First Aid on the Farm Event Helps Communities Prepare

By Scout Nelson

As harvest season approaches, farm families and workers often spend long hours in fields, barns, shops, and equipment areas. Busy schedules can make it easy to overlook basic safety steps. The Women’s Ag Network is helping communities prepare through a multi-region First Aid on the Farm event in South Dakota.

The event will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and is open to teens and adults. It brings people together to learn simple first aid skills, emergency planning steps, and practical ways to respond when something goes wrong on a farm or ranch. The program gives participants useful information they can use in daily farm life.

The presentation features The Dairy Wife and focuses on farm safety and emergency preparedness. Participants learn why preparation matters and what they can do before an emergency happens. Having a plan can help families, employees, and farm owners respond more calmly when injuries, severe weather, equipment problems, or other emergencies occur.

Basic first aid is an important part of farm safety. Farms can include tractors, livestock, tools, chemicals, heights, and other hazards. Even with careful work, accidents can happen. Knowing how to respond during the first few minutes after an injury can be helpful while professional medical care is being arranged.

The event also encourages participants to think about emergency planning before a crisis begins. Families can review emergency contacts, keep first aid supplies in easy to reach places, and make sure workers know where important equipment is stored. Clear plans can help people know who should call for help and what information they should provide.

A Farm Emergency Kit is given away at each event location through support from South Dakota CattleWomen and South Dakota Corn. The kits provide basic supplies that may be useful during an emergency. Each kit includes a tourniquet, QuickClot, Coban, CPR shield, whistle, emergency weather blanket, trauma shears, gauze, Band Aids, burn cream, and a guide explaining how and when to use the items.

The kit giveaway adds a practical part to the educational program. Participants can learn about emergency supplies and understand why keeping the right tools nearby can matter. Farm families can also use the event to review their current safety supplies and replace items that are missing, damaged, or outdated.

The multi hub program is hosted by the South Central, Southeast, East, and East Central Hubs. These groups work to provide educational opportunities that meet the needs of people connected to agriculture. The program is open to all teens and adults, making it useful for farmers, ranchers, family members, employees, and others who spend time on farms.

The Women’s Ag Network provides educational programming in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service through a cooperative agreement. This work supports efforts to reach and serve new and historically underserved audiences. The farm safety event is one way the network shares practical information with agricultural communities.

The event includes a social period from 5:30 to 6 p.m., followed by the main program at 6 p.m. Participants can attend in Brookings, Huron, Mitchell, or Winner. Registration allows attendees to select the location that works best for them. Pre-registration is required by September 21, 2021.

Registration is available through the Women’s Ag Network. People who need more information or have media questions can contact the organization through its website. This supports safer farm communities.

Photo Credit: usda