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In 1995, the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Program began.

Now, the most extensive rural safety and health education program for children in North America is going to Winchester.

On Friday, Sept. 15, Baker Intermediate School will host its Progressive Agriculture Safety Day event to benefit sixth-grade students.

“It’s really, really [going to] be a big deal,” said Casey Davis, the family resources coordinator at Baker. “I’m really excited about it.”

Davis first recognized the value of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Program while shadowing another family resources coordinator from Bourbon County.

While there, she noticed that students were engaged, as almost two million individuals have been reached across 45 states, two territories and nine Canadian provinces since its inception.

“I called the Clark County Extension Office and talked to Aubrey Lawson one of the 4-H representatives out there and asked her if she would like to partner with me and start this safety day program for our sixth-grade students,” Davis said. “All sixth graders will get these safety topics before they leave Baker.”

With fourteen different homerooms, just as many stations will be implemented into the day’s learning – which will also occur outdoors.

Among the topics are fireworks safety, roadway safety, ATV safety, what to or not to do when staying home alone, food safety and more.

When deciding on the most valuable topics, one method was providing parents with a needs assessment survey.

Parents were asked what obstacles they felt interfered with their kids’ learning.

“Some of the things they said were food and sleep,” Davis said. “We’ve incorporated one of those [stations]. It’s called ‘Healthy Lifestyles.’”

Along with Lawson – who helps with 4-H Youth Development – over 100 volunteers will be present for the undertaking.

They will include members of the Clark Regional Medical Center, the Winchester Police Department, the Winchester Fire Department, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources and the Clark County Health Department.

The latter will lead a sun safety session.

Students will receive a pre-and post-assessment.

Davis hopes that the post-assessment will yield a positive outcome.

“I hope that they listen to what a lot of these topics are about, and they understand how important it is to have these safety days,” she said. “As a kid, sometimes you don’t think things will happen to you. I’m hoping that this will raise awareness for them.”

It is also the hope of the school staff that, while the first time, it will not be the last.

“We’re hoping this is [going to] be an annual [event],” Davis said. “I hope the kids enjoy this.”

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day will begin at 9:15 a.m.