SYCAMORE, Ill. — DeKalb County’s Farm Safety Camp aims to teach rural children to recognize the potential dangers present around the farm and develop respect for these safety hazards.

“It is important for youth to get the message of farm safety through a day camp with real scenarios using farm equipment, ATVs, lawn mowers and livestock,” said camp host Mary Lynn McArtor. “We need to show and tell young people about hazards present around the farm and to raise their awareness of these possible risks.”

This year’s camp will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 20 at Jonamac Orchard, Malta. Camp registration is being accepted.

Forms are available at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau office, 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore, and from 4-H leaders.

Jonamac Orchard has been the host site for the camp since 2000.

Camp hosts Mary Lynn, Jerry, Kevin and Denice McArtor welcome campers to their orchard on the south edge of Malta, on Shabbona Road.

Rural children, ages 8 to 12, should find Farm Safety Camp of particular interest as they live, work and play in their country setting. It is open to children who live on a working farm, reside in rural areas or visit farms regularly.

The DeKalb County Farm Bureau sponsors the camp, hosted every other year. This is the seventh camp in DeKalb County since its beginning in 1994.

Children will have an opportunity to learn about 12 safety focus areas with qualified experts discussing important messages. Safety focus areas, plus companies and representatives include:

ATV Safety - Dianne Frye, Bill Manon Jr., ATV Safety Institute, J & J Sports
Animal Safety - Dr. Brian Payne, Bethany Animal Hospital; Malta Mustangs 4-H Club
Bicycle Safety - Rich Robinson, Ryan Pettengall, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department
Chemical Safety - Jenny Poole, GROWMARK; Rita Nass, Phil Paulsen, Conserv FS
Electrical Safety - Debbie Whites, Commonwealth Edison
Farm Machinery Safety - Farm Safety Specialist
Fire Safety - Tony Cox, DeKalb Fire Department; Malta Fire Department
First Aid & Rescue - Joe Hermann, Kishwaukee Community Hospital
Grain Bin & Grain Wagon Safety - John Isom, Duane Rubendall, Monsanto
Hearing Safety - Diane Scheck-long, Joe Smaldino, NIU Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic
Lawn Mower & Garden Tractor Safety - Tom Newquist, DeKalb Lawn & Equipment
Semi Truck-Trailer Safety - Robert Mueller, Archer Daniels Midland

Camp Director Mariam Wassmann said the goal of the Farm Safety Camp is to “teach children to be safe on a farm.

“Farm safety is such an important aspect of farm family living. When young people become involved in the farm operation they need to understand the safety hazards that exist and some of the limitations of operating large equipment,” Wassmann said.

Camp registration forms are due at the Farm Bureau office by June 1. Registration fee is $5 per camper or $10 per family. Registration includes a T-shirt, lunch and materials. For more information contact the DeKalb County Farm Bureau at 815-756-6361.

This farm news was published in the May 24, 2006 issue of Farm World.