Farm Safety Day

Stormy conditions didn't dampen the spirit during Farm Safety Day last week. The event aims to educate participants about operating farm equipment safely.
This year, Farm Safety Day was held at McConnell Angus Farm in Somerset. Participants broke into four groups and traveled to various stations learning about safety issues relating to machinery and pinch points, livestock handling, and chainsaws, weedeaters and mowers, and human health and safety.
Even though the evening thunderstorms prevented the tractor rollover and power take-off entanglement demonstrations, volunteer Missy Chambers provided participants with a multitude of important information for operating farm equipment safely. She emphasized knowing your equipment, performing regular maintenance and using safety equipment such as rollover protection bars on tractors. Chambers said that when used with a seatbelt, rollover protection bars will keep tractor operators in a "safe triangle" keeping them from being seriously injured or even killed should their tractors tip over.
Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Steve Hopkins demonstrated animal safety with the help of one of the McConnell Angus cows. And, moved inside due to the storms, 4-H Program Coordinator Ashley Elgin and Stihl representatives from Virginia Tractor took turns speaking about human health and safety, such as eyes, ears and skin safety, and chainsaw safety.
Offering perhaps the most important safety message of the night was Arthur Mitchell, a farmer from Rockingham County who was caught in a corn picker 30 years ago. As a result of the accident, Mitchell lost his legs and spent 98 days in the hospital. According to Mitchell, he received 114 liters of blood and has had 27 different operations since the accident.
"Accidents can be life-threatening," he said. "If not killed, you start the long road to recovery. It's expensive and painful. I lost my legs 30 years ago and I still have pain. It not only affects the victim, but it affects the family."
Mitchell attributed his wife Mary-Jo with taking care of the farm and keeping things going during his recovery. Mitchell said accidents not only disable and kill, they also are costly and can be prevented. He encouraged people to read their operators' manual, especially the safety section; make sure people see you if you're trying to communicate with someone on a tractor; to not exceed recommended speeds and to not allow riders; avoid slippery conditions and wear protective clothing when necessary.
"The best thing you can do is to avoid an accident completely," Mitchell said.
He showed participants his prosthetic legs and encouraged them to "take it slow and be safe."
Farm Safety Day was sponsored by Central Virginia Cattleman Association, Farm Credit of the Virginias, Orange County Farm Bureau, Orange-Madison Co-op and Ridgeview New Holland. The event was planned by a committee of extension professionals, 4-H volunteers, and local and state Farm Bureau directors and professionals.