40 Square is recognizing Agricultural Literacy Week March 21-25.
The toolkit provided by the Telling the Story Project contains social media posts linking to personal stories told by farmers, agricultural workers,
family and community members who have been impacted by injuries, fatalities, or close calls. Their experiences provide valuable information to learn what went wrong and how to prevent similar outcomes. The common thread: “We don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”
Now in its 17th year, Agriculture Literacy Week is a great opportunity to share these stories, especially with the next generation of agriculture, such as middle school, high school and college students.
“Ag Literacy Week is about telling stories, reading stories, and hearing stories, all to promote learning. Telling the Story Project stories fit so well with that intent,” said Stephanie Leonard, occupational safety manager at The University of Iowa Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. “Our stories can be used year-round to teach injury prevention lessons and to initiate safety conversations with family and friends, as well as to normalize these discussions.”
Other participating centers in Telling the Story Project include Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (University of Nebraska Medical Center); Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (University of Minnesota); and National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute).