By Scout Nelson
Farm and ranch work can be dangerous, which makes safety education an important part of rural life. To support safer communities, NDSU Extension is partnering with the National Farm Medicine Center to offer new safety training through the Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health program, also known as RF-DASH. These programs will take place in early December at two North Dakota locations.
The RF-DASH training helps people learn how to identify hazards on farms and ranches, prepare for emergencies, and reduce the risk of injuries. Although most safety steps are voluntary, many rural communities already have strong networks of firefighters, emergency workers, Extension agents, and county officials who support farm families.
NDSU Extension farm and ranch safety specialist Angie Johnson says these trusted community members play a key role in sharing safety information with producers.
The training is open to firefighters, emergency managers, EMS teams, law enforcement, insurance agents, instructors, farmers, ranchers, and others who want to support agricultural safety. RF-DASH prepares them to become local safety leaders who can guide producers and help prevent accidents before they happen.
The program is free to attend, but registration is required by November 25. The Killdeer training is held at the Killdeer Saddle Club, and the second session is hosted at Webster Farms near Penn. Registration links are available through NDSU Extension.
RF-DASH was created by the National Farm Medicine Center and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, with training support from the CHS Foundation. The curriculum includes five modules: agricultural emergencies, mapping farm sites, analyzing farm hazards, basic first aid, and understanding farm community needs.
Past participants say the program changes how they see farm hazards. One firefighter shared that RF-DASH helped him look at risks from a prevention mindset rather than only focusing on emergency response.
Many local leaders, including Extension agents, emergency managers, and volunteer firefighters, will help lead the December sessions. Local sponsors and community groups are also supporting the events.
To learn more about RF-DASH, contact Angie Johnson at angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu. For more details about the RF-DASH program, including online resources, visit https://rfdash.org/.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety