Creating Safe Farms for Kids

May 07, 2025
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Kids FarmSafe Week Returns Nationwide

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is hosting the second annual Kids FarmSafe Week from May 12 to 18, with the theme “Nurturing the Future of Agriculture.” The initiative aims to raise awareness about health and safety risks for children and youth on farms.

According to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data, 435 children and youth died due to farm-related incidents between 1990 and 2020, with the highest fatality rate among children aged one to four.

These kids could be your kids or your grandkids. Farm families and communities are encouraged to support the campaign and use the hashtag #KeepKidsFarmSafe.

“Today’s kids are tomorrow’s farmers and ranchers, and the farm is a unique workplace where families live, work and play. That is why, as an industry, we must work together to create safe and healthy environments for children and youth on Canadian farms,” said Sandra Miller, CASA’s Executive Director.

“Kids FarmSafe Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about preventable farm safety risks and hopefully inspire more farms to embrace a culture of safety to protect the next generation of Canadian agriculture leaders.”

Each day of Kids FarmSafe Week focuses on a specific safety topic, including machinery safety, water safety, animal safety, roadway awareness, and play area guidelines. The campaign also includes a webinar and a coloring contest to educate young participants in fun and engaging ways.

BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada Inc. is the presenting sponsor and a strong supporter of farm safety. BASF also runs the Safety Scouts program, offering free kits to promote safety learning among children.

“Prioritizing a safety-first mindset is essential to us, so that employees return home safely to their families – and we think it’s important to extend that safety-first mindset to our rural and agricultural communities. Our longstanding partnership with CASA is rooted in our shared commitment to farm safety and we are proud to be the presenting sponsor of the second inaugural Kids FarmSafe Week” said Leta LaRush, Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada.

“CASA’s efforts are essential in raising awareness and providing resources that support safety on Canadian farms. Initiatives like Kids FarmSafe Week play a crucial role in engaging the next generation and fostering a safe, bright future for Canadian agriculture."

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