Progressive Agriculture Foundation

The Progressive Agriculture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the safety and health of children in farm, ranch, and rural environments. Founded in 2002, the organization evolved from the safety activities initiated by The Progressive Farmer magazine in 1995.

Mission

The foundation's mission is to provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities. It envisions a future where no child falls ill, is injured, or dies due to farm, ranch, or rural activities.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Days

The core program of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation is the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day, which began in 1995. This program is recognized as the largest rural safety and health education initiative for children in North America. It offers age-appropriate, hands-on educational lessons primarily targeting children aged 4 to 13. The program covers a wide range of safety topics, including fire, electricity, chemicals, animals, lawn equipment, first aid, water, and grain safety.

As of the early 2020s, the program has impacted over 1.8 million individuals across 45 states, two U.S. territories, and nine Canadian provinces. Each year, it sponsors between 400 and 425 Safety Days, reaching more than 100,000 participants and volunteers.

Delivery Modes

The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program utilizes various delivery modes to adapt to different community needs:

• Classroom-based: Allows students to explore safety topics over several days, weeks, or months within the comfort of their classroom.
• Community-based: Typically a one-day event held in a community setting.
• School-based: Conducted within school settings, similar to community-based events.

Coordinator Training

Coordinators must complete an annual training course to deliver the Safety Day program effectively. They can customize their curriculum from over 30 safety and health topics to meet the specific needs of their community.

Partnerships and Funding

The Progressive Agriculture Foundation partners with corporations and organizations to secure funding and resources for the Safety Day program. This financial support enables the program to maintain a minimal annual fee for participation.

Impact

The organization has made significant strides in raising awareness and reducing incidents among children in rural environments. However, agricultural-related incidents remain a concern, with studies indicating frequent injuries and fatalities among children in these settings.