MARSHFIELD, WI (SPECTRUM NEWS) — The Stankowski’s run a small dairy farm near Moisinee. It’s where they raise their two kids too
“You know, it’s fun, particularly as a kid it’s fun,” said Holly Stankowski.
Stankowski grew up on a dairy farm too, so she knows first hand how fun it is and how effectively the farm can teach kids about life and responsibility.
Growing up, her family saw the dangers too — losing a loved one to a farm accident.
“Just in the back of my mind it’s always there and I know that caution was being used and it wasn’t enough,” Stankowski said. “So there are some hard stops.”
Stops like not letting the kids out if there is machinery in the yard, or to stay away from feed trucks. She says she’s teaching her kids about the dangers on the farm too.
“My kids have just always been told from the time they could start walking in the barn, before they could walk,” Stankowski said.
That type of caution is important according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.
“Agriculture is one of those few types of occupations where children of any age are allowed actually in the work site,” said Barbara Lee, the Center’s Director.
The Center — which is based in Marshfield —reports that about every three days in the U.S. A child or minor dies in a farm accident. They work with industry stakeholders to cut down on the number of injuries and fatalities of kids on farms.
“It still is an ongoing issue for children and children’s safety,” Lee said. “We’ve made a lot of progress, but if we did not have that funding to continue the research and continue the outreach the progress that we’ve made would slip away.”
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently awarded the Center $6 million over six years. Funding the Center has to re-apply for periodically. The announcement means their work can continue.
“Our goal is really to help parents and farm owners make ways to keep kids safe so they will grow up to be the next generation of farmers in our country,” Lee said.
The funding will contribute to helping New studies being launched. Studies that address youth operating ATVs for farm work, adolescent mental health, the impact of available childcare on safety practices, and other safety issues important to the agriculture community.
“We say anybody 12 or under should not be on or near a tractor,” Lee said. “Because that’s the number way that children are injured.”
It’s research like this that identifies problem areas on farms. More working youth — ages 15 to 17 — die in agriculture accidents than in any other industry according to the Center.
It’s not just working youth either. Lee said about two-thirds of child injuries on the farm happen to kids who aren’t working.
The Center works with industry stakeholders to spread information about dangers on farms. They are also known for developing voluntary guidelines for child safety on farms.
“There have been times that I’ve reached out to the farm medicine center to get guidelines,” Stankowski said. “Or particularly as my oldest child becomes of age to be able to help on the farm to also just have some guidelines, like what’s appropriate at that age.”
Because safety and the farm are important to the Stankowski’s
“When i think back about favorite memories it’s always that time together, the four of us in the barn,” Stankowski said.
