Simulator lets NPHS students experience farm dangers

Students at NPHS were shown farming safety with a grain simulator. (Courtesy photo)

Production agriculture has been ranked the third most dangerous occupation in the nation.

Unfortunately, the Putnam County agriculture community has had its fair share of tragedies during the past five years due to farm-related accidents.

With those reasons in mind, the North Putnam High School FFA has decided to begin a production agriculture safety program. The FFA will be hosting three production agriculture safety programs throughout the year to promote safe practices on the farm.

Last Wednesday, the North Putnam FFA partnered with Co-Alliance to bring a Grain Engulfment Simulator to North Putnam High School.

More than 300 students were able to witness the simulator in action with approximately 10 students able to actually get into the simulator.

In addition to students seeing the simulator, all local fire departments were also in attendance to better learn how grain engulfment can occur and what can be done to rescue those in that situation.

In the simulator, students were able to feel what it would be like to become engulfed in grain.

Students would begin by hearing about how grain engulfment could happen on the farm. After the dangers are explained, students are put into the simulator so they can feel the amount of pressure the grain can put on their bodies are they are quickly engulfed by the grain.

Students were amazed at how little they were able to move their feet and how "stuck" their bodies became once they were up to their waist in corn.

One student remarked, "My feet feel as though they weigh 600 pounds. I can't move them."

The North Putnam FFA would like to thank Co-Alliance for offering this opportunity to keep

students safe