Farm Safety Day scheduled June 10

Early summer is indeed a busy time for farmers. So busy, in fact, that we often think we don't have time to add one more thing to our plate. Between checking cows, mowing hay, working and planting ground and keeping up with the "honey-do's," the list goes on and on.
One thing that no one plans for is the time off for a crippling farm injury such as a broken arm or leg, a smashed pelvis or a brain injury. While we don't plan for these things, they can and do happen.
A special Teen and Adult Farm Safety Day program will be held in Somerset Wednesday, June 10 from 4-7 p.m., followed by a free dinner. The event is designed to draw attention to common farm hazards, including pinch points and gears, ATVs, livestock handling and chainsaw, weedeater, and mower safety. There will be a tractor rollover demonstration and a PTO entanglement demonstration-both of which organizers hope you see at Farm Safety Day and never on your own farm. The evening dinner speaker will be a farmer from the Shenandoah Valley who lost his leg in a farming accident nearly 40 years ago.
All safety stations will feature hands-on demonstrations directly related to the chores and tasks farmers and teens cover daily on area farming operations. Teens, 20-somethings, middle aged farmers and senior citizen operators are all encouraged to attend. Safety is not limited to one age group or experience level; accidents and injuries can happen to all of us.
Just in the local area, event organizers know of farm accidents in which drivers flipped ATVs, a farmer was overcome by silo gases and a producer was attacked by a bull. They observe teenagers and adults driving sideways on steep hills, carrying multiple riders on equipment and overloading wagons and such to save time or prevent an extra trip. Such shortcuts are never truly shortcuts if they happen at the expense of a person's life or limb.
The June 10 event is sponsored by Orange Farm Bureau and Virginia Farm Bureau in conjunction with Virginia Cooperative Extension and Orange 4-H. McConnell Angus at Somerset has graciously donated their facilities, and volunteers will be preparing dinner for all participants. Local ATV dealers will have exhibits and displays and local farm equipment dealers are supporting the event financially and through donations of equipment.
Please take the time to attend this event. Bring yourself, your employees, your children, grandchildren, neighbors, part-time laborers, etc. Any teens and adults who are exposed to farm hazards are sure to benefit. Pre-registration is required by calling 672-1361 (Orange Extension Office). The event is free.