Farmers Kent Fann and David Naylor are putting safety first, especially when it comes to working on the farm. The two are organizing Sampson County’s third annual Farm Safety Day to be held Saturday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The idea to start this event was the brain-child of Fann and Naylor. They work on farms daily and recognize the dangers present and the need for education to ensure safety. When they read about The Progressive Agriculture Foundation’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Days in Progressive Farmer magazine, they pursued training and planned such an event for Sampson County.

According to Naylor, Farm Safety Day is geared to kids ages eight to 13, but parents and siblings are encouraged to attend, as well. Fann hosts the event at his farm located five miles north of Salemburg at the intersection of Hwy. 242 and Tyndall Bridge Road.

This year’s opening session, according to a flier, will be a drug dog demonstration by the Sampson County Sherriff’s Department.

Children will then break into groups of about 10 and spend about 20 minutes each at nine different stations that will feature demonstrations and discussions on the topics of ATV (all terrain vehicles) safety, bike safety, chemical safety, fire safety, firearm safety, first aid, healthy lifestyles, Internet safety and PTO (Power Take Off) safety. These stations will feature specialists, community teachers and volunteers to instruct the youngsters.

Naylor commented, that this Farm Safety Day is unique because it “takes place on a actual, working farm.” “We will have machinery there to help children make the connection,” and most of the stations are hands-on.

Each participation will receive a t-shirt, sunvisor and a goody bag with an assortment of items. Lunch and snacks will also be served.

The past two years the event has drawn about 80 kids and 70 adults, Naylor reported. This year he expects about 200 to attend, including volunteers and parents.

Although the event takes place on a farm, and is about farm safety, Naylor stressed that it’s not just for “farm kids.” All kids and adults can benefit from the event, he added.

Farmer and Extension agent Deleon Wilkes noted that the initial target for the event was farm youth but because “agriculture is becoming more of a minority now,” the even offers other topics for rural settings and kids from town.

Wilkes said there is a lot of personal interest invested into this event. His two sons have always helped him on the farm and “safety has been a constant battle.” “These things happen just like that (he snapped his fingers). After it happens, it’s too late.”

Other planners of the event told stories of injuring and even fatal accidents that have taken places on farms, and they don’t want such an accident to take the lives of one of their own here in Sampson County.

Wilkes said Farm Safety Day is what 4-H and Extension work is all about. “We define a need and come up with a strategy to attack that need.” He pointed out that because Sampson County is the largest agricultural county in N.C., “we fit the bill, if anyone does, to host Farm Safety Day.”

Farm Safety Day is really about the “bigger picture ,” Wilkes commented, “for students to take the knowledge and transfer it to other situations and to make them more aware of danger. They can share that with their family and make the whole community safer.”

The Progressive Agriculture Foundation provides the insurance, banners, publicity and training to sponsor this event, Naylor stated, but it is the local support that makes the event possible. Cape Fear Farm Credit and Sampson County Farm Bureau are the major sponsors, contributing funding for the event and manpower, he mentioned, but numerous other local businesses are also contributors. In spite of the economy, Naylor reported, he has had no trouble getting support from local businesses. The sponsors have stated, Wilkes reported, “If we save one child from getting hurt, it’s worth it.”

Representing Sampson County Farm Bureau, Jackie Pope said, “We stress safety a lot. We want to get the word out there and be on top of it all the time.”

Pope’s colleague, Eloise Register, reported that she, too, saw the ad about this event in Progressive Farmer magazine and “thought it would be a really good thing” When she learned that Fann and Naylor were planning such an event, she knew she wanted Farm Bureau to be involved because it would be “great for our kids and community” to participate.

For more information about the event, contact Sampson County 4-H at (910) 592-7161 or David Naylor at (910) 564-2940 or (910) 385-5196, or click on www.sc4h.org to register. Registration may be done on the day of the event, but only 150 spots are available.

To contact Amy Kelly call (910) 592-8137 ext. 119 or send e-mail to sigov@myclintonnc.com.