4H promotes farm safety

News Release
4–H

Just over one year-ago, on October 4th, 14-year-old 4-H member David Perrin died tragically in a silo gas accident on his family’s farm.
Wanting to take action, the Perrin family and the Ontario 4-H Foundation created the David Perrin Memorial 4-H Farm Safety Endowment Fund and launched the initiative at the 2008 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF), raising over $50,000 in memory of David.
Since that time 4-H Ontario has continued to pursue opportunities to create farm safety awareness across the province.
Recently the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) approved a $40,000 grant to 4-H Ontario to produce three one-minute Public Safety Announcements (PSA’s) on farm safety. The project titled “Farm Safety – Through the Eyes of Youth” will involve senior 4-H members in the researching, writing, acting, directing and producing aspects. The goal of the project is to produce DVD’s that can be distributed across Ontario and to our fellow 4-H’ers across Canada.
Another initiative will be “Progressive Farm Safety Days”, funded by the Progressive Agricultural Foundation, that will be delivered across the province in 2010. Progressive Farm Safety Days are one-day events designed to reach children age 8 – 13 and teach them safety lessons that can keep them and those around them safe at home, or on a farm or ranch.
At last year’s RAWF David’s brother Michael spoke on behalf of the family to raise the call to action for “everyone to do what they could to avoid this from happening to anyone else.” Since then, Michael continues to raise money for charities, and helps get the message out there by talking to other young people about the importance of farm safety.
If you would like to make a donation to the David Perrin Memorial 4-H Farm Safety Endowment Fund drop in to see us at the Dairy Farmers of Ontario 4-H milk booth in the food court at the 2009 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, or visit www.4-hontario.ca and click the donate now button.
4-H is an organization of leaders building leaders. Over 6000 youth 10-21 years of age, and a grass roots network of 1600 trained, screened volunteers pledge their Head, Heart, Hands and Health as members of community-based clubs. With projects encompassing agriculture, food, health and the environment, 4-H Ontario’s `”Learn To Do By Doing” clubs, camps and conferences have a successful 94 year history in developing competence, confidence, connection, character and caring within rural and urban youth.”