On Friday, September 12th, the Pender  and Emerson-Hubbard FFA Chapters welcomed 165 eager elementary students to the public park in Pender for the 11th Annual Farm Safety Day. These young learners came from Emerson-Hubbard 4th grade, Wakefield 3rd grade, Walthill 3rd grade, and Pender 3rd-6th grades to learn the safety precautions around farms and rural communities.

 

The classes were split into nine groups, attending 10 stations in an orderly rotation. Each group was lead by two FFA members, one from each chapter. With the students, teachers, visitors, presenters, and leaders, the grand total of attendance was 245 people.

Prior to elementary children filling the park, the FFA members from both chapters organized their stations and then enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa or coffee and a roll, compliments of the Pender-Thurston FFA Alumni and the Pender American Legion Auxiliary, respectively.

Kicking off the annual event was a brief welcome by Pender FFA President Brant Peters.  During his kick off, Pender FFA member Callie Janke ran into the crowd screaming that a little girl had wrecked her bicycle while walking a dog. No, this didn’t really happen, it was staged for the Pender Fire and Rescue to capture students’ attention with sirens.

 

Fifth grader Carlie Bartlett, the victim, was immobilized by rescue squad members Ben Brehmer, Jodie Davis, Nadine Randall, Kent Powley, Tanner Heinemann, and Paul Thomsen. After they explained how and why they immobilized the victim they released students to their sessions.

Session one was based on horse safety. At the scene, six horses were brought to give the pupils a hands-on experience. Pender FFA member Tanner Sunderman and his parents Steve and Lynette hauled their three miniature horses for the beginning of the rotation. In addition, a Quarter Horse brought by Pender FFA member Catherine Svoboda and her father Mark was on scene for a saddling demonstration.

 

Finally, two Belgian horses were also furnished by Jordan McKay and her father Kenny. They showed how to approach and walk around a horse. Each owner explained the breed thoroughly, clarified horse safety, and allowed the children time to pet and feed the horses. 

The second station was titled Camping at the Lake. It was led by Emerson-Hubbard FFA Chapter’s Austin Gutzmann, Nathan Gutzmann, and Justin Hogan. Also presenting were Jase Johnson from the Pender chapter along with his father, Doug. They explained the safety precautions of boating, jet skiing, and camping. The children were educated on what to bring, what to look out for, and how to handle situations. Present was an inboard motor boat, two jet skis, a fishing boat, and a tent suitable to camp in.

The dog lovers subject was split into two stations: large dogs and small dogs. The students first visited the larger dogs, most of which were used for hunting now or in the history of the breeds. The small dog station showed many lap dogs which are loved as pets. FFA members told students about the breed characteristics, history, and use of the dogs. Coordinating the two stations was volunteer, Angela Sanderson, Veterinary Technician at the Pender Vet Clinic.  Pets and handlers were:  Italian Grey Hound—Tanner Albus, Great Dane—Rachael Dahlman, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel—Emerald Buhr, Pembroke Welsh Corgie—BreAnn Leonard, Yorkie Terrier—Andrew Ambriz, German Shorthair—Melissa Roeber, Shitzu—Connor Fillipi, Schippereke—Marivel Peredas, Miniature Pincher—Doug Essman, Golden Retriever—Lexi Henschke, Black Lab—Taylor Krusemark, Brittany—Jay Schrader, and Beagle—Matt Hansen. 
Station number five was bicycle safety.  Sandy Preston of Dixon County Extension and Kim Bearnes of Dakota-Thurston County Extension shared bicycle safety tips regarding how, where, and when to ride as well as the obvious discussion of proper safety equipment, especially the helmet. Assisting were Whitney Kaser and Christina Smith of Pender and Eric S of Emerson-Hubbard.

Next students visited the sun safety station as presented by Ruth Beckman along with Crystal Moreno and Cynthia Schmidt. Sun Safety was a hit because students had a relay of putting on sunscreen and donning a hat and umbrella before handing off to a classmate.  Students also made bead necklaces with yarn and photosensitive beads while they discussed the importance of caring for your skin and eyes.

Leaving the sun safety session, students had a little light shed on them about ATV safety.  While we continually have students in America getting injured or killed on ATVs, the FFA chapters are trying to influence youngsters to properly ride and operate the machines. Under the watchful eye of Kevin Fendrick, Pender FFA members Dillon Fendrick, Shane Sunderman, and Robbie Thomsen and E-H FFA member Travis Albrecht shared proper equipment and riding techniques along with personal stories of lapses of judgement when riding the deadly machine erroneously considered a toy by some.

Session eight was titled “What’s in my garage/shop?” The focus of this session was to show the many hazardous and poisonous items that can be found in our everyday walk of life.  Students were quizzed about shop and landscaping tools, fuels, and safety gear. Mark Svoboda and Armondo Ambriz coached FFA members Cory Sebade and Austin Heinemann in their presentations to students. If nothing else, the 3rd through 6th graders know what to keep their younger siblings away from now.

Session nine was a large John Deere tractor and grain wagon which attracted the eyes of most farm kids. The articulated steering tractor showed the many blind spots and pinch points parents try to keep their children away from. Dean Carlson of Pender Implement shared his knowledge and experiences along with Pender FFA members Katie Peatrowsky and Blake Reppert.

The last session brought much of it together for many students. The living model farm was a parking lot full of equipment furnished by area farmers and Pender Implement. Steve Sunderman added value to the rotation created, prepared, and explained by Pender FFA members Jacob Lamplot, Brant Peters, Brandon Kai, Travis Jacobsen, and Bryce Robertson along with Emerson-Hubbard FFA member Eddie Rohde. Equipment followed the sequence of tilling, planting, harvesting, and hauling grain.

During lunch, a demonstration by Dakota County Sheriff’s office included a police dog searching for drugs in backpacks. Students were able to ask questions and pet a retired drug dog following the demonstration.
An event of this magnitude cannot happen all by itself. In addition to the aforementioned members, the following FFA members were involved as group leaders, photographers, and go-fers:  Rochelle Calderon, Tara Baker, Celsey Wichman, Dylan Kent, Andrew Czebe, Jonathan Smith, Poon Chumak, Ben Purucker, Jordan Vande Brug, Chelsea Brinkman, Kayla Clark, Zach Morgan, Callie Janke, and Courtney Rutar, all from Pender FFA Chapter and Kassie Bik, Adrienne White, Zack McLaughlin, Patrick Macklin, Megan Gutzmann, Dillion Martin, Elizabeth Starzl, Trevon Emmons, and Chase Miller from the Emerson-Hubbard FFA Chapter.

 

Finally, event coordination was accomplished by Pender-Thurston FFA Alumni and Honorary Pender FFA member Mary Paeper, Emerson-Hubbard FFA Advisor Michelle Ryun, and Pender FFA Advisor Rusty Bartlett.