ABOVE: Fairmont Elementary School fourth-graders Fallon and Owen race to put on their safety gear during the Martin County Farm Bureau Progressive Agriculture Safety Day on Friday afternoon at Heritage Acres in Fairmont. The camp included multiple informational stations to help children learn how to remain safe and responsible in agricultural fields, while recognizing National Farm Safety Week. All fourth grade classes in Martin County were part of the event.

FAIRMONT — To acknowledge National Farm Safety Week from Sept. 21 to Sept. 27, the Martin County Farm Bureau hosted its third-annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day (PAF Safety Day) on Friday at Heritage Acres in Fairmont. The event is put on to encourage ag-involvement and inform fourth-graders of private and public Martin County schools about risks found in real-world agricultural fields and how to stay safe if said fields are pursued in the future.

“The Minnesota Farm Bureau is really focused on safety,” said Martin County Farm Bureau Vice President Haley Ekstrom. “We thought, ‘What can we do to spread this information further?’ We’re such an ag-populated community, and many children don’t grow up in [agricultural settings]. With National Farm Safety Week, we’re trying to educate on ways we can all be safe.”

The fourth-graders participated in eight demonstrations and discussions, in conjunction with the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day curriculum, including Lawn Mower Safety, PTO/Pinch Point Safety, Chemical Safety, Pet-Animal Safety, Firearm Safety, Equipment Safety, Grain Bin Safety and Electricity Safety, presented by community volunteers with prominent experience in the respective fields.

Ekstrom explained she is a sixth-generation cattle farmer, and took the opportunity to teach the students about tractors.

“It’s great to have new students coming here fresh, and share that love of agriculture with them, ask and answer questions and create connections with them. These kids get a hands-on experience. It opens up the kids. It allows them to explore careers and opportunities in agriculture. We find them something that speaks to their interests, and give them a new connection,” Ekstrom stated.

In addition to having the event neighboring the National Farm Safety Week, the Martin County Farm Bureau aims to raise awareness and highlight steps towards safety during the fall, which can bring more dangers compared to other seasons. According to Ekstrom and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fall and the harvest season can be the most dangerous season for the industry, which led the third week of September to be devoted to its awareness.

Ekstrom hopes that following the camp, children are motivated to share what they’ve learned with family and friends, provoking a cycle of information and drive to make intelligent choices to eliminate risks.

“We can never be too safe. It takes all of us to be successful. Whether you’re in agriculture or not, we’re all in the same community.”

Topics of focus during National Farm Safety Week include Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety, Health and Wellness, Generations of Farming, Confined Spaces and ATV/UTV. Individuals can celebrate the week by advocating and exploring strategies to be safe in the agricultural and farming vocations.

Ekstrom shared that the Martin County Farm Bureau has more plans up its sleeve to become more proactive and spread its mission and the importance of safety through the community, and inspire more individuals to be involved in agriculture.

These plans include a booth at the Martin County Fair in Fairmont and unveiling workshops for adults and college students.

‘There are so many possibilities, and it takes all of us to spread this information,” said Ekstrom.

To find more information about Martin County Farm Bureau, the PAF Safety Day program, and the National Farm Safety Week, visit the Martin County Farm Bureau Facebook page or www.progressiveag.org.