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Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Closes Out National Farm Safety and Health Week 2004 in a 9 state whirlwind
Earlham, IA, October 8, 2004 – National Farm Safety and Health Week was declared over 60 years ago, but for the first time, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids staff members hit to the pavement to visit grassroots chapters in 9 different states. Keep On Track was the theme for Farm Safety 4 Just Kids during National Farm Safety and Health Week 2004, September 19-25, and keep on track they did! Even though their suitcases are still being unpacked and the time changes are still an adjustment, here are a couple highlights of the week:
Here are a couple highlights of the week:
- The Sweet Bran Chapter in Texas hosted school programs all week on ATV safety and conducted coloring contests during the week.
- Iowa FSA offices involved in farm safety hosted receptions. The Iowa Department of Ag held an informational reception during Children and Youth Day, September 22 nd.
- From the very first chapter to the newest FS4JK chapter, Ohio highways led to school programs, meetings, farm shows, and potential chapter discussions.
- Wisconsin was a blurr of activity as chapters participated in National Farm Safety and Health Week activities including the 2003 Chapter of the Year from Prairie Farm, Wisconsin.
- Nebraska reached 538 attendees during the week with farm safety day camps, chapter networking, and school programs.
- Southern hospitality was seen through multiple farm safety day camps and a health fair in Kentucky.
- And the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture presented FS4JK staff with the Pennsylvania Farm Safety and Health Week Proclamation 2004.
In all, FS4JK staff traveled 13,254 miles with over 40 events reaching more than 3,500 children, youth, and farm families.
”I am extremely proud of the extra effort we were able to extend for National Farm Safety and Health Week 2004. This very important week served not only as a reminder about safety and health, but also as a springboard for building grassroots relationships and recognizing those people and places where farm safety and health is a priority.” Said Marilyn Adams, FS4JK Spokesperson, President, and Founder.
Additional activities for National Farm Safety and Health Week include:
- grants distributed to both community groups conducting tractor safety education and farm families to make safety improvements. The grants were provided by Successful Farming® magazine.
- Participating CNH International LLC and McCormick implement dealers are collecting change in a Keep On Track-A-Thon fundraiser. John Deere donated $5,000 toward the cause.
- Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance sponsored special activities as well as a commercial in central Iowa. All FS4JK sponsors and members helped make Keep On Track a success in 2004.
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK) is a non-profit organization working to promote farm safety for kids. Marilyn Adams, spokesperson, president and founder started the organization after the death of her eleven-year-old son, Keith, in a gravity flow wagon of shelled corn on the family's Iowa farm. Today, the organization produces and distributes educational materials for farm safety. A chapter network of grassroots volunteers has also been established throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, contact your local chapter or call (800) 423-5437.
