OXFORD, Ohio – On March 18, National Agriculture Day, Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), visited Talawanda High School because of the Farmer Recharge Program, a fire safety program. The Talawanda/Butler Tech FFA did the project with help from a Chapter Success Grant, funded in part by ODA.

Amy Jo Baughman, executive director of the Ohio FFA Foundation, Inc., Tim Derickson with JobsOhio, and Marge and Russ Beckner with Southwest Ohio Family Farm Safety, and others were also in attendance.

The idea started with Shelby Tussey’s attendance at the FFA Washington Leadership Conference.

“At the Washington Leadership Conference, they always challenge the students to come up with some way to give back to their community,” Karis Roberts said. She and Chyann Kendel are co-advisers to the FFA group. “Sometimes they have collaborative efforts with youth in the area, but she chose the farmers.”

Added Tussey: “My family was impacted by fires. We had a tractor fire in 2017. I wanted to promote fire safety within our community.”

So. the first idea was a fire extinguisher, Roberts said. Then they thought if someone were getting out of a combine that was on fire they would need a fire blanket to help shield and protect them. Also, everyone is dependent on cell phones for emergencies, so having a charge bank would be helpful to use if a cell phone dies.

The first event was held in September 2024 and 13 farmers brought in 42 fire extinguishers for inspection, resulting in 22 units being recharged, serviced or repaired. Twenty were retired due to age and condition. To improve on-farm safety, 17 farmers purchased 25 new fire extinguishers. Additionally, 40 full fire safety kits were distributed.

Beyond fire extinguishers, the program also provided 32 community members with critical emergency supplies, including fire blankets, first aid kits, cell phone bank chargers, and mini coolers.

In addition to the grant, lots of people helped with the project.

“We worked with Sean Leventen, Johnston Fire Safety LLC,” Roberts said. “He helped us learn about fire extinguishers, and what can and can’t be used. There was one from the 1960s when JFK was president. Some farmers think if they have never used it, it is probably fine. But fire extinguishers do lose their charge. Sean went over with the students how to fix them.”

Southwest Ohio Family Farm Safety provided funds for the purchase of fire safety blankets. Seventy-two fire blankets went out to the community to help with fire preparedness.

The Stockyard Cowboy Church is always looking for ways to help the farm community, so they contributed funds, Roberts said.

The Talawanda/Butler Tech FFA organized the Ag Day event to show the results of their program and to acknowledge those who helped. They started by explaining the Farmer Recharge Programs to Baldridge and all in attendance.

Next came a tour of the FFA facility, with snacks. The FFA students, wearing their dress blues, spoke with guests and escorted them through the building. Various display tables showed FFA activities and students stood by to answer questions. Baldridge later presented the group with a Certificate of Commendation.

“It is great to come out and hear the FFA story at Talawanda and see the great programs that they are doing,” Baldridge said. “We just heard an update on one of the grant programs that they are working on, a program for farmers from a fire safety standpoint. This is near and dear to my heart as I had a career as a fire medic in Anderson Township on the East side of Cincinnati.

Sometimes farmers get busy, especially with the upcoming planting season, and don’t think about things from a safety standpoint, Baldridge said. It was great that Talawanda FFA took the opportunity to apply for a grant and really connect those dots.

“Looking around here, at all the banners, all the opportunities that FFA, 4-H, and other programs give to our young people, the future is bright in agriculture,” Baldridge said.

Roberts said the program had been very well received by the farm community. One farmer said he had already used the charge bank in the safety kit.

“We are thankful for the grants and funds that enabled us to reach out to the community,” Roberts said. “People said they want this to continue. We will definitely do it again. I am not sure how it will work – it was very costly. Maybe we’ll get another grant.”