Camp teaches kids about farm safety

McPherson County area youth ranging in ages 9 to 12 learned about staying safe on the farm at the annual McPherson Co. Farm Safety Day Camp held last week in McPherson.

Co-sponsored by McPherson Co. Farm Bureau and MKC, the camp included presentations on electrical safety, fire safety in the home, staying hydrated in hot weather, food safety, lawn mower and ATV safety as well as PTO and pinch point safety.

Dale Ladd, McPherson County Extension Agent presented the pinch point and PTO safety demonstrations. During the pinch point safety course, kids ran hot dogs, celery, and carrots through a pinch point device to see what would happen to their fingers, hands or feet should they become caught in a belt, chain or gear.  A dummy stuffed with newspaper was used for the PTO safety demonstration.  As the tractor was started, the dummy’s clothing became wrapped around the PTO leaving an impression on the participants as to the power and destructiveness of a PTO.

According to Ladd, the McPherson County Extension office has offered the safety camp for the past 15 years and MKC has helped co-sponsor the camp for most of those years.

 “Most everyone involved in agriculture knows someone whose life has been affected by a farm-related injury,” states Kerry Watson, Communications Specialist for MKC.  “We want to make sure the youth in our communities have the opportunities to learn about farm safety.  Co-sponsoring the McPherson Co. Farm Safety Day Camp is just one more way in which we can do that.”