August 05, 2009
CASE IH REACHES 10 YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE SAFETY DAY® PROGRAM
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In 2009 Case IH, Racine, Wisc., marks the 10th year the company has financially supported the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program. In those 10 years Case IH funding has helped the Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) reach an additional 47,240 rural youth and adults by contributing more than $540,000 to the Safety Day program.
"Both Case IH and our local dealers are committed to the communities and people we serve," says Julie Rudnick, Case IH Marketing Communications Manager. "We continually invest in building safety into Case IH equipment, but there is no replacement for education. Our investment in Progressive Agriculture Safety Days reinforces our commitment to our current customers, their children and to the future of agriculture."
In addition to the financial contributions from Case IH, many local Case IH dealers support Safety Days by providing tractors and equipment as well as assistance with information and training on tractor and farm equipment safety.
In Merced, Calif., N & S Tractor Company has been helping Safety Day coordinator Steve Gallichio with the local event for nine years. Each year, Gallichio coordinates two Safety Days for third graders throughout Merced County.
"Our Safety Days have grown tremendously in the last nine years. We started helping 250 kids, and this year, more than 1,000 attended the two safety days. This growth wouldn't have been possible without the dedicated support of companies such as Case IH and the employees of local Case dealer, N & S Tractor," says Gallichio who is Sr. loan officer with American Ag Credit in Merced. He particularly appreciates the PTO safety lesson conducted by Bob Souza, N&S sales manager.
"Bob demonstrates the dangers of PTO-powered equipment using dummies he creates from paper-stuffed Mylar jumpsuits," Gallichio explains. "When the dummy wraps around the rotating PTO shaft, it explodes and paper goes everywhere. This demonstration really makes a lasting impact on the children." The dealership also provides toy tractors, bicycle helmets and other gifts for a raffle at the end of each Safety Day as well as provides all the tractors and farm equipment for the event.
Progressive Agriculture Farm Safety Days are one-day educational and fun events that teach children lessons that can help keep them and those around them to be safe at home, or on a farm or ranch.
"Farm and rural children are at risk for injury everyday on the farm," says Randy J. Bernhardt, chief administrative officer and executive director of development, Progressive Agriculture Foundation. "We are grateful to Case IH for providing funds that helps us provide Safety Days so we can deliver on our mission of keeping rural children safe and healthy on the farm, ranch and at home."
The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program is designed for youth 8 to 13 years old but material is available for children as young as 4 years old. Topics range from animal, tractor and bicycle safety to learning about first aid and healthy lifestyles. Throughout the day participants attend multiple hands-on workshops.
Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment - for those who demand more. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. Case IH provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a dedicated network of professional dealers and distributors. Productivity enhancing products include tractors; combines and harvesters; hay and forage equipment; tillage tools; planting and seeding systems; sprayers and applicators; and site-specific farming tools. Case IH is a brand of CNH (NYSE: CNH), a majority-owned subsidiary of Fiat Group (FIA: MI).
Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® is a program of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation. The Foundation's mission is to make farm and ranch life safer and healthier for all children through education and training. In 2008, PAF was awarded the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal demonstrating
Its commitment to accountability and ethical practices and; also permanently achieved status as a public charity with the IRS. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting this worthwhile effort or in hosting a Safety Day should call 888-257-3529 or visit www.progressiveag.org for more information. Safety Day applications are due each July 15 for Safety Days that will be conducted the following calendar year.
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®Trademark, Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Editorial Note: The Progressive Agriculture Safety DayTM logo and Safety Day photos are available upon request by calling (888) 257-3529.
