MARCH 2020

March rolled in like a lamb this year – which created perfect conditions for the annual Farm City Hub Club Show in New Ulm, MN. This year the organizers planned the event with an emphasis on safety. The theme Focus on Farm Safety in 2020 was everywhere in the exhibit hall and in conversations with attendees, exhibitors and the event organizers.

The unusual number of grain bin entrapments and other tragic incidents have raised concern for all of us in the farming community. Education is key to reinforce the inherent risks of farming and to practice safety first. Carol Peterson exhibited at the two day event and highlighted a number of our safety resources – including our Farm Safety Check on Grain Handling Safety which was a take home reminder of the best practices when working around grain bins.

Dan Neenan from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) provided grain bin rescue demonstrations every hour in addition to other relevant grain bin safety subjects such as explosions, fire and carbon monoxide deaths. A separate training for fire departments on the use of the rescue tube was held prior to the show opening on March 7.

Keeping safety at the forefront of everything farmers do is our goal at UMASH. We thank the Farm City Hub Club for taking the initiative and promoting farm safety at their annual event.