By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension is working with the National Farm Medicine Center to strengthen agricultural safety education across rural communities. The partnership brings the Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health (RF-DASH) program to North Dakota and helps local leaders promote safer farm and ranch operations.
The in-person training will take place on December 5, 2026, at Webster Farms near Penn, North Dakota. The full-day event begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. Participants must register by November 26, 2026, and attendance is offered free of charge.
Farm and ranch work often involve machinery, livestock, chemicals, and other hazards that can lead to injuries or emergencies. Because many safety practices are voluntary, trusted community members play an important role in helping producers identify risks and adopt safer practices. The RF-DASH program is designed to support this effort by educating local leaders who regularly work with agricultural communities.
The training is open to a wide range of participants, including firefighters, emergency medical personnel, county emergency managers, law enforcement officers, Extension agents, technical college instructors, insurance agents, farmers, ranchers, and other rural residents interested in farm safety.
Participants receive education through five key training modules. These include an introduction to agricultural emergencies, farm mapping and preplanning, farm hazard analysis, farm first aid, and effective communication with farm communities. The curriculum combines classroom learning with hands-on activities that focus on injury prevention and emergency preparedness.
As one participant explains, “RF-DASH really forced me to take off my firefighter hat and focus on identifying farm-related hazards first.” The program encourages safety planning before emergencies occur. Another important lesson highlighted during the training asks, “How do we prevent this from becoming a rescue situation in the first place?”
Program leaders believe strong relationships among firefighters, farmers, ranchers, and community organizations can help reduce agricultural injuries and property losses. Financial support from the CHS Foundation helps make the training available and supports the development of new safety leaders throughout the state.
Several Extension professionals, emergency managers, and firefighters assist in delivering the training, while local organizations provide additional support. The overall goal is to create a stronger network of agricultural safety advocates who can share knowledge and resources in their communities.
To learn more about the RF-DASH program, contact Johnson at angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu. For more details about the RF-DASH program, including online resources, visit https://rfdash.org/.
Webster Farms is located at 5351 73rd Ave. NE near Penn.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety