Area children enjoy fun and educational Ag Safety Day

By Tyler Julson

Children from all around the area gathered at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds on Wednesday to learn about farm and home safety.

Around 120 students, from kindergarten to third grade, attended the event, which covered safety tips in first aid, grain safety, fire/weather safety and bike safety, among other topics. The children spent around 15 minutes at 10 different stations, trying firsthand many of the different safety techniques and practices of each area.

According to Katie Pestorious, coordinator of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day, this year was the biggest and best year yet. In the event’s third year of operation, all of the children were excited to come back and enjoy their favorite safety station.

“I’ve talked to a lot of the kids beforehand, and every kid is so different in what they enjoy,” Pestorious said. “And that’s the fun part about it all, each kid is going to have their different takeaways from the day itself.”

Many area businesses and community members were on hand to teach the young ones about the different areas of safety. Gold Cross Ambulance and Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea personnel provided first aid training. Kibble Equipment taught PTO safety. DNR officers taught water safety, and Cargill educated the kids on grain bin safety. There were many more volunteers and law enforcement officials on hand to provide lessons and tips.

“As a parent, this kind of day is very important,” Pestorious said. “It can be so easy for parents to think ‘Our kids know the basics and understand what to do and what not to do. But the more we can talk to the kids and educate them, the more they understand it. Especially when you have these groups of professionals that they look up to telling them how important it is.”

There was enough donations and support from community members and businesses that this year each child who attended the safety day got to go home with a water life jacket and a reflective neon safety vest.

“We are very fortunate that we have a lot of local sponsors,” Pestorious said. “Both financially and body wise to be here. Without the volunteers’ help we wouldn’t be able to have an event … A big thank you goes out to everyone that helped, and we look forward to having safety day again next year.”