Anderson County has had over a dozen farm accidents that resulted in serious injury or death over the last 50 years. Farming accidents have become an unfortunate part of the culture here; imbedding themselves and their painful memories into the tightly woven fabric of this community. The fog these accidents have left over the heads of the people here is as dense as any that rise up out of the rivers that water the crops and cattle, and darker than any. It is a problem that has persisted too long. 

When I was approached by the folks from the Southeast Center for Agriculture Health and Injury Prevention and the University of Kentucky Agriculture Education department about becoming a partner on their Safe Farm Steward project, I knew I had an opportunity to go to battle with this problem. After attending their training over the summer I was armed with the tools I needed to start to reduce the frequency of farm related accidents in the county I serve. By raising the awareness through producer meetings, increased visual aids, and larger community programs, I will be able to have some affect on the health and safety of these people. My initial step was to find a group of farmers to enroll in the program. I wanted these folks to be farmers who were recognized as respected producers and trend setters, established and habitual farmers with well developed knowledge, and open minded community people with a desire to be part of the solution. 

Once I identified the first five participants I was able to really get started. I began with an initial consultation and interview with them about their farms and farming practices, how they felt about farm safety, and what they did to ensure it. Next was a farm visit where I carefully examined their equipment, facilities, and property for safety hazards as well as procedures in place. Everything from slow moving signs to frayed hydraulic lines was documented and recorded for their application into the program. Pictures were taken to add evidence to the file, and an onsite interview took place. When the initial five site visits were finished, I submitted all of the applications. 

After a thorough review by the national selection committee made up of university faculty from six different institutions across the southeast, all five applications were accepted. Now that they have been accepted they will be enrolled in the program that will give them acess to great resources from the southeast Center. They will also be recognized in the local paper, and be in the running to host our innagural Farmer Appreciation Day next Spring. By being recognized and awarded the farm sin to put up on their propoerty, we will be able to bring farm safety to the front of people's minds during the harvest season, and then again in the busy spring season. Research shows that by making the topic a regular one, farm safety becomes a higher priority for people, helping to reduce accidents. 

This is a program that will continue to grow as more farms are enrolled and the reach grows. It will take years to quantify the true outcome of the program, as hopefully farm related injuries will decline. However, in the meantime, we will be able to recognizer as many farmers as possible who are doing the right things and making safety a priority, and educate people along the way.