The mission of the Progressive Farmer Agriculture Safety Day program is to “provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities”. (Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Planning Manual) Barren County had participated in the AG Safety Day program for many years but had not been conducted for the past four years.   The Barren County School Superintendent ask this Agent if Barren County 4-H would be willing to take on the responsibility of providing this program for the 4^th Grade youth.  

This Agent applied and was accepted as the coordinator of the program and formed a ten person committee to assist.  The committee raised $2300, secured facilities and identified eleven topics, presenters and volunteers for the 352 students who participated.  The cost of transportation had become a problem in the past and was absorbed into the school budget. 

The program was well received as the students learned about animal, water/wildlife, lawn, vaping and drugs, bus, fire, first aid, food, computer and electric safety from local community volunteers and leaders. Two of the speakers were 4-H teen leaders who worked with a local farm implement dealer to present the program on lawn safety. The bus safety program was an addition to the National curriculum, with plans to incorporate it in their future programming. Twenty 4-H teen leaders served as group leaders and provided to the teachers with additional materials and resources..  

Through an informal survey to the students- 99% said they had learned something new, 98% had discussed the safety day with their families and 99% had found a safety hazard.   One parent said “I went to mow the lawn and was given a detail description of what I needed to do before I got started! This program really got my son’s attention!”  Due to the success of the program, plans are underway for 2023 and to expanding it so more youth can attend.