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Farm Management Sample LessonSF004 Portrait of a Farm Accident
MAIN IDEA: Is it really dangerous to have extra riders on a tractor? Few things in life are as sad as attending the funeral of a child. Sadness quickly turns to anger with the realization that this farm accident could have been prevented by simply following some basic farm safety guidelines. Too many times people believe that an accident could not happen to them, because they are careful. "After all, we've never had an accident." This same thought was uttered by K.T. Reynolds as he allowed his children to ride on the tractor with him, just this time. The following article titled, "Just Say No, Please Say No" (reprinted with permission of Progressive Farmer magazine) tells the devastating and true story of a parent who lost a son through his utterance of the words, "OK, kids...I'll let you ride." Oct. 9, 1989, started like any other morning. Little did I know that by the end of the day, my life and that of each member of my family would be changed forever. I had borrowed a tractor and a rotary mower to trim the weeds and grass so I could see the lane leading from our house to the road. Before I started, my three kids -- Kenneth, Jr., "BoBo", 8; Mandy, 9; and Ashley, 5 -- begged me for a ride on the tractor. "Just once," they pleaded. I said "no" several times, and they didn't ask any more. After a day of alternating mowing with other chores, I decided to finish the mowing job. The kids started asking again for a ride. "Please, Dad, let us ride. We want to help you," they said. It was about 7 p.m., and for some reason I gave in. I said, "OK, kids. This is the last round; I'll let you ride." I held Ashley on my lap, and BoBo and Mandy sat on the fenders. I made them promise to hang on tight, and they agreed. As we rode, we talked about things that fathers and children talk about. I told them, "I want you to know one thing. I love you guys, no matter whatever happens." About 30 seconds later, the fender BoBo was sitting on broke off. As he lunged forward, he reached out his little left hand. I yelled his name as I reached for him and his fingers slipped through mine. BoBo went face down in the field, the fender went underneath the tractor wheel, and then the big wheel ran over him-up the legs, up the back and over the top of his little head. Then the rotary mower went over him. If you've ever seen anyone who's stepped on a landmine, well there's more left of that person than of anyone who has fallen in the path of a mower. The tractor finally came to a stop, and I sent the girls to tell their mother. I tried to pick up my son, and he was just all over the place. It was like standing on the outside watching myself do these stupid things. I lost my mind. I went immediately to my house to get my pistol. In my mind I had just murdered my son. I had to shoot myself for what I had done. I tore the house up looking for that gun. Fortunately, a friend had beaten me to it. I then looked for my rifle, but they had taken that too. When I couldn't find a gun, I went outside, and there were local cops, photographers, reporters, and emergency medical personnel. According to witnesses, I walked out and yelled, "For God's sake, shoot me!" They got me into the emergency medical service unit, and I spent the night in a little padded room in the psychiatric ward of the hospital. Someone watched me all night. I remember looking for a place to hang myself. It's been almost a year, and the hurting is still there. I haven't had eight straight hours of sleep since then. The life that was once fun to live doesn't hold much for me now. It is like my heart has been cut out of my chest. I lost my dad some years ago, and it hurt, but not as much as losing my son. The loss of a child is about the worst thing that can ever happen to a person. To others who might be tempted to give a child just one ride, my advice is to be firm and refuse. If you can say "no," then the accident that happened to our family won't happen to yours. In fact, don't even allow your children to be with you at all when you operate dangerous equipment. Remember my story the next time a child begs for "just one ride" on farm machinery. That one ride took my son to the gates of heaven. Don't let it take yours. The preceding story was reprinted with permission from "Progressive Farmer" magazine, © September 1990. This accident exemplifies the reason that farming is the most dangerous occupation in America. We must each take personal responsibility not only for ourselves but for those around us. No one plans to have an accident; we all think that we are safe. ALWAYS follow the safety guidelines established by the manufacturer, and NEVER EVER allow extra riders. May the memory of BoBo Reynolds serve to be a grim reminder of what "just one ride on the last round," can result in. INTERNET RESOURCE:
** University of Minnesota - Agricultural Safety and Health Program EXERCISES: 1. Gather farm safety information and develop a display to be introduced during National Farm Safety week. Some resources for information are:
** Your county and state university extension service 2. Contact a local equipment dealer to get a copy of the owner's manual for a specific piece of equipment. Review the safety guidelines outlined and make your own observations about how those guidelines are being followed on the farm. 3. Find out if your county has a tractor safety class. If not, volunteer to help develop one. 4. Develop a farm safety newsletter to be distributed to all producers involved in production agriculture in your area. This could be jointly sponsored by an area agribusiness. 5. Visit the Equipment Manufacturers, Inc., booth at the National FFA Convention. This booth highlights the National Gold Safety Chapters. Find out what these FFA chapters are doing to promote farm safety in their communities. TEST: 1. America's most dangerous occupation is __________ ? 2. BoBo died as a result of A. The fender breaking B. Being run over by the tractor C. Going through the rotary mower D. All of the above 3. Sometimes it is OK to allow an extra rider on a tractor. TRUE or FALSE? 4. How many people were on the tractor when the accident happened? A. 4 B. 2 C. 5 D. 3
5. If you can say __________, the accident that happened to this family won't happen to yours. END STUDENT SECTION
TEACHER'S GUIDE
SF004 Portrait of a Farm AccidentOBJECTIVE: The student will understand the importance of following all safety guidelines for tractors, every time they are used. PREPARATION: Contact the safety organizations listed in the exercises for video tapes, and additional handouts. INTERNET RESOURCE:
** University of Minnesota - Agricultural Safety and Health Program IMPORTANT TERM: Rotary mower. EXTENSION: Contact Sherry Reynolds at Progressive Farmer, Box 2581, Birmingham, AL 35202 to find out how your FFA Chapter can be a sponsor of a Farm Safety Day Camp. EXERCISE ANSWERS: 1. Students will be able to get free or low cost materials to be used for demonstration purposes. In all cases these organizations are very willing to work with FFA Chapters to promote farm safety. 2. Students should find examples of practices that are considered commonplace on farms even though the manufacuturers do not recommend those practices. 3. A tractor safety class is required in many states for children to operate tractors. This is an excellent resource for further information on the local level. 4. This is a key way to gather the community resources to get the word out about farm safety and serve to prevent complacency on the farm. 5. These are the top safety FFA Chapters in the nation. These chapters are doing some innovative and inexpensive projects that could be added to your safety program. TEST KEY: 1. America's most dangerous occupation is __________ ? Farming is considered the most dangerous occupation in America. Depending on the resource you use, farming and mining take turns being listed as the first and second most dangerous occupations in America. 2. BoBo died as a result of A. The fender breaking B. Being run over by the tractor C. Going through the rotary mower D. All of the above Correct answer: D. All of the above. BoBo died as a result of all of these factors combined. 3. Sometimes it is OK to allow an extra rider on a tractor. TRUE or FALSE? FALSE. It is NEVER OK to have an extra rider on the tractor. 4. How many people were on the tractor when the accident happened? A. 4 B. 2 C. 5 D. 3 Correct answer: A. Four -- K.T., BoBo, Mandy and Ashley
5. If you can say no, the accident that happened to this family won't happen to yours.
K.T. Reynolds' message is to just say no. END
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