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Jun. 2, 2017 Source: Progressive Agriculture Foundation news release As school classrooms empty for summer break, children look forward to many fun-filled days ahead. Although this time of year brings about fond memories of family vacations and ice cream, emergency rooms across the country call it "the trauma season for kids." Studies show that, with more free time, less supervision and more outdoor activities, tragedies involving children significantly rise between the months of May and August. To ensure children in rural communities stay safe and healthy all summer long, a focus on youth farm safety education must remain at the forefront. Farm Safety For Just Kids (FS4JK), an organization committed to providing safety education to children in rural communities, recently announced it would dissolve after nearly three decades. In doing so, the organization felt the mission of making agriculture safer for youth would be better served by combining its resources and assets with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation. The Progressive Agriculture Foundation plans to continue the legacy of FS4JK throughout North America, currently organizing more than 400 youth safety events each year through the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program. "We are honored that FS4JK entrusted our program to continue with their farm safety legacy by donating its assets," says Susan Reynolds-Porter, chief executive officer of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation. "These funds will be used to help us provide the training, resources and support needed for even more communities to conduct Safety Days for children." The foundation is welcoming FS4JK chapters that want to continue their efforts through the Safety Day program and will share FS4JK educational resources on its website. According to Marilyn Adams, FS4JK founder and president, "We feel the organization has accomplished what we set out to do 30 years ago: to support farm safety education in the United States and around the world. This transfer of assets will further the mission we all have worked hard to accomplish." In 1986, Marilyn's 11-year-old son, Keith, suffocated in a gravity flow wagon of corn while helping with harvest on his parents' farm. Months later, when Marilyn was helping her daughter with an FFA project, while researching farm safety, she uncovered that Keith's story wasn't unique. After continually reading stories about hundreds of children dying on farms each year, Marilyn founded Farm Safety For Just Kids in the hopes of preventing another tragedy. From its humble beginnings as a grassroots movement that started out of a spare room in Marilyn's Iowa home, the organization has reached thousands of children, families and communities with life-saving information. For safety resources or details about hosting, donating to, volunteering at or attending a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day, visit progressiveag.org. ABOUT PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program, the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America, is a program of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF), a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The foundation's mission is to provide education, training and resources to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities. In 2008, PAF was awarded the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal, demonstrating its commitment to accountability and ethical practices. In 2017, PAF received a 4-star rating and 100% score with Charity Navigator. Safety Day applications are due each July 15 for Safety Days that will be conducted the following calendar year. For more information, please visit progressiveag.org. Tweet |
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