Deserving the Win

When the U.S. Department of Labor withdrew its widely criticized proposed rule that would have restricted children under the age of sixteen from doing regular farm chores it was seen as a victory for the ag industry and family farms in America. Now, to prove that it was a victory well deserved, the agriculture community needs to invest even more time than it already does to making sure the next generation of farmers are safe while still allowing them to be farm kids doing what farm kids do. Many extension services and non-profit organizations provide resources and training to individuals and communities on farm safety. Be sure to make use of it. Most of us from rural communities can regale listeners with stories of growing up on a farm or holding down a summer job working on a farm, and a lot of what we experienced then still rings true for farm kids today. But there’s also a lot that goes on on farms today that’s far different due to advanced technologies, tools, and equipment, calling for more advanced safety practices. One week of every year is dedicated nationally to farm safety, lets make it fifty-two. Let’s prove we deserve the win.