FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 22, 2025

CONTACT:

Scott Heiberger
Heiberger.Scott@marshfieldresearch.org
715-389-7541                          

Melissa Ploeckelman Brown
Ploeckelman.melissa@marshfieldresearch.org
715-240-0900

Tell a story, save a life:

National Farm Safety Week, Sept. 21-27, perfect time to share prevention messages

Things can go bad in a hurry on a farm. When they do, it’s a helpless feeling.

  • “I pushed the brakes, but kept sliding sideways. When the mower’s tongue caught the rear tire, I just hung on.”
  • “I’d heard stories in the military about landmine victims still feeling like they had limbs… so I resolved to feel my way down my leg to determine how badly I was hurt.”
  • “At that exact second, the chute squeeze gate was released, causing his skull to become pinched between the chute frame and squeeze mechanism…”
  • “All it took was an ember from the fire to come in contact with the fumes…”
  • “The events of that day influenced her career path, and highlight the dangers of small children near lawn mowers.”
  • “When the ATV tipped … he heard his thigh bone snap.”

How do these stories end? Find out at the Telling the Story Project website, where farmers, agricultural workers and families share their experiences and prevention messages. They hope others can learn from, and avoid, similar ordeals.

National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 21-27, is the perfect time to share these stories. Farmers, media, teachers, Extension and safety professionals are especially encouraged to link to the stories and repurpose content. Check terms of use for republishing. 

To amplify the impact, we have created social media resources to make it easy for anyone to share these stories far and wide. These safety messages are important to share with the next generation of agricultural producers, including middle school, high school, and college students. You can use the provided text and graphics to post about the Telling the Story Project on your social media accounts. Resources are available at: www.tellingthestoryproject.org/social-media/

Telling the Story Project is a collaboration of three agricultural safety and health centers funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety; Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (Nebraska); and Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (Minnesota).

Questions? Email nfmcsh@marshfieldresearch.org.

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David (storyteller) with Dr. Risto Rautiainen (.jpg)

Susan (storyteller) with Dr. Ritso Rautiainen (.jpg)

Rick's Story (.png)

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