County Farm Bureau awarded $1,500 for grain bin training

Local fire departments will receive training regarding grain bin rescues thanks to a grant announced Wednesday by Indiana Farm Bureau.

Putnam County Farm Bureau was awarded $1,500 to initiate a training program for the county volunteer fire departments to prepare them to appropriately handle a grain bin emergency.

The county Farm Bureau also is working to secure the proper equipment for the fire departments to have on hand in the event of a grain bin accident. This training is an important step toward safety for crop farmers, their families and their employees.

Steve Cash of Putnam County Farm Bureau shared that Kurt Lanzone, who conducts grain bin safety and rescue training, will be assisting local officials as the work with area fire departments. Lanzone is currently the Extension educator in Parke County.

The exact details of the program have not been outlined, though a committee of Putnam County Extension Educator Jenna Nees and Farm Bureau board members Cash, Raymond McCloud, Heather Poynter and Yvonne Clifford will be working on the project committee.

“I have currently talked with another agency on getting decals warning of entrapment hazards to be placed on as many grain bins as possible in the county,” Cash said.

Additional educational efforts will be determined by the committee.

The $1,500 granted by the state could go toward rescue equipment, training costs, decals or meeting costs. Final determinations will be made when social distancing requirements are lifted.

Putnam is one of just five counties to receive a grant ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 from Indiana Farm Bureau. Other county farm bureaus receiving grants in 2020 are Benton, Clinton, Fulton and Huntington.

“Our county Farm Bureaus across the state put much of their focus each year on educating their communities about agriculture,” said Isabella Chism, INFB 2nd vice president. “The programs they launch get more and more creative each year. I’m excited to see that this year’s awarded counties are taking advantage of Indiana Farm Bureau’s grant program to create programming that provides real value to their communities — from educating children about agriculture to discussing the importance of safety on a farm.”

Each awarded county Farm Bureau presented a new or expanded programming idea to INFB. The grant committee reviewed and approved the funds based on financial need and the potential impact of the program in reaching organizational goals.