Farmers Dinner Theater

With the age increasing every year for the average farmer, the effects of COVID on mental health, and recent farming accidents across the nation, it was decided to host a farmers’ dinner theater. This event took place on March 8^th, 2022 at the Cumberland County Extension Office in conjunction with the Clinton County Extension Office. The audience, which consisted of 45 from three counties, listened and watched two skits put on by local farmers that covered hearing loss, sun safety, hydration, tractor safety, mental health, food safety, communication, etc. A short discussion was had at the conclusion of each skit. According to the 43 surveys collected at the end of the event, some items that stuck in participant’s minds that they plan to change are, communicating where they will be working if working alone, protecting their skin from the sun, preparing a will, and general tractor safety. Participants ranged from 17 to 79 years old and had anywhere from 2 to 70 years of farming experience. Eighteen participants had attended the previous dinner theater that was held in 2018 with over half of the participants being new to the dinner theater event. Multiple participants conveyed appreciation to the hosts for the event.