University SNAP-ed colleagues from several Northeast Missouri Counties worked with the Marion County Agronomy Specialist Nick Wesslak to provide Food Safety Information at the Marion County Ag Safety Day. This SNAP-ed group was recognized for their team work at the recent Health and Human Sciences Conference where they received the “Teamwork Award”. This award was given to the group crossed service and discipline lines to make this event a success. For this event, the sum was definitely greater than any one individual.
Event Coordinator Nick Wesslak, Agronomy Specialist shared “The FNEP group contributed heavily to the success of the Marion County Ag Safety Day at the Fair and delivered relevant, critical, and impactful information that directly affected the lives of over 300 Marion County residents. The whole event encompassed State and Regional Specialists discussing ag safety related topics beyond just food and chemicals. Discussions were held around key areas of on farm safety such as mobile farm machinery safety, grain bin safety, livestock safety, mental health, and high voltage safety. MU Extension not only partnered internally to achieve this community requested programming (30 speakers across multiple disciplines including agronomy, livestock, health and human sciences,4-H, extension and engagement, fire and rescue, and occupational therapy), but also partnered with local businesses and private citizens to make the event happen. A survivor of a grain entrapment and farm machinery collision with high voltage power lines was able to speak with the public that day and educate them to exactly what someone faces when things go wrong on the farm.”
