Written By: Elementary School Principal, Deb Hervey
Here at HBR Elementary, we love any opportunity to focus on and celebrate the deep, incredible agricultural community that we live in. Earlier this week, we had the amazing opportunity to attend the HBR High School FFA’s Farm Safety Day and petting zoo. Run by volunteers, community members and students, Farm Safety Day is a favorite tradition of our elementary students. Why have an FFA Safety Day? Many in agriculture know someone whose life has been affected by a farm-related injury or worse. Even more tragic is that some of these incidents could have been prevented with safety precautions and education. And that's why Hinckley Big Rock FFA hosts Farm Safety Day. Each grade (Early Childhood through 8th grade) spent an hour at Safety Day going to 4 different stations. At Station 1, students had the chance to interact with local Fire and EMS personnel. They experienced the “smoke house,” and sat inside the fire trucks and ambulances. At Station 2, students visited with the Hinckley police and DeKalb County Sheriffs. As a special treat, students observed the K-9 unit with one of their police dogs. They also were able to watch the sheriffs operate drones and explain how they use these in their work. Station 3 focused on grain safety. Volunteers from Bayer Crop Science shared their knowledge and actively engaged with our students. Of course Station 4, the Petting Zoo, is a favorite of our elementary students. The petting zoo is set up outside the FFA Alumni Building and incorporates tractor safety along with the chance to visit turkeys, rabbits, goats and more.
HBR Elementary is so grateful to our HBR FFA for organizing this event. Our students truly learn so much and look forward to this day annually. We also want to thank our HBR bus drivers who tirelessly shuttle students back and forth from the high school to the elementary school all day long.
