Educating Youth about Farm Safety

Recently, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery was invited to participate in the annual Farm Safety Day for all Russell County 3^rd grade students. Russell County is a community deep-rooted in agriculture, and has many families that depend on farming for food and income. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the agriculture industry is consistently at the highest risk for occupational injuries and fatalities. Farm Safety Day focuses on educating students about keeping safe in a farm setting.

Farm Safety Day is a community event, sponsored by the Russell County Extension Office, in partnership with the Progressive Ag Foundation. At Farm Safety Day, students are divided into groups and rotate through a series of engaging stations facilitated by knowledgeable community volunteers. Some of the topics of safety included fire safety, gun safety, first aid, chemical safety, ATV safety, tractor safety, and more. Marsha Hart, Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist at Wolf Creek NFH focused on venomous snake safety, which included identification of venomous snakes that can be found locally. Also, various other snakes were discussed, focusing on ways to tell if a snake is venomous or non-venomous such as vertical pupils and single row tail scales on venomous snakes.

This event is not only beneficial to students whose families engage in farm work, but is applicable to all students making this an inclusive event. A total of 275 students attended the event. Wolf Creek NFH believes in the power of community collaboration and the difference it can make. Through events such as this we can make an impact in the community, and educating our youth is one of the best ways to do so.