By Scout Nelson
During National Farm Safety and Health Week, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension recognized participants of the 2024 NDSU Extension Farm Safety Camps for their commitment to implementing safety practices on farms and ranches.
Sixteen youths were celebrated for participating in the Slow-Moving Vehicle Challenge, organized by NDSU Extension’s farm and ranch safety team.
Angie Johnson, farm and ranch safety coordinator for NDSU Extension, praised the youths who identified unmarked farm or ranch equipment that travels on public roads and installed new slow-moving vehicle signs provided by Bobcat, a partner of the farm safety camps. “The challenge was a great opportunity for youth to put their new knowledge into practice by drawing attention to slow-moving vehicles across the state,” said Amelia Doll, product safety communication specialist for Bobcat.
Participants first photographed unmarked equipment, then installed the new signs, taking photos after to demonstrate their work.
Bobcat’s product safety team, comprising engineers and safety professionals, reviewed the submissions and selected three winners based on standards set by the American Society of Agricultural Biological Engineers.
The 2024 Slow-Moving Vehicle Challenge winners are:
- First Place: Ashley Steger of Richland County, ND, for installing a sign on a John Deere double plow.
- Second Place: Aaron Ward of Custer County, MT, for installing a sign and building a new holder for an International Cub tractor
- Third Place: Bella Wimer of McLean County, ND, for installing a sign on her horse-pulled cart.
Slow-moving vehicle signs, which feature a fluorescent orange center with a reflective red border, are required by law on equipment traveling less than 25 mph on public roads. These signs alert motorists to the slower speed, helping to prevent rear-end collisions.
“If a car is traveling 60 mph and is approaching a tractor ahead driving 20 mph, it only takes 6.5 seconds to travel 400 feet – a common scenario for rear-end collisions,” Johnson explained.
The challenge highlights the importance of farm safety and encourages youth to promote safer practices. NDSU Extension and Bobcat’s partnership aims to instill safe habits in young operators, encouraging them to lead by example on their farms and beyond.
For more information on slow-moving vehicle laws and safety guidelines, visit NDSU Extension’s website or consult the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ guide on marking agricultural equipment.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety