IF YOU GREW UP on a farm, you likely know the feel of calloused hands, the hum of a tractor, and the importance of safety measures that keep everything running smoothly. You understand the dangers that can lurk in familiar places — like the deceptively peaceful fields or the powerful machinery in the barn. But for those who didn’t grow up to the roosters crowing, the early morning chores, the dusty roads, and the constant vigilance required to avoid injuries, farm safety can seem like an abstract concept. It’s this gap in understanding that the Kentucky Partnership for Farm Family Health and Safety in Bowling Green is bridging, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, understands the critical nature of farm safety.
The group’s passion and dedication have transformed lives, ensuring that farmers and their families stay healthy and safe. We sat down with three women from the board who shared their experiences and ties to wanting to help farm families in the area. These women work tirelessly to spread awareness about the importance of safety on farms, and their efforts have had a lasting impact on the local community.
Sitting in a room with them, you can almost feel the weight of their dedication as they talk about their plans and achievements, ensuring every farmer knows they are not alone and every family feels supported. Their work isn’t just about safety — it’s about sustaining rural communities, one seed at a time.
Susan Jones, a retired nursing professor who has been advocating for farm safety since the early 1990s, said, “We started because of the number of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities occurring on farms, especially with children,” Jones explained. The foundation of the partnership was laid with a Kellogg grant awarded to the University of Kentucky, which aimed to reduce these alarming statistics. “It was about empowering farm women, who are often the health officers of the family, to take control and come up with strategies to decrease injuries and fatalities.”
From there, the Kentucky Partnership for Farm Family Health and Safety was born, officially incorporated in 1993. Since then, the partnership has worked with countless farms and families across the Barren River Area Development District region, focusing on education and prevention. One of the most notable accomplishments is the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day, which has been running since 1995.
“It’s a well-recognized event here in Bowling Green,” Jones said with pride. “We started small, but now we reach hundreds of children each year.”
Staci Simpson, a dedicated volunteer for the Kentucky Partnership for Farm Family Health and Safety who works full time as an insurance agent for the Kentucky Farm Bureau, said the board works to make the area aware of the health and safety challenges surrounding our farm families.
Held annually at the Western Kentucky University (WKU) Ag Expo Center, Progressive Agriculture Safety Day targets fourth graders, teaching them essential safety skills through interactive stations.
Catherine Malin, the center director for South Central Kentucky Area Health Education Center, explained the significance of focusing on this age group: “Fourth graders are at a good age where they’re still excited about learning and can process the information. They also start to have more independence around the home or farm, so knowing how to stay safe is crucial.”
At the safety day, students rotate through various stations, each designed to teach a specific safety lesson. From learning the importance of wearing a helmet, demonstrated by dropping eggs in and out of “egg helmets,” to understanding water safety and the dangers of grain bins, the event covers a wide range of topics.
“The fire department is there, teaching fire safety, and we have large animal safety demonstrations for kids who might not have been exposed to farm animals before,” Malin described. “It’s all about making the lessons engaging and memorable.”
The day is also a valuable educational opportunity for nursing students from WKU, who participate as part of their coursework.
“They learn about the hazards on farms and how to communicate safety messages to different age groups,” Malin added. “It’s important for them to understand these issues so they can better serve rural communities in the future.”
The partnership’s impact extends beyond Bowling Green. Over the years, the group has helped other counties establish their own safety days, spreading their message across the region.
“We’ve worked with Edmonson, Allen, Logan, and Butler counties, providing training and funding to get them started,” Jones said. “Seeing this program grow and knowing we’ve played a part in that is incredibly rewarding.”
While Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is a major focus, the partnership also hosts a special hardworking farmers in the community.
Jones shared the significance of this event: “There’s no one who labors more than farmers, so it’s fitting to recognize them on Labor Day. We allow people to make a donation in memory or honor of a farmer, and their names are listed in a full-page ad in the local paper. It’s very touching, especially when families want to remember their loved ones in this way.”
Jones, who created the partnership due to her background in health and agriculture, reflects on why these events are so close to her heart.
“I grew up on a farm, and I have a very soft spot for farmers. They provide us with our food and fiber, and it’s our job to do everything we can to keep them safe. Teaching kids these lessons early on can prevent tragedies and save lives.”
Each of these women has a personal connection to the agricultural world, which fuels their dedication.
“My dad is 79 and still farms full time,” Simpson said with a smile. “I see firsthand the importance of farm safety, and I want to make sure others do too.”
Malin brings a unique perspective as well. Although she didn’t grow up on a farm, her grandparents did, and she understands the critical role that farm safety plays.
“I work closely with health profession students at WKU, getting them involved in these safety initiatives. It’s about building a safer future for our agricultural communities,” she noted.
The work of these women showcases the power of community and education. Their efforts not only protect the current generation of farmers but also ensure that future generations grow up understanding how to stay safe and healthy on a farm, whether they decide to have a farm of their own someday or visit a friend’s farm. As the Kentucky Partnership for Farm Family Health and Safety continues to grow and change lives in the community, its message is clear: Safety is a seed worth planting. GN
