Safety starts long before someone climbs into the cab, and that's exactly what kids learned during our recent Safety Field Day in Sterling. Through hands-on activities, equipment demonstrations, and interactive learning stations, local youth gained a better understanding of farm equipment safety while getting an up-close look at the machines that help feed and fuel our communities.
When it comes to agriculture, knowledge is one of the most important safety tools we can provide. That's why our Sterling team welcomed families to the dealership for an exciting day focused on education, awareness, and plenty of fun along the way.
Why Is Farm Equipment Safety Important for Kids?
From combines and sprayers to tractors and precision technology, modern farm equipment is larger and more advanced than ever before.
For children growing up around agriculture, understanding how these machines work and why safety matters can help build lifelong habits. At 21st Century Equipment, we believe the best safety conversations happen when learning is interactive, memorable, and engaging.
That's exactly what our Sterling Safety Field Day was designed to accomplish.
What Happened During the Sterling Safety Field Day?
Participants rotated through several interactive learning stations led by knowledgeable team members who shared real-world agricultural safety insights.
Each station focused on helping kids understand equipment operation, visibility, safe distances, moving components, and general awareness around machinery.
Combine Safety Station with Cody Smith
Kids received a close-up look at one of agriculture's most important harvesting machines.
Topics covered included:
- Key combine safety procedures
- Awareness around moving components
- Proper distances when equipment is operating
- Operator visibility considerations
By seeing the machine up close, children gained a better understanding of why combines command respect both in and out of the field.
Sprayer Safety Station with Caleb Knowles
At the sprayer station, kids learned about the role sprayers play in modern agriculture and the importance of staying alert around large equipment.
Safety discussions focused on:
- Equipment awareness
- Safe operating zones
- Transportation safety
- Understanding machine size and reach
Tractor Safety Station with Kenny Alderson
No farm safety event would be complete without tractors.
Participants explored tractor fundamentals while learning:
- Safe entry and exit procedures
- Why operators conduct walk-around inspections
- Visibility challenges around equipment
- General farmyard safety practices
Which Activity Was the Crowd Favorite?
If there was one station that stole the show, it was the Tractor Ride Along experience with Tre Fehringer.
Kids had the opportunity to ride in a modern tractor and see firsthand how today's precision agriculture technology supports safer and more efficient field operations.
Tre demonstrated:
- Automated guidance technology
- Modern tractor safety systems
- Operator awareness features
- How technology can assist drivers in the field
For many attendees, seeing advanced equipment technology in action was the highlight of the day.
How Does Hands-On Learning Create Safer Future Farmers?
Safety training sticks when people can see, touch, and experience what they're learning.
That's why our team incorporated a safety scavenger hunt led by Heidi Smith and Shey Thiessen.
The scavenger hunt encouraged kids to:
- Explore the dealership
- Identify safety-related items
- Pay attention to equipment details
- Reinforce lessons learned throughout the day
By turning safety education into an interactive activity, participants remained engaged while developing a stronger understanding of agricultural safety concepts.
Building Stronger Agricultural Communities Through Education
Events like Safety Field Day are about more than equipment.
They're about helping families better understand agriculture while creating positive experiences for the next generation.
The day wrapped up with a pizza party, plenty of conversation about favorite activities, and goodie bags for participants to take home. More importantly, families left with valuable safety knowledge they can carry forward both on and off the farm.
The response from parents and kids was overwhelmingly positive. Many shared how much they enjoyed getting an inside look at the dealership, climbing into equipment, and learning directly from the people who work with these machines every day.
Why Community Events Matter at The Backyard
Our team works with agricultural equipment every day, but our mission extends beyond selling and servicing machines.
We believe strong agricultural communities are built through education, relationships, and opportunities to learn. Whether we're helping producers maximize uptime, supporting youth programs, or hosting educational events like Safety Field Day, our focus remains the same: providing valuable experiences that support the people who power agriculture.
The smiles, questions, and excitement we saw throughout the day reminded us why these events matter so much.
After all, today's curious kids are tomorrow's farmers, ranchers, operators, technicians, and industry leaders.
Common Questions About Farm Equipment Safety for Kids
What is a farm equipment safety day?
A farm equipment safety day is an educational event that teaches children and families how to safely interact with agricultural equipment through demonstrations, activities, and hands-on learning experiences.
Why is farm equipment safety education important?
Agricultural equipment contains moving parts, blind spots, and operational hazards. Early safety education helps children understand how to stay aware and avoid dangerous situations around machinery.
What types of equipment were featured at the Sterling Safety Field Day?
Participants learned about combines, sprayers, tractors, precision agriculture technology, and general equipment safety practices.
Can kids sit inside farm equipment during safety events?
Many agricultural safety events include supervised cab visits that allow children to learn how equipment operators see and control machinery while reinforcing important safety concepts.
Why do dealerships host community safety events?
Dealerships host safety events to support local communities, promote agricultural awareness, share industry knowledge, and help create safer environments for farm families.
Keep an eye on our Events page, as well as our social media channels, to see when we have more visits like this in the future!
