Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Recognized At Culbertson School

According to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agriculture Health and Safety 2020 Fact Sheet, about every three days a child dies in an ag-related accident. Every day, 33 children are injured in an ag-related accident, yet 60 percent of those injuries aren’t from working when the injury occurred.

The top ag-related fatalities and injuries involved transportation type machinery, including vehicles, tractors and ATV’s.

This year marks the 28th year of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation’s Safety Days across the country. Culbertson was the only school in Montana scheduled to host a PAF Safety Day. Students may not all live on a farm or ranch, but they may visit one and our area is very agriculture, so it’s important to know the information.

On Wednesday April 20, the Culbertson K-6th grade participated in the program. The topics and presenters included lawn equipment safety presented by Roosevelt County weed district coordinator and equipment from C& B Operations. John Deere also provided a tractor and baler for tractor and powertake- off safety with Dennis Portra, showing how many time you can get wrapped in the powerful action of a PTO and your reaction time. Several MSU Extension agents surrounding areas also presented sessions including Ardis Oelkers (Roosevelt) healthy eating and how much sugar is in our drinks, Carrie Krug (Richland) sun safety and how to cover up your skin, Ken Nelson (McCone) ATV safety, Marley Manoukian (Richland) chemical safety with a chemical look-a-like test.

Jack Bazemore (Sheridan) taught about water safety and how to use life vests and where to throw a rope for help, and Josie Evenson (Richland) fire safety, used the fire simulator and taught how to properly put out a fire with an extinguisher.

Angela Miller from the Roosevelt County fair instructed the youth on who and how to call for emergency persons or 911. The Culbertson FFA taught grain safety, and how fast you can get caught in grain. They also let the students test their strength with a board attached to a rope and see how hard it is to pull someone that is submerged in grain. Sheridan Electric came and presented on electrical safety showing their gear that they use. The Roosevelt County Conservation District brought its rolling river trailer and learned about erosion, watersheds and flooding issues.

At the end of the rotations, the students were presented with take-home bags filled with donated items to complement what they had learned at the safety day. The items were donated by Sheridan Electric, Finnicum’s Hardware, First Community Bank, Farm Credit Services of Glasgow, HPDP, Fort Peck Tribes Community Services Program, MSU Extension, Roosevelt County 4-H and Fort Peck Community College. Bike Helmets were also given to the K-second grades and fitted to their size. The Progressive Agriculture Foundation provides curriculum, T-shirts and the takehome bags for the students.

The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. Their mission is to provide education and training to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities.