National Farm Safety & Health Week Webinar Series

This webinar series aligns with the 2023 National Farm Safety and Health Week daily topics, while focusing on the youth in our farm families and rural communities.

We are excited to announce a series of five webinars during the highly anticipated National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 17-23, 2023.

The webinar series will cover a diverse range of topics, each aimed at addressing specific safety and health challenges faced in the agricultural sector with a youth-focus. Led by industry experts and seasoned professionals, these webinars will provide invaluable insights and tips that can help make a difference in preventing incidents and ensuring the well-being of farmers, families, and youth in rural communities.

Whether you are a safety and health professional, a rural community member, or simply passionate about farm safety, these webinars are open to everyone interested in making a positive impact.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the 2023 National Farm Safety and Health Week. Stay tuned for more updates, speaker announcements, and webinar topics.

For additional non-youth focused webinars, visit: https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/

Can't attend the webinars live? You should still register! We'll send out the recording after the webinar to all registrants.

Monday, September 18: Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety

Aaron Yoder, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center 

  • Sadly, a child dies due to an agriculture-related incident about every 3 days, while at least 33 children are injured each day in the United States according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Safety and Health.  Of the leading sources of fatalities among all youth, 47% involved transportation (including tractors), while 20% involved contact with machinery. During this webinar focused Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety, Dr. Aaron Yoder, will discuss safe practices and resources available to help lessen the occurrence of incidents in rural communities.

  • Monday, September 18, 2023

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central Time

  • Aaron Yoder grew up in central Pennsylvania where he spent time working on his grandfather’s beef farm. He has a BS and MS from the Pennsylvania State University in Agricultural Systems Management and a PhD from Purdue University in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. He previously worked for Penn State Extension as an Extension Safety Associate. He currently is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Extension and works with projects through the NIOSH funded Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America where he leads the AgSHARP Certificate program.

Tuesday, September 19: Enhancing Youth Resilience

Matthew S Crutchman
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth
Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University

  • Building youth resilience through positive youth development is a holistic approach that empowers young individuals to thrive in adversity. It focuses on harnessing their strengths, nurturing healthy relationships, developing essential life skills, and teaching effective coping mechanisms. This process also encourages goal setting, community involvement, and a strong sense of identity, fostering a resilient mindset that equips youth to face life's challenges with confidence and adaptability. 

    Participants will learn about the significance of effective coping mechanisms in building resilience. Recognize the interdependence of strengths, relationships, life skills, and coping mechanisms in fostering resilience. Apply the principles of positive youth development to real-life scenarios involving youth facing challenges. 

  • Tuesday, September 19, 2023

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central Time

  • Mr. Matthew S. Crutchman currently serves as the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Extension Educator specializing in 4-H Youth Development within Allegheny County. With a rich background in community service, he previously held the position of Executive Director at the East End United Community Center. Matthew's educational journey led him to California University of Pennsylvania, where he excelled, earning both his Bachelor of Social Work degree and Master of Social Work degree. His dedication to his field is further underscored by his membership in prominent organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers and The National Association of 4-H Positive Youth Development Professionals. Moreover, Matthew is a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer, equipped to provide essential mental health support and education. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities in youth development, he also serves as the Co-chair of the 4-H Access, Equity, and Opportunity team, showcasing his commitment to fostering positive growth and change in the community.

Wednesday, September 20: Everyone Feels Welcome - Simple Steps to Include American Indian and Amish Culture in Your Farm Safety and Health Programming.

Lori Dietzenbach
Prek-12 Outreach Educator
Extension and Outreach, Iowa State University

  • Understanding your audience and being respectful of their culture and practices is necessary to successfully deliver farm safety and health education.  During this webinar focused Priority Populations, Ellen Duysen and Lori Dietzenbach will discuss best practices when reaching Native American and Amish populations with a special emphasis on youth audiences.

  • Wednesday, September 20, 2023

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central Time

  • Ellen Duysen, MPH COHC
    Ellen Duysen is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health. She serves as the Outreach Specialist for the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), a NIOSH funded agriculture, forestry, and fishing Center. Ellen has worked with the Intertribal Buffalo Council for 9 years on CS-CASH projects designed to improve safety for those working with tribal bison herds. Training resources have been developed using a collaborative, consensus process including tribal herdsmen, managers, and Elders. She will discuss simple ways to provide a welcoming learning environment for American Indian children who are attending Progressive Agriculture Safety Days.

    Lori Dietzenbach
    After 28 years of teaching special education and sixth grade, Lori Dietzenbach is now using that experience to educate youth through programming from Iowa State Extension and Outreach. She is in her third year as an outreach educator and brings a large variety of programming into area schools to enhance education in the Iowa Core Standards, STEM, and 4-H experiences. Lori holds workshops, camps, and community events throughout the year to provide engaging learning opportunities to all youth. Lori is a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Coordinator and one of her programs is constructed to best meet the needs of Buchanan County’s unique Amish community.

Ellen Duysen, MPH, COHC
Community Outreach Specialist
Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health
College of Public Health
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Thursday, September 21: Confined Spaces in Agriculture

  •  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, confined spaces account for more than 100 fatalities annually. Grain bins, silos, and manure pits are common confined spaces in agriculture posing dangers to both children and adults. From poor ventilation and the build-up of gases to entrapment and suffocation in flowing grain, these potential hazards prove to be deadly time and time again. During this webinar, Dan Neenan, Director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, will discuss safe practices to implement while working in and around confined spaces to help eliminate the risks.

  • Thursday, September 21, 2023

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central Time

  • Dan Neenan, MBA, joined the NECAS staff in August of 2002 as Director, Dan is a Paramedic, Firefighter II and EMS instructor. He currently is a member of the Iowa Propane board. Vice Chair of the Dubuque County Emergency Management Commission, Treasurer, Dubuque County EMS.

    In his work at NECAS Dan has developed several OSHA approved training programs as well as Agricultural rescue programs. Safety programs include viticulture safety, enology safety, confined space-grain bin entry, Prevention of grain storage fire and explosions, chemical safety, confined space-manure pit entry. Rescue programs include tractor rollover, combine auger rescue, grain bin rescue, manure pit rescue, and anhydrous ammonia emergency response.

Friday, September 22: Brain Health - Helmets and Rural Youth

Charles Jennissen, MD
Clinical Professor
Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine 

Dan Neenan
Director
National  Education Center for Agricultural Safety 

  • Head injuries are the most common cause of death and long-term neurologic deficits for rural youth while involved in riding activities for work or recreation.  The use of helmets significantly decreases that risk. We surveyed over 1,300 rural adolescents on their attitudes and frequency of helmet use while riding motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, horses, and bicycles.  The importance and use of helmets by rural adolescents varied significantly by demographic factors and by the vehicle involved.  We will discuss the selection of helmets and their proper use for some of these modes of transportation. Improving the safety culture surrounding helmets is vital in increasing helmet use and decreasing deaths and serious injuries.    

  • Friday, September 22, 2023

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central Time

  • Charles Jennissen, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Jennissen grew up on a dairy farm in central Minnesota which plays a large part in his interest in safety and injury prevention, particularly regarding children and teenagers. He has been an advisory board member for the Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) for 25 years.

Can't attend the webinars live? You should still register! We'll send out the recording after the webinar to all registrants.