by Denise Massie
Pharos-Tribune
—
Close to 120 children attended Saturday’s third annual Barnyard Bootcamp Saturday, getting hands-on safety tips that were not only farming related, but for everyday life.
The volunteer-run event at the Cass County 4-H Fairgrounds was sponsored by ADM Grain and received funding from throughout the community.
“Can a kid ever get to many safety reminders?” asked Tammy Eades, who organized the event with Lindsay Mann.
“We actually have a chapter of farm safety for kids through ADM. We’re definitely up in numbers from last year. For a lot of these kids, it is their third time here.”
The day was filled with fun activities, which allowed both city and rural children to learn the dangers of farm equipment as well as the hazards they may encounter in everyday city life. The goal was to teach them how to practice safety and prevent injury or even death.
Eades felt it was important to keep the stations and safety tips new and fresh, since there were so many repeats visitors.
Indiana State Police, Logansport Fire Department, Future Farmers of America from Lewis Cass and Delphi high schools, Indiana Department of Transportation, Ivy Tech, GSI, Innovative Martial Arts, and Koenig led presentations at nine safety stations.
The children had the opportunity to learn fire safety, look at a fire truck and travel through the smoke house, see a state police motorcycle, police car, and helicopter, learn about animal safety, lawnmower safety, stranger danger, tractor and power take off safety, grain entrapment equipment, importance of hand-washing, and everyday safety of how to cross the street and check for blind spots.
“A lot of the kids are from the city,” Eades said. “Everyone can take something away from this.”
The idea all started after ADM was looking for way to do community outreach.
When the group started, Eades said ADM Grain workers walked from door to door asking for donations. This year, they simply sent out letters.
“This has been the best year for donations,” she said.
The donations are used to give the participating children T-shirts, door prizes, goody bags, lunch and snacks.
Eades was pleased with the donations and volunteers, many who were repeats also.
“It says we found something important for the community,” she said.
“It’s something they find value in and are willing to help.”
Innovative Martial Arts owner Kayla McFarland felt it was important to teach “stranger danger” awareness to children.
“Just watching the news and hearing all the horrible news with child abductions lately,” she said. “I think kids should be aware of how to defend themselves.”
McFarland pointed out that each child was reminded the techniques taught were to only be used in a situation with a stranger.
Eleven-year-old Monticello resident Lane Blackman attended the event for the first time because he wanted to learn about farm safety.
“I’m pretty impressed by some of the things here,” he said.
His favorite parts included the station with the fire truck and seeing several of his classmates. In addition to learning how to prevent farm injuries, he also learned a few tips to help him in the future.
One of those tips included wearing glasses while mowing, so rocks don’t hit his eyes.
“I’m look forward to seeing the helicopter too,” he said. “It looks cool.”
Logansport 10-year-old Torri Taylor enjoyed participating in the grain bin demonstration.
“It was cool,” she said. “We got to go inside it. It was like sinking in quicksand. I was scared, but just a little bit.”
Mike Brink, with Safety and Technical Rescue Association, was in charge of conducting the grain bin demonstration. Three children had the opportunity to climb inside the bin filled with corn pellets and help “save” another child.
“If we start teaching them safety practices early, they can carry the lesson through to their adult life,” Brink said.
Eades hoped the Bootcamp benefited the children.
“It’s one of those things,” said Eades. “If we can keep one kid safe, it’s worth it.
“I want them to go through their day and think before they do something,” she said. “That might save them from an accident or prevent an injury.”
• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com
