Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary designee Dennis C. Wolff recently announced that the Tyrone chapter of Future Farmers of America was a winner of the 2002 Fair Farm Safety Demonstration Award. In addition, he announced the creation of a new Farm Safety Education program.
“Pennsylvania is dedicated to continuing its mission to promote safety around farms,” said Wolff during an FFA Legislative breakfast held last week in Harrisburg. “One farm accident is one accident too many. We need to always ‘begin sage, end safe,’ around the farm and farm equipment. The Department of Agriculture is pleased to be partnering with the Pennsylvania FFA in launching its new Farm Safety Demonstration Program.”
In recognition of FFA Chapter accomplishments in Farm Safety for 2002-03, Wolff awarded certificates of commendation to the chapter winners in the 2002 Fair Farm Safety Demonstration Contest, the 2003 Farm Show Safety Contest and the 2003 Farm Safety Quiz Bowl – FFA Division.
“We’re really pleased that we received this honor,” said Christine Carney, ag instructor and FFA advisor at the Tyrone Area High School. “Our kids are dedicated to safety.”
According to Carney, the project which brought the award to Tyrone was an All-Terrain Vehicle safety program at the Sinking Valley Farm Show in September of 2002. Carney said four students, including senior Josh Shuey and juniors Courtney Sible, Lyndsay DelBaggio and Ashley Ruscio, developed the program and highlighted it with the use of a remote controlled ATV.
Concerning the new Farm Safety Education Program, officials said the Farm Safety Education program encourages FFA chapters across the commonwealth to develop interactive demonstrations to be used at county fairs, malls, schools and other venues to educate the public about the value of farm safety.
Interested FFA chapters can receive up to $1,000 for the development and construction of each demonstration project, made possible by the Curriculum and Instructional Development Grant Program.
Project proposals will be due in the fall of 2003 and be awarded in the beginning of 2004 for the 2004 county and community fair season.
The Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry, continues to promote farm safety and work to reduce the number of farm-related accidents and deaths in Pennsylvania. The state Department of Agriculture is the only state agency in the nation to have a full-time farm safety specialist on staff.
While encouraging promotion of farm safety, the state Department of Agriculture oversees several Farm Safety and Occupational Health programs.
The Small Grant Program provides funding to organizations to host and present Farm Safety Programs. Most recently, two FFA chapters, six county extension programs, four county farm bureaus, and ten fire, ambulance, rescue and health organizations received up to $2,500 each for farm safety and rescue personnel. The Department of Agriculture is committed to the development of farm safety programs across Pennsylvania and has supported the Pennsylvania State University’s PA Ag Rescue program.
The Tuition Assistance Program encourages paramedics, medical personnel, and members of the agriculture community to attend training programs by defraying some of the training costs.
The Department of Agriculture hosts Farm Safety Programs at Ag Progress Days, Farm City Day and the PA Farm Show.
Wolff also noted the state Department of Agriculture is the first agriculture department in the nation to participate in the Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Program. Teaching farm safety to children is a commitment by the department as a member of this program.
Teaching children the dangers of not following the rules when using farm tractors or equipment helps to ensure that Pennsylvania’s children will be able to safely reap the joys of helping their family around the farm.
For more information, contact 717-772-5206.
