camp program allows community leaders to structure a camp that covers basic farm safety issues and first aid, as well as addressing specific local needs. Local farmers, manufacturers, and merchants donate their time and equipment to ensure that each camp is a fun and valuable experience. Parents can register their children to participate in the camp by calling Marci Stapleton at 937-2348, or registration forms are available at local ag-related businesses. Registrations must be received by May 16th , 2006. A $5.00/child or $10.00/family registration fee for the event covers lunch, snacks, a take-home packet and a farm safety day camp t-shirt. If you’d like to help sponsor the camp, or volunteer to help, or have questions about what the camp teaches, please call Shari Kuther at 937-2359. |
 |
