Kids teach kids farm safety

Harvest time is just about upon us. This is one of those times Illinois farm families think about safety! At least we hope they do. A lot of activity will be occurring over the next several months, with a lot of people helping out. There will be jobs for children, and jobs that children will be asked to do, and the two are not always the same. Every farm family knows that farming is the most dangerous occupation in the country. Also, every member of the family must pitch in to make sure everything is done on time.

Tom Berkshire

Each year, more than 23,000 farm children suffer serious injuries. Some of these young people are maimed for life and about 300 will lose their lives. Harvest is one of the riskiest times for kids. Illinois Easter Seals asks that you think about age-appropriate work and make sure your expectations do not put your son or daughter at risk.

While this message may sound a little strange coming from Easter Seals, we work with many farmers and young people who have been hurt in accidents. We believe very strongly that disabilities to young people caused by farm accidents can and should be prevented. The Illinois Easter Seal Society has been developing a program that is attracting national attention. In 1992, we began a partnership with the Illinois FFA chapters to build a quality program for children. We then asked the Center for Rural Health and Social Policy at Southern Illinois University to bring the university forces together to build a new concept in safety education TASK (Teaching Agricultural Safety to Kids) was create tested in the field using FFA chapters in various parts of the state, and now is becoming a strong part of community accident prevention programs.

The TASK program created a curriculum for high school students to learn to teach 10,11 and 12-year-olds agricultural safety. We work very hard to give the high school student real-time experience in teaching. When they stand in front of 30 fifth graders talking about tractor rollovers or hog confinement buildings, we want them to get the safety message across loud and clear!

To date, more than 4,000 grade schoolers have been taught using this approach of kids teaching kids. The booklets used as baseline material are available on 12 agricultural production topics ranging from pesticide and chemical use to using heavy farm equipment. Using this material, the student should learn what to do when they the first on the scene of an accident and how to be safe around animals, equipment and chemicals.

This is a unique approach to safety education and one which tries to be relevant to the grade schoolers' approach to learning. While you never heard it from me...some say that kids don't always listen to their parents. Even if they listen they might not always act on that advice. We believe the family message can be helped by listening to high school role models. Are they more likely to listen to the high school mentor? Our hope is that not only are they more attentive, but that the high school students appreciate the importance of better safety in their own agricultural practice.

The material is designed to grab the attention and not bore the young student. There are lots of hands-on things to do in the projects, and teaching-tricks to make the information take hold in the young person's mind.

The program called TASK is best taught as a community project or a project of schools and youth groups Material is available through the public library system or it can be purchased from the Illinois Easter Seal Society.

No rural community wants to share in the tragedy young person being seriously hurt in a harvest accident or other farm mishap. We want them to share in the implementation of a really exciting prevention program designed just for kids.

For more information about the TASK program, you may phone 1-800-525-0067.

By Tom Berkshire, President and CEO of the Illinois Easter Seal Society since 1990. He previously served on Governor James R. Thompson's staff as a policy advisor in human services and rural economic development. He is a member of the board of directors of the Illinois Rural Partners and o/the Illinois Rural Health Association.

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 1996

Princeton girl is 1996-97
Youth Consulting Board representative

When Dawn Amrein of rural Princeton set out to go on the 1996 "Youth to Washington" tour, she expected an action-packed, fast-paced week of touring, education and fun. The 17-year-old got a little more than she bargained for. She was chosen to represent Illinois on the Youth Consulting Board (YCB) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The tour is sponsored by the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois.

Each year, one of the tour participants is elected to a 12-month term on the YCB, and Dawn, the daughter of Illinois Valley Electric Cooperative members Ron and Barbara Amrein, was chosen. During her yearlong tenure, she'll participate in the YCB's Youth Tour Planning Committee, helping put together arrangements for NRECA's 1997 tour. She will also help out at the organization's 1997 annual meeting in Las Vegas in March.

YCB representatives there are introduced on stage before an audience of some 10,000 people, and help keep the meeting running smoothly. They often staff information booths and help out in the press room, among other duties.

Dawn is a senior this year at Bureau Valley High School, where she is an A student, class president, student council officer, captain of both the volleyball and track teams, National Honor Society member and a leader in many other school, church and community projects. She hopes someday to attend the University of Illinois and study business and English, with the idea of becoming a CPA or an English teacher.

To be selected for the YCB position, students on the tour submit applications, and the tour director and chaperones select finalists, who are then elected by their fellow tour participants after being introduced and making a campaign presentation.

Dawn Amrein, 1996 Youth Counsulting Board winner

In her campaign speech, Dawn discussed leadership. But instead of talking about herself and the positions she holds, she spoke of the importance of befriending someone in need and standing up for what's right— even if it means breaking with the crowd that's "cool."

"Being a leader is more than an act," she wrote in her speech, "and it's not a once-in-a-while thing. It's a way of life. It has become a part of who I am and who I always want to be."

Twenty-one outstanding students have represented Illinois on the YCB since its inception in 1976. In addition to Dawn, the Illinois representatives have included : katie Roley of Windsor, 1995; Mark Guzzardo of Kewanee,

1994; Ron Provine ofBuckley, 1993; Karla Miller ofCarbondale, 1992; Ron Wickenhauser of Heyworth, 1991; Mike Rice of Murpphysboro, 1990; Heather Rawlings of Loda, 1989; Kirk Weiler of Ashmore, 1988; Eric Young of McLeansboro, 1987; Elaina Poulos of Dongola, 1986; Joe "Del" Byassee of Villa Ridge, 1985; Sharon Goodwin of Broughton, 1984; Jim Alien of Norris City, 1983; Les Boegemann of Norris City, 1982; Michelle Richter of Breese, 1981; Danny Kane of Red Bud, 1980; Stephanie Green of Mounds, 1979; Randy Rings of Burnside, 1978; Richard Brown of Kamak, 1977 and Matt Rhoades of Baylis, 1976.

SEPTEMBER 1996 • ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 5