United South Central students teach others about farm safety

Published 9:42 pm Tuesday, September 24, 2019

WELLS — United South Central students watched straw dummies injured in preventable farming accidents Tuesday as part of a fall farm safety program intended to keep children from taking that place.

The big message, United South CentralFFA adviser Dan Dylla said, was “just stay away.”

“All these little kids, everything looks like toys,” he said.

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They aren’t.

He has offered a farm safety day for over 25 years, and students kindergarten and up attended to watch demonstrations on power takeoff safety, combine safety, tractor runovers, auger safety, flowing grain safety, electricity safety and ATV, snowmobile and lawnmower safety. Students from Dylla’s horticulture class led stations for students.

When it comes to farm safety, Dylla encouraged people to take their time. Accidents are preventable, he said.

Though he estimated the majority of United South Central students do not live on a working farm, the messages from safety demonstrations carry through as students consider safety around cars, pickups and snowmobiles, he said.

“Think a little bit,” he said.

Junior FFA member Josie Schumann, who led a station on auger and flowing grain safety with fellow junior FFA members Paige Adams and Mariah Lutteke, encouraged students to watch their surroundings and be safe.

Lutteke said it was nice for younger children to learn farm safety at an early age.

Fifth grader Kaylee Schroeder attended the demonstration Tuesday morning and said she learned about ATV safety. She said she also learned not to lean up against the glass inside a combine, as the door could open on you. She has done that before, but she won’t do it again, she said.

She also encouraged people to be safe.

“You never know what could happen,” she said.

 

About Sarah Kocher

Sarah covers education and arts and culture for the Tribune.

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