In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was enacted to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for employees across the United States. However, many small farm operations, such as those common in Kentucky, often fall outside the scope of its enforcement. Despite agriculture ranking as one of the most hazardous occupations in the U.S., farming means the risks—machinery accidents, chemical exposures, falls, hearing loss, skin disease, heat-related illness, and certain cancers—still exist, whether a small farm or large operation. A dedicated group of individuals in Kentucky have long recognized the need to protect those who feed our nation.

One leader is Mr. Dale Dobson—farmer, firefighter, and emergency responder—who took action when few others did. In February 1994, Mr. Dobson hosted Kentucky’s first statewide farm rescue training class on his own farm. Bringing together farmers, first responders, and educators, the event was a pioneering moment in agricultural safety. Its impact was so powerful that Billy Ray Smith, then a candidate for Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, vowed to integrate safety into the Department of Agriculture’s mission. Upon election, he fulfilled that promise by establishing an agricultural safety program and appointing Mr. Dobson as Safety Administrator in 1998.

Since then, Mr. Dobson has dedicated his career to educating and training thousands across Kentucky and the nation—including farmers, first responders, farm families, FFA and 4-H members. But his impact didn’t stop with safety.

In 2019, a collaboration between Mr. Dobson, myself, and a team of multi-disciplined partners across the state expanded the mission further—to include the physical and mental health of farmers. Together, they championed the Kentucky Farmer Model, integrating mental health, physical health, and safety into a unified framework, grounded in the Total Worker Health® model. Recognizing the complex, interrelated occupational health challenges faced by farmers between their mental and physical health and farm safety, the model addresses not just injury prevention but overall well-being.

Their work is farmer-centered, meeting farmers where they are—barns, fields, cattlemen’s meetings, and local ag events—at times that suit their demanding schedules. 

Quantitative success is equally compelling. In 1994, Kentucky experienced an average of 50 farm-related fatalities annually. Today, that number has dropped to approximately 12—a remarkable reduction that reflects the combined impact of education, training, and an expanded focus on health. Since health screenings and education were added to the program, 18 individuals have personally credited it with saving their lives or significantly improving their health.

The work has not gone unnoticed. On April 16, 2025, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture officially established the Raising Hope Safety, Health, and Rescue Division—a historic acknowledgment of the essential link between farmer well-being and the prosperity of Kentucky agriculture.