Filed under: church, friends, safety | Tags: accident, children, farm, friends, friendship, funeral, safety
Today was the funeral of a friend. It is very difficult to lay to rest a person who should not have died. The accident he was involved in tore him away from a wife and three children.
He was a gentle man with a huge heart. Quick to help his neighbor. Dedicated to his job. Easy to talk to. A huge loss to the community.
He will be missed. Rest in peace friend.
Filed under: Ag education, Farm, farm animals, Farm Bureau, safety, school | Tags: accident, Agriculture education, children, farm, Farm Bureau, farm safety, safety
For several years now I have been talking to 4th graders about safety on the farm. This Farm Bureau project is vitally important to help protect our children and their parents. Over the years I have found several stories that I can add to punctuate the presentation.
When we talk about safety around belts, pulleys, sprockets and chains I tell about the time when I could have lost three fingers on my right hand. It’s a personal story that turned out well, I still have my fingers.
When we talk about driving on slopes and the possibility of rollovers I tell about the time I rolled a tractor. How it was not the first time I had driven on that slope, but it still happened. That also turned out well.
When we talk about auger safety I have a story about a man who lost his arm in an auger accident. The story is not an easy one for those who listen. I let them know the details so that they will know this is serious business.
Unfortunately I now have a story to tell of a friend who lost his life in a power-take-off (PTO) accident. We will never know the details since he was alone when the accident happened. The fact that he left a wife and three children alone adds to the sorrow. This will not be an easy story to tell.
Please let those around you know that you love them. Keep reminding them to be careful. Learn how to be safe around machines and animals. Know safety rules and follow them. The loss of body parts is inconvenient, the loss of life is tragic. Please be safe out there.
Michael
