Farm Safety Day Camp set for July 19

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Farmers Union invites all youth, ages 6-13, to attend Brown County Farmers Union and Farm Safety Day Camp scheduled for July 19 at the Brown County Fairgrounds, 25 Market Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota (rain or shine). Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with camp activities running from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Camp is free to all who attend. Lunch and snacks provided.

“We look forward to educating our youth on the role that cooperatives play in our everyday lives,” said Mike Traxinger, Brown County Farmers Union Education Director. “Farm safety is also a key component of rural life. For the second year in a row, we have partnered with local cooperatives and area businesses to provide six (6) twenty-minute sessions on farm safety. We look forward to hosting a fun, safe and friendly day camp.”

Through interactive activities and games, day campers will learn about cooperation, farm safety, agriculture and leadership. Farm safety sessions will include the following: animal and livestock, ATV, farm equipment, dust explosion, electrical and grain bins.

Local cooperative and business sponsors of the camp that will be providing farm safety sessions include Farm Credit Services of America, Farm Safety for Just Kids, Full Circle Ag, North Central Farmers Elevator, Northern Electric Cooperative, RDO Equipment and South Dakota Wheat Growers Association. The camp is also sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union, Farmers Union Insurance Agency and the CHS Foundation.

“Wheat Growers is thrilled to, once again, be part of the Farmers Union & Farm Safety Camp,” said Beth Locken, Regional Environmental, Health and Safety Specialist for Wheat Growers. “Our hands-on demonstrations of working in and around grain bins will demonstrate the importance of following safety measures to prevent grain entrapments and explosions. Participants will be able to experience, first-hand, what can happen if appropriate safety measures aren’t followed.”

“Electricity plays an important role in agriculture, which is why it’s crucial to teach our youth how to properly work with electricity. Northern Electric Cooperative is excited to be part of this safety camp and demonstrate the precautions that need to be taken on the farm,” Northern Electric General Manager and CEO Char Hager said.

“For farm safety camp this year, NCFE is excited to introduce the new ATV safety simulator that gives hands on training of riding and rough terrain,” indicated NCFE’s Safety Coordinator, Andy Clemen. “The NCFE ATV safety simulator is the first one in South Dakota. We are looking forward to camp again this year to educate our youth about safe practices on the farm.”

“We are pleased to help sponsor this very worthwhile farm safety camp for Brown County youth in cooperation with our neighboring local cooperatives,” said Tammy Satrang, Full Circle Ag Chief Financial Officer. “McKenzie Chambers from Purina Feeds and Full Circle Ag will be educating the youth on handling farm animals safely.”

South Dakota Farmers Union theme this year is “Cooperation of Bees.” Youth will look at how bees work together in a community to gather pollen and produce honey and wax. Bees also provide an excellent platform to look at how people can work together to accomplish tasks, how beekeepers have pooled together to create a honey cooperative, and how being a part of a community means focusing on positive attitudes and actions toward others.

The honeybee’s cooperative nature and ability to succeed will be highlighted through fun, interactive activities designed to teach youth about cooperatives and working together to build stronger communities. “Like a successful hive, by working together we all can accomplish more. What a fun way to teach youth about the role cooperatives play in our state, as well as the important role each of them can play in their communities,” said Rachel Haigh-Blume, South Dakota Farmers Union State Education Director. “Kids are aware of what is going on in their world – this opens up great opportunities to dialogue about what today’s farmers do to take care of our natural resources.”

Registration forms can be found online at www.sdfu.org. You can also pick them up at your local Farmers Union Insurance office or your local cooperative. Pre-registration is helpful, but not required. To pre-register, please email Mike Traxinger at mtraxinger@gmail.com.

Campers are also encouraged to wear sturdy shoes for activities. All campers will receive a free T-shirt, courtesy of the Farmers Union Insurance Agency.

For more information, contact Mike Traxinger at 605-377-4110 or SDFU at 605-352-6761 or look online at www.sdfu.org.