FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2024 3:00 p.m.

Media Contact:

Chris Newbrough, PIO/Emergency Planner

573-581-1332

cnewbrough@audraincountyhealth.org

            The Audrain County 4H building was the site for a recent luncheon sponsored by the Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) and held for area farmers to get their fill of good food and farm safety education.

            During the two-hour luncheon meeting, area farmers heard from three speakers about various aspects of farm safety education.

Dr. Josh Stilley, with MU Health Care Emergency Medicine, started off the education giving those in attendance a rundown on tips to stay safe on the farm and, if they find themselves a part of an incident requiring emergency response, what they can expect when those crews arrive.

            Stilley was followed to the microphone by Sydenstricker Genetics employee Darla Eggers who, in November, suffered serious injuries in a cattle trailer accident that found her pinned between the trailer and a fence corner post. Eggers related how the accident happened and what could have been done differently to keep her safe. She also publicly thanked various emergency responders in the audience who helped her the day of her accident.

            Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Mike Deering, who was the keynote speaker, related his own personal story concerning farm safety that happened when he was 11-years-old. Deering relayed the story of how his family sat down to dinner one night and his father was late, and his chair at the dinner table was sitting empty. After not showing for a while, which was unusual, Deering and his mother went looking for him and found him pinned under a tractor that had flipped, killing him.

            “Farm safety awareness and being aware of the dangers is absolutely important,” Deering said afterwards. “You know, farm safety, it should be top of mind but, too often, we are stuck in a routine and that’s synonymous with getting caught off-guard. That’s where the danger happens. So, just having the discussion, making it something to think about as you walk away from this (event) and say ‘You know what? We have this issue that hasn’t been fixed so, maybe today is a good day to fix it. That’s what I wanted to convey today.”

            Deering also talked about one aspect he thinks is too often overlooked when talking farmer’s health and safety, that being the mental health of America’s farmers.

“I wasn’t asked to talk about that but, I believe anytime we talk about farm safety, we should talk about health. And, health is above and beyond the screenings you saw going on here today,” he said. “Health is also where we are mentally and, that mental health resources in rural America is, quite frankly, embarrassing and we should work toward trying to get more funding, get more resources available in rural areas. There are more suicides in farming and ranching than in any other profession in the United States of America. It’s scary, it’s sad and we need to address it. The most important thing I wanted people to know was, if you’re struggling, talk to somebody. If you know someone that is hurting because of something going on in their lives, go to their house and talk to them or give them a call on the phone!”

Farmers also had the opportunity to visit with 10 vendors from mid-Missouri agencies and businesses who presented information on safety practices with the ACHD offering screeings for blood pressure and Boone Health offered screenings of blood A1C levels.

One agency in attendance to talk with farmers about their services was the Audrain Ambulance District. Administrator Josh Loyd says this event probably served as a wake-up call to some farmers.

“I think it should have opened up some eyes with the information presented to say ‘Hey, stop, pay attention to what you’re doing,’” said Loyd. “The extra seconds paying attention to what you are doing could be years left on your life. So, take the extra time, think about what can be preventable and actually do it.”

 Rush Hill farmer Michael Wagner summed up what the day meant to him and his operation.

“It was a very good thing,” he said. “A lot of good knowledge was shared by a lot of good speakers and agencies! I think I can definitely pull some things out of this to use in my farming practices.”

The event was also sponsored by the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, the Audrain County Farm Bureau and the Audrain County Pork Producers.