The ND FFA Foundation is committed to increasing agricultural literacy through meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. Through a partnership with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant Program supports educational experiences that prepare students for success both in and beyond the classroom. One of those experiences is Farm Safety Camp, an NDSU Extension program that equips teens with the knowledge and skills they need to work safely on farms and ranches.
Program: Farm Safety Camp
Teacher: Angie Johnson, NDSU Extension
Impact: 46 teens in 2026 (164 participants since 2022)
Purpose: To prepare youth ages 14–15 to safely work on farms and ranches while meeting the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture requirements.
Objectives:
- Teach essential farm and ranch safety practices through hands-on training.
- Build confidence in operating agricultural equipment safely.
- Prepare youth for real-world agricultural work while reducing the risk of injuries.
- Encourage participants to bring safe practices back to their families and communities.
Farm Safety Camp gives participants the opportunity to learn by doing. Throughout the camp, teens receive one-on-one instruction from NDSU Extension staff and volunteer educators as they practice operating tractors, skid steers, ATVs, and other farm equipment. They also complete activities focused on grain bin safety, roadway safety, power lines, underground utilities, hand tools, fire extinguisher use, farm first aid, and mental health awareness.
One of the unique features of the camp is the emphasis on real-world experience. Every participant operates a mini round baler, completes hands-on equipment activities, and learns directly from local experts, including fire departments and electric cooperatives. Through a partnership with the Bobcat Acceleration Center in Bismarck, participants also complete an online skid steer safety course before camp and build on that knowledge with hands-on operator training.
The Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant helped provide personal protective equipment and safety resources for every participant. Each teen received essential items such as hearing protection, work gloves, safety glasses, a high-visibility work shirt, and a backpack to store their equipment. Participants also assembled their own farm first-aid kits and received emergency contact resources they could share with their families, helping extend important safety conversations beyond the camp.
The impact of Farm Safety Camp is far beyond a few days of training. Survey results from previous participants showed a 73% increase in confidence responding to power line emergencies, a 58% increase in confidence using a tourniquet during a bleeding emergency, and a 50% increase in confidence working safely around PTO shafts. Just as importantly, 97% of participants said they intend to always use the safety skills they learned, while 84% planned to share those lessons with family members at home.
Through the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant Program, the ND FFA Foundation and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture continue to support programs that prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. By combining hands-on learning with practical safety training, Farm Safety Camp is helping young people build the confidence and skills they need to work safely and responsibly in agriculture.
