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Abstract

Statistics demonstrate that farm safety and wellness issues affect all ages in the agricultural community. However, an increased proportion of youth and older farm workers comprise the highest rates of farm-related morbidity and mortality. Engaging farmers in increasing safe practices in the agricultural community is an important, ongoing challenge.

Methodology

Farm Safety Dinner Theaters, an initiative created through community-based participatory research (CBPR) at the University of Kentucky, provide a relaxed environment where farmers and their families can identify safety and wellness issues, watch as the actors process these issues, and enjoy a meal. Seeing the situations played out in theater provides the audience with an opportunity to consider how they would react in similar situations. The event is structured to facilitate open communication among the audience members and their families.

Program Description

Valley Urgent Care in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia collaborated with the local Virginia Cooperative Extension office and a local Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter to offer the Farm Safety Dinner Theaters in three areas of Rockingham County. The diverse farming community in Rockingham County benefited from these opportunities to learn in an innocuous environment with friends and neighbors.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Farm Safety Dinner Theaters were successful. The local newspaper and Virginia public media both wrote about the events which helped to bring more awareness about not only the events themselves, but also about farm safety, health, and wellness. While this project has already reached a number of farmers in the community, we hope to expand even more in the future to help prevent injuries and save lives.

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