The Weyburn Agricultural Society will be putting on their third annual Ag Safety Day for all Grade 3 students in Weyburn on Wednesday, April 27, at the Weyburn Curling Rink.
Organized by Neal Keefe of the Ag Society, this is part of the Progressive Agriculture Farm Safety Day that is put on annually across Canada and the U.S. for over 20 years now.
Last year, the program saw about 200 Grade 3 students from every elementary school in Weyburn, plus a school from Lampman, take in the morning long series of safety demonstrations and seminars.
A wide range of topics are covered in the safety day, including being safe around large and small mowers, being safe in the sun, safe handing food or being around large or small animals, safety around oilfield equipment, knowing first aid, being safe around electricity, and around tractors of every size.
Keefe said he needs around 25 volunteers in total, and currently he still needs around 20 to step forward and help put on the demonstrations or man a booth. He has had volunteers from the Sun Country Health Region, the Rotary Club, Cenovus Energy, the Ag Society and from TK Safety.
“The important thing I hope for is they learn how to save a life or that of their families,” said Keefe. “It breaks my heart to hear of accidents on farms where people are hurt or killed.”
In this province, the program was taken on by the Saskatchewan Association of Ag Societies and Exhibitions (SAASE), of which the Weyburn Ag Society is a member, with special training provided for the coordinators who organize these days.
Keefe noted in some areas the safety days are put on by other organizations, such as health regions.
“The idea is to train kids and their families about safety and raise the awareness of the hazards they can encounter,” he said. “Hopefully they take the message home and pass it on to their parents.”
Anyone interested in volunteering to help organize or man a booth at the safety day can contact Keefe at 306-861-3961.
