PAF Safety Coordinator Spotlight: Julie Stephens

For nearly two decades, Julie Stephens has been dedicated to helping children build the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe. Since becoming a Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF) Coordinator in 2007, Julie has organized 26 Progressive Agriculture Safety Days®, bringing life-saving safety education to youth in her community.

Julie was first introduced to the program through a local coalition focused on youth safety that had previously received resources from Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. When the coalition connected with the PAF in 2007, they discovered a program that offered extensive support, proven educational resources, and a framework for delivering engaging, hands-on safety education.

Over the years, Julie has remained committed to coordinating Safety Days because she believes every lesson has the potential to save a life. "Providing children with knowledge they can use to prevent an injury or a death is always worth the effort."

Serving a county with both rural and urban populations, Julie recognizes that many children today have limited exposure to agriculture, while others grow up around farms without fully understanding the risks involved.

"Our local committee thought it was important to offer safety tips for kids who may visit a farm," she explained. "These safety messages can be equally beneficial to farm kids who may not have been taught about potential dangers on the farm."

Rather than creating a safety program from scratch, Julie values the comprehensive support PAF provides to coordinators. From ready-to-use curriculum and hands-on demonstrations to organizational guidance, she says the Foundation enables her to host high-quality programs year after year.

"PAF provides an extensive list of safety topics that all include hands-on demonstrations presenters can use to teach children," Julie said. "Hosting a Safety Day can be extremely time-consuming and challenging, but PAF provides great ideas that have been proven to be helpful over the years."

She also appreciates the practical advice shared by PAF staff, which has helped make each event safer and more organized. One tip has remained especially memorable: "In case there is an emergency and you need to find one of your young participants quickly, it is important to know which group they are in and where the group is at the moment," Julie shared. "Having the kids wear different colored hats, bandanas, or name tags helps find groups quickly."

Julie says the Foundation's curriculum aligns naturally with her organization's mission of improving the quality of farm family life. Because farm safety can sometimes be overlooked, she believes Safety Days provide an important opportunity to reinforce habits that protect children both on and off the farm.

While organizing a Safety Day requires months of planning, "I am quickly reminded that all the hard work was worth it when a participant runs up and thanks me for teaching them something they never knew or for letting them experience something new, such as using a fire extinguisher," says Julie.

For organizations considering partnering with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, her recommendation is simple. "PAF provides all-encompassing resources and incredible support for hosting a Safety Day event."

Coordinators like Julie Stephens are at the heart of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation's mission. Through their dedication, leadership, and commitment to hands-on safety education, thousands of children gain practical skills that can help prevent injuries and save lives for years to come.