a Kid. s Farm Safety Day Kids’ SANDRA LEPLEY Somerset Co. Correspondent BERLIN GROVE (Somerset Co.) About 40 children and their parents attended and par ticipated in Farm Safety Day Kids Camp, April 20, at the Ber lin Community Grove in Somer set County. “I think everyone learned a lot more about safety than they knew before,” said Ashley Stoltz fus, 10, a fourth-grader at Berlin Elementary School and daughter of Don and Joanne Stoltzfus. “I had a lot of fun and I know all my friends did too. We learned about safety and what our role is on the family farm.” Although Farm Safety Day was held in Somerset County in the past, this year’s event cen tered on a child’s role in safety on the family farm. Connie Oshop, field inspector for Schneiders Dairy in Pitts burgh, event sponsor, attended the day-long event and believed that despite rainy weather condi tions, the day was well attended and very well received. “It’s amazing how many peo ple came out even though most of the day was dreary and in the afternoon, it started raining,” said Oshop. “It shows that par ents want to keep their children safe and they want their children to learn about the importance of safety. That’s a very important part of this whole day.” According to Miquel Saviroff, extension agent in Somerset County, the event was not only a tool for teaching about farm safe ty, but it was also a lot of fun for children, their parents and those who came to help. “Our primary purpose was to create awareness in child.cn, an attitude of prevention,” stressed Saviroff. “It can happen at any moment to anyone. Children must have respect for the equip ment, follow safety measures and manuals and abide by the safety rules. Even if one child is saved, then this event was worth it.” In 2000, 25 percent of farm-re lated fatalities in Pennsylvania affected children age 19 or youn ger, according to Penn State Uni versity statistics. National Safety Council statistics show that trac tor rollover, truck-related inju ries, machinery entanglements and drowning are the leading causes of death for agricultural workers under age 25. In Somerset County, there were eight farm fatalities from 1990 to 1999 with six happening Children and adults alike listen to paramedics and a pilot with Conemaugh Memorial Hospital’s Med Star I heli copter during Farm Safety Day Kids Camp at Berlin Com munity Grove in Somerset County. from 1995 to 1999 and two occur ring from 1990 to 1994, explained Saviroff. Statistics on how many children were affected by farm accidents are not available. “Children are not exempt when it comes to accidents on the family farm,” said Saviroff. “They are also exposed to many of the same environmental haz ards as those experienced by adult workers.” Penn State is currently run ning farm safety coalitions in three counties: Somerset, Hunt ingdon and Juniata counties. Penn State continues to be an ed ucator of farm safety issues, mainly through Dr. Dennis Mur phy, who is known on an interna tional basis, and also through strong interest from the state’s Department of Agriculture. In addition to Schneider’s Dairy, Somerset Farm Safety Co alition and Penn State Coopera tive Extension in Somerset were also program sponsors. For Drew Romesberg, a third grader at Berlin Elementary School, the smokehouse provided by New Centerville Fire Depart ment was really interesting and then the arrival of the medical helicopter in the afternoon was well worth the wait. “I liked learning more about safety,” said Romesberg. “I pick ed up a lot of tips today so I can tell my dad about safety later on and you never know when you might need to know these things.” Stacy Hay, a volunteer for the New Centerville Fire Depart ment, explained that the depart ment’s smoke house, a trader de signed to educate people about fire hazards, was well received throughout the day. She said kids were asking several questions and adults participated as well. Jill Stull, spokesperson for Conemaugh Memorial Hospital’s Med Star I helicopter, explained that the pilot for the helicopter was not sure he would be able to land for the Farm Safety Day be cause of weather conditions but the long-awaited arrival of the medical helicopter finished the day with a grand finale. “Education is sometimes the difference between life and death,” said Connie Oshop. “Farm Safety Day for kids is im portant. It only takes one simple mis- take to change everyone’s life on the family farm so we can never be too careful.” *Kornef# ** Camp A Success In Somerset County Representing both Scheffel Equipment and New Centerville Fire Department, volun teers explain machinery entanglement to children attending Farm Safety Day Kids Camp at Berlin Grove in Somerset County. Delaware County 4-H Offers Horsemanship SPRINGFIELD (Delaware Co.) Many children daydream about owning a horse or pony of their very own, yet have no first hand hprse knowledge or experi ence. Delaware County 4-H of fers education to children eight to 18 about horse care, horse science and basic walk/trot riding skills. Two class options are avail able: Summer Specials Horse manship, offered in conjunction with 4-H Summer Specials Day Camp; and Horsemanship Class es, offered from April to October on weekends and weekday eve nings. In addition, the Silver Stirrups Horse and Pony Club meets once a month throughout the year. 4-H program participants must have been at least eight years old on Jan. 1,2002. Summer Specials Horseman ship is for children who have no experience with horses and would like to have their first experience riding and learning the basic care of a horse or pony. These classes meet for two and one-half hour sessions for four sessions in one week. Twelve children share four mounts. The children have an opportu nity to ride, complete chores in the barn (mucking out stalls, grooming horses, tacking up) and leam scientific information about horses and horse care. This pro gram costs $125 and begins June 17. Horsemanship classes also meet four times for two and one hours each. The schedule for these classes varies by season. Details are in the program bro chure. These classes of no more than eight children (sharing four months) cover the same informa tion as the Summer Specials Horsemanship, but in greater depth and with more riding time for each individual. With the smaller class size, in struction is customized to serve the child with no experience or with modest experience. The pro gram is limited to walk/trot rid ing skills, so it is introductory, and not appropriate for an expe- rienced rider. The Horsemanship Classes cost $175 for the four meetings. If you would like farther in formation about this program or other 4-H opportunities, please call the Penn State Cooperative Extension office at (610) 690-2655 for a brochure.
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