It may be too soon for farmers to get out into the fields but it's never too soon to learn about farm safety. Third graders from all over Putnam County were invited to the Dale Gerding Farm for Farm Safety Days. On Tuesday and Wednesday, students learn about safety regarding, tractors, electrical, water, lawn mowers, and chemicals.
The Putnam County OSUÂ Extension Office and Emergency Management Agency sponsored the event. Owner of the farm, Ruth Gerding said the lessons learned have always remained relevant.
"It’s because the people that are presenting see the value," said Gerding. "Right along with the teachers and the principals. They see there’s a lot of life lessons so these kids are exposed to this. They really feel this isn’t a field trip, this is an extension of the classroom."
This is the 19th year Farm Safety Days has been put on. Over that time Gerding said about 9,500 students have come through for the event and that is including the approximately 500 students participating this year. Students from Columbus Grove, St. Anthony’s and Pandora-Gilboa were the first to attend the first session Tuesday morning.Â
"They just are smiling. I hear them talking between them and saying ‘I didn’t know that’ or “I didn’t know this’ it’s just the feedback."
In 19 years of putting the event on, Gerding said there was something unique of Tuesday’s sessions.
"This is a first this year. We’ve had snow on the ground before but I’ve never had whiteout conditions. We went from one building to another and it was pelting on our face."
Typically the session ends with a mock ATVÂ accident and one student called 911Â to see how an actual call would go. Also, a life flight would come in from Bluffton, but because of the wind and snow conditions Tuesday morning, the first session did not see the life flight. Gerding said it should fly in for the remaining sessions.
