Eighty-two Paton-Churdan students in grades 8-12 plus teachers took part in an Ag Equipment Transportation Awareness program coordinated by Greene County Farm Bureau on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Paton-Churdan school in Churdan.
The program started with Greene County sheriff Jack Williams talking to the students about large farm equipment and vehicles sharing the roadways, especially as harvest season approaches but also all year long. Williams offered the following safety tips for drivers of all ages regarding farm equipment on the roadways: slow down; watch for triangular Slow-Moving-Vehicle signs; watch for amber flashing lights or reflective tape on machinery; do not speed past farm equipment; always use caution and patience! Never take unnecessary risks.
After Williams’ presentation, the students headed outside as Greene County Farm Bureau board members John McCormick and Perry Parker had brought in farm equipment and a semi to give students a hands-on learning experience as to what the operators can or cannot see when traveling down the road. Each of the students got to climb in a semi hooked to a grain trailer, a combine, and a tractor hooked to two wagons, all of which are common agricultural equipment that can be found on Iowa’s roadways at any given time. Vehicles had been strategically parked behind the combine and tractor and wagons. When the students were asked if they could see the vehicles, all students replied “no” and were shocked to realize just how little they could see behind them.
The program ended with the students enjoying donuts and juice provided by Farm Bureau. Board members Barry Anderson and Dan Frederick said this type of program gives the board an opportunity to expose young drivers and soon-to-be drivers an appreciation for the size and scope of farm machinery traveling on Iowa’s roadways and what the operators can and most likely can’t see. The two went on to say, “We all have the responsibility to share the roadways and be cautious drivers and hopefully this program helped with that.”
