OWATONNA, Minn. — University of Minnesota Extension is excited to be partnering with North Dakota
State University Extension to offer a series of farm safety webinars this winter. Each of us has been impacted
in some way by an accident, injury, or fatality that has occurred on the farm. These events are devastating to
communities and impact the livelihoods of those we know and love dearly. The purpose of these webinars is
to empower communities and individuals to prioritize safety on the farm. The webinar series will be January-
March on Thursdays at 11:00am. Each webinar will last one hour.
The January 21 webinar is a Grain Bin Safety session that will feature a panel moderated by Angie Johnson,
Farm & Ranch Safety Program Coordinator and Extension Agent with NDSU Extension. Panelists include
Rich Schock, captain of the Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team and Ken Hellevang, agricultural
engineer with North Dakota State University Extension.
February 4 is all about Tractor and Equipment Safety. We will cover PTO use and safety, roadway safety, and
have a conversation with North Dakota farmers Scott & Elizabeth Huso and their employee Chase Frederick,
who was in an accident on their farm in the past. They will be joined by David Kraft, safety consultant for
North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance.
On February 18, the Youth Farm Safety webinar will feature a panel discussion moderated by Emily
Krekelberg, Farm Safety & Health Extension Educator with University of Minnesota Extension. The panelists
include Marsha Salzwedel with the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety,
Jana Davidson with Progressive Agriculture Foundation, and Diane Rohlman with University of Iowa College
of Public Health. They will cover various resources and programs available for families with young farmers.
The March 4 discussion will focus on Livestock Safety. UMN Extension Cattle Production Extension
Educator Joe Armstrong, DVM will discuss and demonstrate proper animal handling in both confinement and
pasture systems.
The series will conclude on March 18 with a mental health topic; Emily Krekelberg will be conducting QPR
Training. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a one-hour suicide prevention program that helps individuals
learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent suicide. This training is tailored toward agricultural
communities.
The Farm Safety Webinar Series is offered free of charge. Participants must pre-register by visiting
z.umn.edu/FarmSafetyWebinars. When registering for the webinar series, participants will have access to join
each of the five webinar sessions. Participants can choose to attend any or all sessions of interest. Questions
can be sent to Emily Krekelberg at krek0033@umn.edu or Angie Johnson at angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu.
— Minnesota Extension
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