Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and it encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity & inclusion.  In September 2022, Pulaski County Extension Agents: Jennifer Cole, Erica Spurgeon, & TJ Adkins collaborated to host a Progressive Ag and 4-H Safety Day for 675 Pulaski County 8^th graders at the Hal Rogers Fire Training Center.   Students from Northern and Southern Middle Schools attended, and Science Hill Independent attended for the first time this year.  The goal of the 4-H Safety Day was to promote and bring awareness to 8^th graders in many general areas of safety.  

There were a total of eight stations that the students rotated through.  Areas of safety that were covered included:

1. Fire Safety & CPR
2. Livestock/Animal Safety
3. Water Safety
4. Home Alone
5. Tractor/Lawnmower Safety
6. Outdoor Safety
7. Hearing Safety
8. Law Enforcement/Public Safety

This event was a great way to involve members of our community.  Presenters included our local EMS and the KY Fire Commission, Corps of Engineers, Valley Farm Equipment, KY State Police, Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp Interim Camp Director, Kyle Comley, Pulaski County ANR Agent, TJ Adkins, and Pulaski County 4-H Agent, Jennifer Cole.  We are incredibly grateful for these groups and their willingness to give back to the community and support 4-H.

We were also able to involve a leadership aspect with our 4-H Teen Ambassadors and Pulaski County High School FFA Officers.  There were 17 youth who volunteered for the day.  They were group leaders who helped rotate each group to their next station, goodie bag stuffers, and three 4-H Ambassadors presented at the Home Alone Safety Station.  This was a great opportunity for these youth to exhibit their leadership skills.

All 675 middle schoolers in attendance received a Progressive Ag t-shirt and a bag of safety-related items. 

4-H Safety Day continues to be a great way for 4-H to get into our middle schools and provide a much-needed refresher for students and teachers about personal safety.  We look forward to continuing this event each year.