Provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all children, their families, and their communities.
No child would become ill, injured, or die from farm, ranch, and rural activities.
2024 was a year of momentum, meaning, and milestones for the Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF). As we celebrated 29 years of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Days) program, PAF remained focused on one thing: delivering meaningful, life-changing safety education to children across North America and beyond. Throughout the year, that commitment came to life in new and exciting ways.
Our PAF Safety Zone pilot continued to gain traction, offering a flexible and innovative delivery model that brings hands-on safety experiences to venues like farm shows, county fairs, and agricultural expos. It’s a way to meet children and families where they are—delivering practical lessons in real-life settings and expanding our reach into new communities.
In 2024, we sent our coordinators a value statement to clearly communicate the true value of the PAF Safety Day program to them. This statement highlighted how PAF supports their efforts by providing essential resources like curriculum, insurance, and training, as well as ongoing training and support. Our goal is to ensure they feel empowered as champions of safety in their communities.
By the end of the year, PAF had reached over 2.1 million individuals since the program’s inception. But our impact is about more than numbers. Each child reached represents a family made safer, a skill gained, or a conversation started. That’s the ripple effect of safety—and it’s what keeps us moving forward.
Still, the need remains. Rural children continue to face serious risks every day, and agriculturerelated incidents are far too common. But we meet this challenge with resolve and an incredible network of coordinators, volunteers, and supporters who know that safety isn’t just a message—it’s a mission.
As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2025, we do so with gratitude for how far we’ve come and a renewed vision for where we’re headed. With collaboration and community at the heart of our work, we’re building something lasting: a future where every child has the tools, knowledge, and support to grow up safely.
3,354 4-H VOLUNTEERS 1,058
While PAF Safety Day lessons are geared towards elementary-school aged children, leadership experiences are available for teens, involved with 4-H, FFA, and other various youth organizations. Through peerto-peer teaching and mentorship opportunities, teens can strengthen numerous interpersonal skills, including communication, decisionmaking, teamwork, empathy, and leadership. Additionally, the PAF Safety Day program can easily coincide with an FFA member’s supervised agricultural experience (SAE) or a 4-H member’s community service-learning initiative. Through participation, the PAF Safety Day program ultimately guides teens to make safer and healthier choices.
FFA VOLUNTEERS
Alabama - 2587
Brewton (2)
Centre
Elberta
Evergreen
Fairhope
Luverne
Selma
Spanish Fort Tuskegee
Arkansas - 1358
Danville
DeWitt
Harrison Marianna
Star City
California - 709
Lost Hills
Merced
Stevinson
Colorado - 607
Cheyenne
Monte Vista
Delaware - 188
Laurel
Florida - 1148
Fort Pierce
Gainesville
Ocala
Sarasota
Georgia - 740
LaGrange
Rock Spring
Idaho - 402
Blackfoot
Downey
Nezperce
Illinois - 3603
Albion
Altamount
Carlyle
Enfield
Fairfield
Geneseo
Highland
Lawrenceville
Macomb
Martinsville
Mt. Carmel
Newton
Olney
Salem
Stronghurst
Indiana - 1322
Leavenworth
Portland
Shelbyville
Iowa - 8906
Algona
Allison
Ames (3)
Calmar
Charles City (3)
Cherokee
Columbus Junction
Delhi
DeWitt
Dubuque
Dunkerton
Edgewood
Elkader
Emmetsburg
Grundy Center
Hazelton
Independance
Keosauqua
Manchester (2)
Maxwell
Nevada (2)
Ottumwa
Peosta (2)
Rock Rapids
Rock Valley
Sac City (2)
Sheldon
Sigourney
Story City
Vinton
Washington (2)
Whiting
Wilton
Zearing
Kansas - 1759
Ashland
Axtell
Belleville
Caldwell
Courtland
Elkhart
Hays
Jetmore
Junction City
Meade
Syracuse
Kentucky - 8997
Bowling Green
Brownsville
Burkesville
Cadiz
Campton
Carlisle
Cave City
Clinton
Columbia (2)
Elizabethtown
Falmouth
Fountain Run
Hardinsburg
Hopkinsville
Independence
Lebanon
Leitchfield
Lexington
Liberty
Monticello
Morgantown
Mt. Olivet
Munfordville
Owensboro
Paris
Russell Springs
Russellville
Scottsville
Tompkinsville (2)
Versailles
Louisiana - 824
Bastrop
Bogalusa
Franklinton
St. Joseph
Maryland - 18017
Frederick
Minnesota - 3043
Bagley
Bemidji
Fairmont
Hallock
Kasson
Lewiston
Mora
Morgan
Mississippi - 4614
Belzoni
Bude
Columbia
Fulton
Houston
Lucedale
Moss Point
Natchez
New Albany
Prentiss
Richton
Vancleave (2)
Missouri - 4664
Bowling Green
California
Canton
Chilicothe
Climax Springs
Crocker
Kennett
Lewistown
Montgomery City
Pilot Grove
St. Martins
Versailles
Warsaw
Weston
Montana - 395
Conrad
White Sulpher Springs
Wolf Point
Nebraska - 4809
Albion
Alliance
Ashland
Bladen
Cairo
Crawford
Curtis
Fairbury
Franklin
Geneva
Gordon
Minden
Mitchell
Ord
Pleasanton
Sidney
West Point
Wood River
New Mexico - 1712
Clayton
Clovis
Santa Rosa
New York - 1736
Gilbertsville
Lowville
North Lawrence
Penn Yan
Sandy Creek
North Carolina - 2954
Cofield
Hertford
Sparta
Sunbury
Troutman
North Dakota - 2025
Bottineau
Carrington
Devils Lake
Forman
Hettinger
Kenmare
Killdeer
Langdon
New Rockford
Steele
Ohio - 879
Dayton
Mt. Gilead
Stryker
Williamsfield
Oklahoma - 889
Alva
Fairview
Pawnee
Stigler
Watonga
Oregon - 103
Hermiston
Pennsylvania - 4464
Bradford
Brookville (2)
Clearfield
Danville
Ebensburg
Elkland
Franklin
Meadville
Shinglehouse
Shippenville
Tyrone
Wellsboro
South Carolina - 140
Orangeburg
South Dakota - 326
DeSmet
Watertown
Tennessee - 2210
Brownsville
Fayetteville
Gray
Jonesborough (2)
Limestone
Livingston
Memphis
Texas - 3926
Amarillo
Archer City
Buffalo
Columbus
Crystal City
De Kalb
Graham
Hereford
Johnson City
La Grange
Lampasas
Queen City
San Saba
Tulia
Virginia - 811
Bedford
Broadway
Pearisburg
Warsaw
West Virginia - 2494
Bruceton Mills
Franklin
Grafton
Harrisville
Hinton
Middlebourne
Moundsville
Parson
Princeton
Summersville
Sutton
Union
West Union
Wisconsin - 2612
Blair
Cadott
Florence (2)
Glenwood City
Masrshfield
Mondovi
Wisconsin Dells
British Columbia - 114
Vernon
Manitoba - 1672 Altona
Elm Creek
Miami
Stanley
Nova Brunswick - 64
Woodstock
Nova Scotia - 489
Bridgewater
Oxford
Shubenacadie
Ontario - 2773
Alvinston
Binbrook
Comber
Hawkesville
Kintore
Linwood
Port Perry
Ridgetown
Seaforth
St. Thomas
Stayner
Teeswater
Tiverton
Walkerton
Wellesley
Quebec - 1676
Albanel
East Broughton
Jonquière
La Pocatière
Laterrière
Mont-Joli
Pohènègamook
Saint-Camille
Saint-Martin
Tingwick
Saskatchewan - 3350
Biggar
Delisle
Griffin
Humboldt
Lloydminster
North Battleford
Swift Current
Unity
Weyburn
Yorkton
Aoa ‘lli’ili (2) Olosega Tafuna US
America Samoa - 1068
American Farm Bureau Conference Salt Lake City, UT
Ignite by 4-H Ultimate Teen Summit Washington, D.C.
North Dakota 4-H/ Extension Update Medora, ND
ISASH Portland, OR
Susquehanna County Ag Day Springville, PA
Texas Ag Educators Conference Dallas, TX
Ag Media Summit Kansas City, MO
Minnesota Farm Fest Red Wood Falls, MN
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Cadott, WI
Farm Progress Show Boone, IA
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) Tucson, AZ
National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4HYDP) Boise, ID
National FFA Convention Indianapolis, IN
Florida Farm Bureau State Meeting Destin, FL
Husker Harvest Days Wood River, NE
Iowa Agrculture Literacy Foundation Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Learning Conference Johnston, IA
Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety & Health (MRASH) Conference Ames, IA
Nutrien Harvest Days Dubuque, IA
Become a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Coordinator to bring age-appropriate, hands-on safety and health education to youth in your local community.
Join our network of volunteers, from being a group leader to a presenter.
If a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program is not currently taking place in your community, you can help advocate and introduce local groups or organizations to the Program.
Sign up to receive updates from the Progressive Agriculture Foundation. By sharing youth-focused safety and health tips from the Program’s social media outlets, as well as in digital and print media – you too can keep safety a top priority.
Please consider giving today to help provide potentially lifesaving education and resources to local communities – like yours. Your tax-deductible donation will have an impact in helping make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all youth.
“A person’s life was saved after participating in an electric safety demonstration when he hit an electric pole and did not exit the tractor but stayed inside and waited for help. Children have learned more about safe stopping distances, semi safety, and they’ve become more aware of the dangers around grain – this knowledge really makes a difference.”
- Sherrie Nestor
PAF Safety Day Coordinator
Cheyenne Wells, Colorado
“If we can get the information to as many youths as possible, then maybe days, months, or years down the road, it will prevent them from getting injured because of something they heard or saw on Safety Day. We have done our job. It can be 1 out of 1,000, which is a success. I feel we are all a part of that village. It does not matter your location. We are all a part of the village.”
- Tim Roberts PAF Safety Day Coordinator Memphis, Tennessee
“ATV safety is a major concern here. Safety Day has become an indispensable resource for Nicholas County youth, providing ATV safety courses, potentially life-saving lessons, and other safety programs. With PAF’s support, we’ve turned challenges into opportunities, empowering our youth with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe and thrive.”
- Brian Sparks
PAF Safety Day Coordinator
Summersville, West Virginia
“You will be amazed to see the excitement on children’s faces as they share their experiences. You will be surprised to find out it is their first time learning some of the safety issues discussed in their session. The well-being of our people is our priority and a group effort! PAF’s curriculum and our college’s mission go hand in hand in supporting our youth and community.”
- Amio Mavaega-Luvu PAF Safety Day Coordinator American Samoa
“Living in a rural area, I see firsthand how kids don’t always understand the farming equipment and activity around them. PAF Safety Days are powerful because they teach kids safety, and those lessons often ripple through families. If one student reminds their parents to slow down for a tractor or wear a helmet, we’ve made a difference—that’s what it’s all about.”
- Sarah Richardson
PAF Safety Day Coordinator Sunbury, North Carolina
“Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is a sacred cow in my Extension work—too beneficial to cut. In rural areas like ours, safety education is scarce. PAF fills a critical gap, not just in our community but across Texas and Oklahoma too. With their resources, fast support, and great people, PAF makes it easy to do something that truly matters.”
- Talisha Valdez
PAF Safety Day Coordinator Clayton, New Mexico
“It’s incredibly rewarding. Safety is always a concern, especially for youth. Eighth grade is such a pivotal time—they start to feel ‘bulletproof,’ and we want them to be ready. Every day I don’t see a preventable tragedy in the news feels like a win. That tells me they’re listening, they’re learning, and maybe we helped make that difference.”
- Cherrie Curtis
PAF Safety Day Coordinator
New Boston, Texas
From the humble beginnings in 1995 with 19 safety day camps held across the south and Midwest regions of the United States, to now reaching over two million children and adults across North America, Bernard Geschke has been instrumental in growing the Foundation’s program and helping local communities become safer and healthier. In honor of Geschke’s dedication for nearly 30 years of service, the Foundation has developed the Bernard Geschke Volunteer Service Award to recognize PAF Safety Day Coordinators with 20 years or more of service to the program.
Jodi Richmond Princeton, West Virginia
“When I started twenty years ago, I didn’t know where to begin—finding PAF was a gamechanger. The support and networking with other coordinators has been so helpful. It’s the joyful moments—the smiles, curiosity, and lasting lessons—that keep me coming back year after year.”
Duane Schallenburg New Douglas, Illinois
“I hear constant praise for the program from students and teachers— it’s clear we’re making a difference. Safety Day helps youth make better choices, and I enjoy watching FFA members engage with the kids. It’s a rewarding and muchneeded effort in our community.”
Beverly Smedra Ord, Nebraska
“In our rural community, safety education is vital. Over 30 years, we’ve reached more than 3,000 youth with practical, ageappropriate safety training. PAF provides the tools and support we need. You may never know the incident you helped prevent, but it’s worth it.”
To view past recipients, click HERE.
Andrea Traegar Grundy Center, Iowa
“I continue to partner with PAF because of the connections I’ve made and the incredible support they provide. The training gives me the tools I need to coordinate a large Safety Day each year. PAF has always made me feel valued and respected as a volunteer.”
• In 2024, 459 volunteers served as lead and assistant PAF Safety Day Coordinators, receiving training, support, and mentorship. Training was offered through convenient, online self-paced courses tailored to experience levels and event formats.
• An additional 160 first-year coordinators received personalized support through virtual builder calls with PAF staff, where they discussed event plans, asked questions, and received guidance for success.
• Over 20 new coordinators were former participants, volunteers, or parents—a testament to the program’s lasting impact.
• Beyond local events, coordinators helped expand PAF’s reach by serving on the Board, presenting at conferences, and volunteering at other safety events—advancing our mission to protect more children and families across North America.
2,138,235
Children and adults reached by completing an official PAF Safety Day program coordinated at the local level.
29 YEARS OF IMPACT
16,845 PAF SAFETY DAYS
1,701,346 PARTICIPANTS
364,157 VOLUNTEERS
19952024
5-STAR PARTNERS ($100,000 OR MORE)
4-STAR PARTNERS ($60,000 - $99,999)
3-STAR PARTNERS ($40,000 - $59,999)
2-STAR PARTNERS ($25,000 - $39,999)
1-STAR PARTNERS ($15,000 - $24,999)
In 2024, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation deepened its partnership with Nutrien, a global leader in agricultural solutions and champion of youth development. Together, we delivered impactful programming that brought farm safety to life for young people and their communities.
One of the year’s most engaging initiatives was the Safety Zone at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium during Harvest Days in Dubuque, Iowa. Over five days, 600+ youth participated in hands-on safety activities, learning to make safe choices on and off the farm.The event also offered a valuable employee engagement opportunity, with Nutrien volunteers educating youth and connecting with local families.
Nutrien further supported a PAF-led workshop at the Ignite by 4-H Teen Summit, empowering teen leaders to serve as farm safety ambassadors in their communities and demonstrating the power of youth-led education. Together, Nutrien and PAF are planting the seeds of safety and leadership in the next generation through hands-on learning and mentorship.
“Partnering with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation at last year’s Harvest Days at the National Mississippi River Museum was an incredible experience. Over the fiveday event, we were able to engage more than 600 youth participants with handson safety activities that helped them make real-world connections between agriculture, safety, and their daily lives. Just as meaningful was the opportunity to involve our Nutrien employees throughout the week — allowing them to give back, share their knowledge, and see firsthand the impact we can make together. It’s partnerships like this that truly help us grow safer, stronger communities.”
In honor of National Safety Month, we proudly highlighted our ongoing partnership with Polaris Inc. through a new video showcasing our shared commitment to ATV/UTV safety education. Since 2019, Polaris has supported our mission to bring hands-on, responsible riding instruction to youth across North America through PAF Safety Days.
“It’s important to teach riders of all ages responsible riding, but it’s particularly critical to instill at a young age. By partnering with PAF, we can continue our outreach in rural areas across North America to educate youth riders. With engaging demonstrations, PAF Safety Days encourage children to participate in hands-on education related to ATVs while having fun. The Progressive Agriculture Foundation® is a leader in youth safety, and we are proud to be a partner.”
- Dana Anderson Director of Community Relations Polaris
CONTRIBUTING PARTNERS (UP TO $14,999)
AKE Safety Equipment
Alabama Power Foundation
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
BASF Agricultural Solutions
Brandt Foundation
Canadian Agriculture Safety Association
Farm Credit Services of America
Farmers National Company
GROWMARK
Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation
Krone
MacDon Industries
National Crop Insurance Services
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Rabo Agrifinance
Rain and Hail LLC
ServisFirst Bank
Syngenta
The Andersons Inc.
The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
The Wonderful Company
Unverferth Manufacturing Co.
Williams
Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
Asmark Institute
Canadian Agriculture Safety Association
Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
Progressive Cattle
The Wonderful Company
USDA NIFA Mental Health Network GrantMidwest Region
$8,708 RAISED
MyChale Cooper
Zoe Cooper
Jana and James Davidson
Matt Doggett
Frank Dowdle
Ellen Duysen
Jay Edwards
Addison Eldridge
Bennett/Halbur DAF Fund
Hannah and Logan Hall
Joshua Hankey
Linda and Dean Henderson
Tess Hollett
Phil Johnson
Hollie and Steven Johnson
Kayla Johnson
Susan and Gordon Jones
Pamela and James June
Ryan Kraxberger
Kelly and Brian Kuhl
Patty and Larry Kuhl
Calvin Kubert
Troy Larsen
Allison Loosli
Patrick Lowe
Denise and Bob Marshall
Toby Neal
Sharry Nielsen
Mark Pendarvis
Jose Perez
Jodi Richmond
Josie Rudolphi
Autumn and Nick Schumacker
Tammie Stutts
Wesley Sutton
Zuhir Tanous
Anne Thompson
Tyler Walker
Sam Wos
For exceeding industry standards and outperforming most charities in its cause, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation is proud to be recognized with the highest
Impact. Charting Impact encourages strategic thinking about how an organization intends to achieve its goals. The end result is a report that lets non-profits share concise, detailed information about plans and progress with key stakeholders, including the public.
GuideStar’s Platnium Seal of Transparency is earned by completeing five questions around an organization’s strategies, progress, and results, known as Charting 4-star rating achievable through Charity Navigator by achieving an overall score of 98%. Charity Navigator ratings take into account an evaluation of the foundation’s financial health, accountability, and transparency for which a perfect 100% score can be achieved.
In 2023, we proudly introduced an exciting new way to deliver safety and health education through our three-year pilot initiative — the PAF Safety Zone. This innovative approach offers an alternative to the traditional community-based PAF Safety Day program, allowing us to connect with even more youth and families in dynamic, high-traffic environments.
PAF Safety Zones are held in conjunction with larger community events such as county and state fairs, farm shows, agritourism activities, equipment dealer days, and as educational programs at schools, museums, and more. Rather than hosting a standalone event, these experiences are integrated into the rhythm of already well-attended venues — making safety education more accessible and approachable.
Set up in contained, designated areas like tents or buildings, each Safety Zone features customizable, hands-on safety and health stations. Local volunteers lead each interactive station, delivering important safety messages in condensed 3–5 minute mini segments tailored to the needs of the community. Children and families are encouraged to explore the stations at their own pace, and youth who complete a set number of stations are rewarded with a special gift as a token of their participation.
The flexibility of the Safety Zone format has proven to be a powerful way to meet families where they are — increasing our reach, especially in rural and agricultural communities. Following the success of our first Safety Zone event in Fall 2023, which engaged approximately 5,000 youth, we have expanded the program to multiple events across the country throughout 2024.
We are excited by the enthusiasm surrounding PAF Safety Zones and look forward to continuing to grow this impactful program. If you’re interested in bringing a Safety Zone to your next event, please contact us at safetyday@progressiveag.org.
Tyrone Gentry
Chairperson
Kentucky Cooperative Extension - Green County Greensburg, Kentucky
Josie Rudolphi, PhD
Vice Chairperson
University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois
Kayla Hinrichs
Secretary
Nebraska Extension - Zone 6 Ord, Nebraska
Jose Perez
Treasurer
The Wonderful Company Bakersfield, California
Brian Kuhl
Progressive Agriculture Foundation Hudson, Wisconsin
Ellen Duysen, MPH UNMC College of Public Health Omaha, Nebraska
Jodi Richmond University of West Virginia Extension Princeton, West Virginia
Tera Stoddard CHS Inc. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
John Horne Nutrien Loveland, Colorado
Anne Thompson Farm Credit Council Washington, D.C.
The Progressive Agriculture Foundation is governed by a board, who provide leadership in helping achieve the Foundation’s mission and vision. Their dedication and guidance have been instrumental to the success and growth of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program. The volunteer board consists of PAF Safety Day Coordinators, safety and health specialists, and funding partner executives.
$1,008,310 $8,954,876 $815,172
Includes grants, partner donations, individual donations, and in-kind donations.
212,941
$7,131,394
Hours of volunteer time using the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate for the average hourly earning of U.S. employees.
Includes both cash and in-kind donations.
“The tragedy of losing a child in our community was heartbreaking, but inspired me to start a Safety Day. Now, we partner with 14 organizations and reach over 200 youth annually. After my child attended one of our local safety days, my son insisted that his dad go to get his hearing checked. Kids have power when talking to their parents and other adults. Because my son heard the safety message, my husband now has custom hearing protection.”
- Sara Clemens
PAF Safety Day Coordinator Bottineau, North Dakota
Progressive Agriculture Foundation Year Ended December 31, 2024
PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE Public support of PAF Safety Day Programs
The Progressive Agriculture Foundation prides itself in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical practices. The organization’s audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 are available for public viewing at www.progressiveag. org. The dollar amounts provided on this page are based on information derived from volunteer PAF Safety Day Coordinator reports and may reflect different values than the official audited report found online.
