Dennis and Helen Martin of Winterose Farm in West Montrose are looking forward to hosting the 25th annual Children’s Farm and Home Safety Day on their farm June 3.
The Saturday event focuses on creating safety awareness among school-aged children.
Children will be divided into small groups and tour stations around the farm.
Lessons will include fire safety for farm and home (older kids will learn how to operate a fire extinguisher), bicycle safety, machinery and tractor safety, and large and small animal safety.
“If we can protect children from serious injury by taking the time to demonstrate the dangers around the farm and home, then it is time well spent,” Sharon Grose, committee member of Waterloo Rural Women Farm and Home Safety Day said in a news release.
“Farm families live where they work, and reminders are a good thing for folks of all ages.”
Grose is part of a six-member committee that spends hours planning and organizing the one-day event.
“People wonder why we bother to host a farm safety day each spring. We do it for the kids!" Grose said. "We want to keep our future farmers safe.”
Grose said they are a committed group of volunteers who feel strongly about educating children about farm and home safety.
They have been organizing a Farm Safety Day annually for the past 24 years (skipping a couple of years due to COVID).
"Our committee members believe it is a great way to support our rural community – education and knowledge is a good thing."
The area is heading into the busy season on the farm, Grose noted. "Farm kids are exposed to a lot of things at a young age. Safety matters," she said.
“The media talk about the accidents that happened on area farms, but we don’t hear about the accidents we have prevented by talking to students."
Farm kids live where their family works, Grose noted, and are sometimes not aware of the many hazards that are on the farm.
Children often pay more attention if someone other than their parents reminds them of the dangers around the farm, said Grose.
The same goes for children educating parents.
“Often it is easier for a kid to remind a parent of a hazard by saying, 'Safety Sam says one seat, no riders!'" Grose noted, rather than others telling parents that their children can’t ride on their laps on an open tractor.
Meanwhile, kids who have attended a WRW Farm Safety Day all recognize Walter Grose who dresses up as a clown to help share the safety messages.
“Kids will go home and share what they have learned with their families – it’s a good reminder for everyone.”
To register children for WRW Children’s Farm Safety Day, call 519-580-5716 or email [email protected].
Organizers are also looking for a few more volunteers for the day. If you are interested in volunteering, call 519-669-8066.
