NOVEMBER 2024
As fall unfolds, UMASH continues to advance agricultural health and safety through outreach, training, and collaboration across the Upper Midwest and beyond.
Here’s a recap of how UMASH partnership, events and research is working to build safer, healthier farming communities in our backyard in the Upper Midwest and beyond.
Cultivating a Culture of Safety on Dairy Farms
UMASH Sponsors Safety Session at Dairy Girl Network National Conference
From November 5-7, UMASH Outreach Director Megan Schossow represented UMASH at the Dairy Girl Network’s Forward TogetHER National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Sponsoring the session “Building a Culture of Safety,” UMASH along with farm safety and health partners from Milc Group and the Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, provided actionable insights to improve safety and health practices in the dairy industry.
Partnering with FARM to Bring Safety to Dairies
Schossow also teamed up with David Douphrate, Associate Professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, and the FARM Program in November to contribute to the Workforce Development (FARM WFD) session. Together, they shared strategies for fostering a culture of safety on dairy farms.
The FARM WFD Program, a key initiative of the National Dairy FARM Program, is dedicated to improving HR and safety standards within the dairy industry. By equipping FARM Program Evaluators with critical knowledge and tools, the program works to support dairy producers in enhancing their safety practices and overall workforce development. LEARN MORE HERE
Collaboration for Safer Swine Production
Gaining and Sharing Insights
Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, Associate Director, Office of Agriculture Safety and Health, NIOSH
From October 15-16, UMASH’s Center Director Dr. Jeff Bender, Outreach Director Megan Schossow, and NIOSH Ag Health and Safety program leadership, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln and Dr. John Gibbins, attended a Swine Safety Roundtable at the National Pork Board Office in Des Moines, Iowa. Associate Director Amy Liebman joined virtually to facilitate a discussion on heat stress standards for workers. The group, which included representatives from Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) and pork producers, discussed critical issues like worker safety, heat stress management, and enhancing research and safety training, exchanging insights and strategies to improve health and safety in the swine industry.
Sharing critical insights with pork producers across the Upper Midwest, UMASH research project team members (Factors influencing transmission of airborne viruses and bacteria in animal agriculture) attended the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, from September 21-24. The team highlighted their latest findings on airborne virus transmission in swine facilities, sparking discussions on the essential occupational health and safety measures needed to protect swine workers and reduce exposure risks.
One Health In Action
UMASH Showcases One Health Initiatives at National Events
UMASH Associate Director Amy Liebman with Goldy the Gopher at the APHA UMN SPH Reception
Hosted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the second time since 1971, the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting welcomed public health professionals, students, faculty, and staff to network and discuss the latest discoveries in public health from October 27-30. UMASH Center Director Dr. Jeff Bender was featured as a presenter in a collaborative session around One Health and how a culturally responsive One Health framework can advance safety on Upper Midwest dairy farms. Other UMASH attendees included Associate Director Amy Liebman and Outreach Director Megan Schossow.
On November 1, Dr. Jeff Bender delivered a keynote at the University of Kentucky’s One Health Symposium in Lexington, hosted by the new One Health Center at the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, under Dr. Reddy Palli’s leadership. Speaking on “One Health, One Vision,” Dr. Bender engaged over 100 attendees, discussing the role of partnerships in fostering safer, healthier communities and emphasizing UMASH’s collaborative approach to One Health.
UMASH Center Director Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM contributed to recent webinars on zoonotic influenza (H5N1) and worker safety. 
On November 4, he shared insights at a Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety webinarand on November 11 delivered a webinar on H5N1 and seasonal flu resources with Migrant Clinicians Network and National Center for Farmworker Health to provide resources in English and Spanish for farmworker communities alongside UMASH Associate Director and Migrant Clinicians Network Chief Program Office Amy Liebman and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Madaras.
Training, Connecting and Innovating for Agricultural Safety and Health
Ag Rescue Ready: Hands-On Training for Emergency Preparedness
2024 Agricultural Rescue Training in Marshfield, WI
Seventy-eight participants gathered in Marshfield, Wisconsin, from October 25-26 for an Ag Rescue Training Event led by the National Farm Medicine Center and partners like Pittsville Fire Co. and Marshfield Clinic Health System. Farmers, first responders, and health professionals engaged in live demonstrations and hands-on workshops focused on tractor rollovers, large animal rescues, grain bin and confined space rescues, and more. The event also included Rural firefighters delivering ag safety and health (RF-DASH) training, providing essential skills to strengthen emergency preparedness and safety on farms.
Exchanging and Engaging for Safer Agritourism
On October 27, Outreach Director and Center Coordinator Megan Schossow visited Duluth, MN, to attend The Agritourism Exchange: a networking event for agritourism farmers with representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (including Minnesota Grown), Minnesota Farmers Union, Sustainable Farming Association, and UMASH to share valuable resources and insights about safety and health practices when conducting agritourism activities.
Making Messages Matter in Farm Safety and Health
UMASH’s Cassie Edlund presents on social media tools with ag health & safety partners at MRASH 2024
UMASH staff and researchers gathered in Ames, Iowa, from November 6-8, 2024, for the Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Conference (MRASH). Centered around the theme “Messaging Matters,” this year’s conference highlighted effective communication in agricultural safety and health. UMASH representatives participated in discussions on ag media, generative AI, and communicating agricultural exposures, and presented recent UMASH research and projects.
UMASH Communications Manager Cassie Edlund presented on the Telling the Story Project, illustrating how injury and fatality narratives can effectively convey safety messages. She was joined by team members Melissa Ploeckelman, Scott Heiberger, Aaron Yoder, and Ellen Duysen.
Edlund and Ploeckelman also joined a roundtable on social media tools with partners from the UNMC Central States Center and the Progressive Agriculture Foundation.
The National Farm Medicine Center was also represented at MRASH by Jakob Hanschu, who presented on the Rural Firefighter Delivering Ag Safety and Health project.
Connecting Telling the Story Project to Classrooms, UMASH Communications Manager and Evaluation Specialist Cassie Edlund connected with students from the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) in Agricultural Education, Communication, and Marketing in October. In the classroom, Cassie discussed how storytelling can be used to share injury prevention messages. Leading the group in an interactive activity, Cassie guided students in crafting headlines and leads for Telling the Story project stories for agricultural media, which will be used as part of their course assignment.
Talking the Trade with Media
In November, Scott Heiberger and Melissa Ploeckelman from the National Farm Medicine Center traveled to Kansas City for the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Annual Convention. During the event’s Trade Talk session, they hosted an exhibit table to discuss key farm safety and health topics, including youth mental health on farms and H5N1 (avian flu), with radio and television ag media broadcasters.
Empowering and Celebrating Ag Safety and Health Advocates
UMASH and NFMC at the National FFA Convention
On October 23, 2024, UMASH and National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC) representatives Scott Heiberger and Melissa Ploeckelman attended the 97th annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nearly 1,000 students and advisors visited the NFMC booth, where “farm safety jeopardy” sparked discussions and resource sharing on agricultural safety. Attendees also had the chance to complete a farm safety survey, helping NFMC and UMASH gather valuable insights on youth’s farm safety and health experiences.
UMASH Evaluation Director Dr. John LaVelle receives Presidential Award at AEA annual conference
UMASH Team Highlights
Congratulations to UMASH Evaluation Director Dr. John LaVelle for receiving a Presidential Award from the American Evaluation Association (AEA) at its annual conference in Portland, Oregon, held October 21-26.
This award honors evaluators committed to “amplifying and empowering voices,” particularly for youth and underrepresented groups.
Dr. LaVelle and University of Minnesota Evaluation Studies doctoral candidate Paida Chikate were recognized for their impactful work in this field.