Barb Lovell, Executive Director of the Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village, said she was “blown away” by the overwhelming support to the village’s first-ever Farm Safety Day.
“I just can’t believe how well the day went,” she said of the Aug. 26 event. “We had 55 kids out and they all went home with two bags of stuff thanks to our sponsors and supporters.”
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Lovell said there were 12 stations regarding various aspects of farm safety and children learned a lot.
“We put this together in only a few weeks after we were approached by some people in the agriculture business,” she said. “It was amazing how things came together. ”
Lovell said agri-business people were telling her farmers had to take their children out of Chatham-Kent for similar events.
“Once we realized the need and combined that with the fact that teaching safety is what we do, it was a natural fit,” she said. “We’ll be doing this again next year for sure.”
Topics covered included off-road vehicles, grain bins, first aid, safety around machines and others.
Groups and businesses involved included C-K Emergency Services, Ontario Provincial Police, Chatham-Kent Fire Department, the Lambton Farm Safety Association, Blenheim Bus Lines, Chatham-Kent Public Library, the Red Cross, Chatham-Kent Health Unit, Agris Thamesville, Thompsons Limited, LAC Tupperville, Can-Am Tractor, Dowler-Karn, McGrail’s Farm Equipment, Pride Seeds, Delhaven Orchards & Maple Leaf Foods, Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicles and Bob’s Motor Sports, Dig R Wright, Real Canadian Superstore, Dean and Bryce Bonner and Joanne Buis.
