Sharing safety: FFA visits the elementary

By Eva C.

On October 19th, the Roland-Story FFA Chapter hosted their annual Farm Safety Day for 3rd graders. This event, organized by the FFA, is one of the elementary’s favorite activities. They love exploring all the stations that the high schoolers have prepared and brought to show them.

To prepare for this event, high school students dedicated time during seminar to form groups and conduct research for their assigned topics. The groups included sun safety, MyPlate, Iowa products, fishing and water safety, equipment safety, chemical safety, animal safety, ATV safety, first aid, and grain bin safety. High schoolers signed up to lead these groups and teach the kids. Many elements from previous years have been utilized, with updates each year to improve the stations. For example, the Iowa product station was turned into a game to enhance engagement for the 3rd graders.

During Farm Safety Day, the kids are divided into 10 groups. Then, the high schoolers who signed up as group leaders guide them to different stations. Each group spends 12 minutes at each station, participating in various activities. At the first aid station, they learn about tourniquets and create safety kits containing items like band-aids, gloves, and gauze. Sun safety teaches them how to protect themselves from harmful sun rays. They do this by creating a fun keychain with color-changing beads as a reminder to always wear sunscreen. In the water and fishing safety station, they learn how to safely cast a fishing pole and the importance of wearing life jackets while on the water. At the Iowa products station, they answer multiple-choice questions on a whiteboard, with the person having the most correct answers winning a prize.

The third graders definitely have their favorite stations. When asked, most mentioned equipment safety because of the tractor. Van Wall allows the FFA to borrow tractors to show the kids how to be safe around equipment. It is a favorite station because they can sit in the tractor. Another popular station is animal safety. Ms. Zimmerman brought her goat, Bucket, and sophomore Delaney Paulson brought two chickens. The kids enjoyed seeing and petting the animals, particularly Bucket. Grain bin safety is also a favorite, with the FFA presenting a model that illustrates the dangers of getting stuck in a grain bin.

Farm Safety Day was a success once again. This initiative by FFA members is highly appreciated, and the third graders thoroughly enjoy spending time with the high schoolers while learning about farm safety. This event will continue to be organized by the FFA for many years to come.

Location: Story City, IA 50248, USA

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