The ND FFA Foundation is dedicated to providing opportunities that foster leadership development and personal growth for FFA members across the state. It’s the core of our mission! Did you know the Foundation also provides resources for ag educators and others in the agriculture sector whose work aligns with our mission?
The Ag in the Classroom grant program is offered in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Each year, any organization or individual may apply for funding to develop and conduct educational materials and programs to help young people understand the importance of agriculture in North Dakota and their lives. Read on to learn how NDSU Extension – Bottineau County used their grant funds to help keep their community safe.
Program: NDSU Extension – Bottineau County
Impact: 211 students from 4 school districts
Purpose: The Bottineau County Progressive Agriculture Safety Day was established in response to several severe farm fatalities in the county.
Objectives:
- Equip students with a deeper understanding of the agricultural hazards that farming and ranching families, along with their employees, face daily.
- Encourage open discussions within families and farm operations about safety risks, leading to the development and implementation of personalized safety plans.
- Through increased hazard awareness and robust safety planning, farmers and ranchers are empowered to maintain their operations more safely.
The Bottineau County Progressive Agriculture Safety Day was created in response to several severe farm fatalities in the county. Cooperatively with many different organizations, 13 presenters addressed safety topics to over 200 youth from four different local school districts. Over 45 local volunteers assisted in the day’s festivities to make the event an annual success.
Improved awareness of agricultural hazards that farming/ranching families and employees face in their operation will enhance communication channels and set the stage to develop and implement individualized safety plans to mitigate injuries and fatalities in an operation. By creating an awareness of hazards, having a plan in place to prevent injuries, and strengthening communication amongst everyone involved in the operation, more farmers and ranchers will be able to continue operating. This will help agricultural operations prioritize the health and safety of workers, strengthen the skills of our workforce, continue to maintain successful production, continue guiding successors and protect their legacy, and contribute to the economy of our local communities, our state, and nationally as a leading producing state in many agricultural commodities.
Over 2 hours, groups were able to visit 7 different stations. Each year the stations change for the youth so they will have new topics each year. This is the 4th year the program has been offered in Bottineau County making this event a must-attend event for area schools each fall.
