“A 15-year-old, from Shelton, NE credits what he learned at a 1998 Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp® with saving his life in the summer of 2004. He was operating tractor with a four-row ridger in a cornfield near his home when the ridger struck a power pole, causing power lines to fall on the tractor. This young man did what he learned at camp – he called for help on his cell phone and stayed inside the tractor cab until the power company arrived and turned off the power to the lines.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Wood River, NE.
“In November 1997, a local man and his grandson went to cut down a tree that had fallen across a fence. While doing this, another tree fell on the man, severing his spinal cord. His grandson had been to farm safety day camp the year before and remembered that he needed to stay calm. He took the 4-wheeler to the house and told his grandmother to call 911. The action saved the grandfather’s life. Though paralyzed, he has been a guest speaker at the farm safety day camp.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Griffin, GA
“This afternoon I received a call from a parent who called to say thank you for putting together the Farm Safety Day Camp. She said her 10-year-old son was out with Dad grinding feed and the son stopped him from stepping over the PTO shaft. He told his Dad that you should never step over the PTO shaft. The great part of that phone call was that the mother continued telling me that her husband then took the time to walk around the tractor. Phone calls like this make it all worthwhile.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Mexico, MO
“An eleven-year-old had a fire in his home the week after the camp. He had learned to call 911 in an emergency and saved the family home. His mother was so happy he attended the farm safety day camp.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Franklinton, LA
“Less than 24 hours after the close of the camp one of our 8-year-old campers was riding his bicycle wearing the shiny new helmet he received at camp the day before. Suddenly he swerved onto the soft shoulder of the road and was thrown head first over the handle bars into a pile of rocks and gravel. He came riding home, under his own power, upset because he had ‘messed-up’ his new helmet. His family is convinced that at very least he was spared several stitches, and some nasty scrapes and bruises. Was the camp worth the cost? Worth the time? Worth the sacrifice of so many? You bet it was! One little boy on a sunny Sunday afternoon proved it.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Murrayville, IL
“A family who sends their kids to my Farm Safety Camp had a grease fire in the kitchen which caught the curtains and cabinets on fire. At this year’s camp, the campers had made fire extinguisher pails to take home. The mother grabbed the pail, extinguished the grease fire and then used water on the rest of the fire. She did call the fire department to check everything out afterwards. She lives several miles from the closest rural town of Lima and could have lost a lot more to the fire. Pretty neat!!!” —Safety Day Coordinator, Dillion, MT
“The grandmother of one of our 4th grade participants told me that they had been letting this child ride an extremely large ATV. Since the girl participated in the farm safety day camp she has not driven this ATV. Instead her grandfather bought one that is appropriate for her age.”
—Safety Day Coordinator, Cordell, OK
“Last week a camper’s mother stopped me on the sidewalk and wanted to let me know that her son asked his grandfather why all the shields were not on the mower. She said the grandfather sheepishly said that he hadn’t gotten around to putting them back on after working on the mower the summer before. The grandfather and grandson, later that afternoon put the shields back in place.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Mexico, MO
As a result of an ATV session at camp, one boy began wearing his helmet and safety gear when he rode his ATV. Soon after, he flipped the ATV and hit a utility hole after hitting a huge hole in the field. The ER doctor told them that if it wasn’t for the safety gear, he would have been dead. —Safety Day Coordinator, Smithland, KY
“I know all the 2nd graders got a lot out of the camp, but I'm not sure that my FFA kids didn't get even more. The leadership and preparation those kids put into this camp still continues to amaze me.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Ft. Payne, AL
“The most fascinating thing about this camp is the response of the adults who helped with the camp and the high school students… They all came not expecting to learn anything, but went away saying this is great, every kid needs this camp.
—Safety Day Coordinator, Frankfort, KY
This has gotten to be a day that is compared to a national holiday! A date has been reserved for next year! Every year we have someone new want to participate. —Safety Day Coordinator, Bude, MS
The local Ag businesses are very proud to say they have helped prevent farm injuries to the children of their customers. —Safety Day Coordinator, Nezperce, ID
A number of smaller events and programs have resulted from our safety day camp event. Over the past years 3 other Progressive Farmer safety camps have broken off and started their own in another county. —Safety Day Coordinator, Enid, OK
Over the past year several kids have had 4-wheeler accidents – thru the Farm Safety ATV session the kids have had comments realizing why their friends wrecked. I feel we are developing an awareness of the real need to be safer on ATVs. —Safety Day Coordinator, Leaksville, MS
The Safety Day Camp instills positive behavior changes in kids, teachers and parents. Moreover, it brings unity and cooperation to the whole county – between agencies, schools and individuals. —Safety Day Coordinator, Cordell, OK
“At our 2001 camp, we made fire extinguisher pails from baking soda. We heard from two different families that they actually used their pails to put out fires.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Dillon, MT
“We made fire extinguishers out of small coffee cans and soda. This fall, one mother told me it saved their house as she grabbed it when her clothes dryer caught fire. This made it well worth the time spent collecting the 200 cans and lids and getting them filled.” —Safety Day Coordinator, Bladen, NE
“Thanks for such a great, inspiring training on how to conduct a safety day. Through Extension, we attend many meetings; most are forgotten before we leave the room. But this one was wonderful! I have already ordered some of the resources and can’t wait to host our first camp!” —Safety Day Coordinator, Greensburg, KY
Thanks so much for all the hard work at the Nashville safety day training. It was really good. Even after nine trainings, I still learn from others and get good ideas every year. —Safety Day Coordinator, Ft. Payne, AL