Another Successful Tesmer Farm Safety Day Camp
By Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension
PRESTON and CALEDONIA, Minn. (05/23/2023) — This past week we wrapped up another successful Tesmer Farm Safety Day Camp. Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers, teachers, chaperones and students for making the 2023 event such a success! Two events were held this year. On May 16th, seven Fillmore County schools, a Houston County School and several home school families came to the Fillmore County Fair Grounds in Preston and on May 18th eight Houston County schools came to the Houston County Fair Grounds in Caledonia. In total, 517 students and 66 teachers and chaperones attended this year’s program.
Tesmer Farm Safety Day is a program that saves the lives of children and is completely funded by local donations. Every donation of money, safety products, food, time, and resources contributes to that effort. Please join me in thanking the people and businesses that make it happen.
Topics & Presenters:
911 Simulator – Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge
ATV Safety – Brad Harguth
Basic First Aid – Preston and Caledonia Ambulance
Bicycle Safety – Brenda Pohlman and Lisa Dierks
Electric Safety – MiEnergy Cooperative
Fire Safety – Preston, Caledonia, and Eitzen Fire Departments
General Farm Safety – Mike Cruse and Jane Bjerke
Grain Drowning – Scott Winslow, Jeff Eickoff and Brad Hoschiet
Horse Safety – Fillmore County 4-H Horse Project and Mandi Niebeling
Lawn Mower Safety – Roger Holdeman and Midwest Machinery in Caledonia
Livestock Safety – Dr. Lynn Aggen, Sara West and Mike Cruse
Plant Identification – Dean Thomas and Dan Wermager
PTO Safety – Mike Root
Tractor Rollover – Lisa Dierks and Doug Heintz
Water Safety – Houston County Sheriff Brian Swedberg and Chief Deputy Bill Hargrove
Location support: Fillmore and Houston County Fair Boards and groundskeepers
Livestock: Jesse Baker, Sara West and Mandi Niebeling
Equipment donation: Preston Equipment Company, Midwest Machinery, Brad Harguth, Roger Holdeman, and RunRight Power Equipment
Student Volunteers: Fillmore Central FFA and Caledonia FFA
Lunch: Fillmore County Cattlemen, Fillmore County ADA, Houston County ADA, Rushford, Preston and Harmony Foods, Kwik Trip in Caledonia and Rushford, FormAFeed – Mike Root, and Houston County Cattlemen
Camp Shirts and Bags: Kelly Printing and Signs
Sponsors: Safety Officer: $1 - $249 - A1 Precision Pumping, Acentek, Ag Partners, Ameriprise Financial-Beneke & Associates, Bloomfield Mutual Insurance Co, Cabin Coffee Co., Caledonia Lumber Co., INC, Caledonia Oil, Caledonia Veterinary Clinic, Christine K Rischette-H & R Block, Houston & Caledonia, Compeer Financial Services, Craig's Auto Repair, Danielson Insurance Agency, Inc., Denny's Equip & Trailer Sales, Dev-Lin Holsteins-Devoine & Linda Kruse, Drury Furniture, ESB Banking and Insurance, Essig Agency, F & M Communtiy Bank & Insurance Services, Farmer Insurance-April Carrier, Farmers Win, Finseth Milk Hauling, First Southeast Banks - Harmony & Canton, First State Bank, Fitting Brother's Excavating, Gp Truck Painting, Graf Insurance, Gunderson Lutheran Houston Clinic, Hammell Equipment Inc., Harmony & Cresco Veterinary Clinic, Harmony/Preston Agri Services, Inc., Hoff Funeral Home, Inc., Horihan Insurance, Houston County DHIA, JMS Agronomics Inc., Kathy's Beauty Salon, Klug Insurance, Kraus Oil Company/Country Store, Kwik Trip, Manahan Machine Shop, Inc., Mauss Pumping Services, McCabe Repairs, Midwest Machinery Co., Minnwest Bank, Morem Electric, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Scheevel, Oak Meadow Meats, LLC, Ody's Country Meats Processing & Catering, Olmsted Medical Center, Pete's Auction & Photo, Inc., Pioneer Seeds, Paul Frank, Spring Valley, Poet Biorefining, Preble Farmers Mutual, Root River State Bank, Scheevel & Sons Inc., Southeast Electric Inc, Spring Valley Sales Co, We Be of MN, Safety Supervisor: $250 - $499 - American Legion Post 423, Bremer Bank, Caledonia Haulers, Hammell Equipment Inc., Eitzen, Loveless-Eikens, American Legion #191, M & M Lawn & Leisure, Mensink Farms, MiBroadband, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Safety Superhero: $500+ - CHS, Farm Bureau Financial Services: Scott Evans, Fillmore County Cattlemen, Fillmore County Farm Bureau, Houston County Cattlemen, and Houston County Farm Bureau.
Extension Staff: Heather Barth, Jennifer Burrichter, Tanner Marquardt, Hannah Myhre and Katie Drewitz
Planning is already underway for 2024! If you are interested in learning more or supporting Tesmer Farm Safety Day please reach out to the Fillmore or Houston County Extension offices at 507-765-3896, 507-725-5807 or email Katie directly at wins0115@umn.edu.