PAF Safety Coordinator Spotlight: Bryant York
For Bryant York, a dedicated agriculture educator and community leader in Iredell County, North Carolina, safety education is more than a program—it’s a lifelong commitment rooted in personal experience and purpose.
Bryant’s first exposure to the Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF) came as a child attending a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Day) in his home county. While those programs weren’t consistently offered at the time, the experience made a lasting impression—one that would eventually come full circle.
In April 2026, Bryant will host his 16th Wake Up to Ag/Safety Day event, incorporating the PAF Safety Day program for the fourth consecutive year. Serving for 18 years as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor in a rural North Carolina community, he has seen firsthand the risks that come with agricultural life. Farm-related injuries, including the tragic loss of a former student in a grain bin incident, reinforced a deep responsibility to pursue every possible avenue of incident prevention.
That commitment has translated into powerful community impact. His PAF Safety Day focuses on reaching every kindergartener in Iredell County, ensuring that safety awareness begins as early as possible. In rural areas where many children live on or near farms, early education is critical to preventing future accidents and saving lives.
Partnering with PAF was a natural choice. “There is strength in numbers,” Bryant shared, noting the value of PAF’s high-quality curriculum, strong organization, and the assurance of insurance coverage for an event that involves nearly 2,000 participants, volunteers, and educators. The curriculum’s flexibility allows lessons to be tailored to a wide range of ages and learning styles, while maintaining accuracy, engagement, and hands-on learning.
Equally meaningful is the support behind the scenes. Bryant describes the PAF staff as a true family—responsive, knowledgeable, and ready to assist at a moment’s notice. That sense of partnership makes even large-scale planning manageable and rewarding.
Perhaps the most powerful “aha” moment came when Bryant realized that every student volunteer now leading the event was once a kindergarten participant in a previous PAF Safety Day. Former participants have grown into leaders, passing on safety knowledge to the next generation, and creating a full-circle impact that captures the heart of the program.
When asked what they would say to others considering a partnership with PAF, the response was simple: it’s a win-win. With strong support, exceptional materials, and a shared mission, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation helps elevate local efforts into lasting, life-changing impact.
With each program held and every child reached, Bryant’s appreciation for the lasting impact this work has on agriculture and the families it serves deepens.