That month the magazine profiled nearly 100 farm fatalities - many of whom were children. In case after case, the article showed that these tragedies could have been prevented if basic safety precautions had been taken. During the months that followed, Progressive Farmer received more letters and calls on this story than any other in its history. Hundreds sent in their heartbreaking stories of how their loved ones had been needlessly injured or killed through unsafe practices. 

To address the issue, the magazine began devoting space in every issue to farm safety and health topics. But the statistics continued to climb. So, in 1995, Progressive Farmer took a direct hands-on approach, patterned after the farm safety day camps that had been conducted for decades by organizations such as Extension and Farm Bureau. That summer, the magazine sponsored 19 safety day camps across the South and Midwest. By the season's end, more than 200 other communities had requested the same program for their area -- and the Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp® program was born. According to the magazine’s editor, Jack Odle, “If we save one life or limb, this program is worth all our efforts.”

Each year, the number of camps steadily increased. To raise the funds needed to support additional camps, the non-profit charitable Progressive Farmer Foundation was created to accept donations. Agricultural companies were invited to contribute to the Progressive Farmer Foundation and be recognized as camp sponsors. With the support of an ever increasing number of sponsors, the program grew significantly.

At the time that the Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp® program was experiencing dramatic growth, so was a similar program in the state of Iowa.  The Iowa Farm Safety Day Camp Program began in 1992 with 12 camps.  It was coordinated by the Iowa AgriSafe Network (a program affiliated with the Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Iowa) and Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa.  The Iowa program was sponsored by The Wellmark Foundation (formerly the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa Foundation).  In 1998, the Iowa Farm Safety Day Camp Program became a part of the Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp® program.

By 2002, the program had grown significantly and became a stand-alone program, outside the auspices of Progressive Farmer magazine. In January 2002, ownership and governance of the program was shifted from the Progressive Farmer Foundation to its successor, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation.  In 2006, the name of the program was officially changed to the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day™ program.