Ten Iowa youth organizations will receive funding from Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) for a farm safety project.  Since 1999, I-CASH has designated funds for Iowa youth groups to promote farm safety awareness in their local communities.  The grants are awarded to the proposals that show the highest involvement by youth in the planning and carrying out of the project. Among this year’s grant recipients locally, is the Shelby County 4-H Youth Council, and the Ida County Farm Bureau. Since 1999, I-CASH has awarded 155 grants, investing more than $140,000 in youth safety projects.

According to I-CASH director Brandi Janssen, this year was especially competitive.  She said “We were pleased to have nineteen applicants, it’s exciting to have such interest in the grants.  I just wish we could fund more projects.” Ten groups received $500 to carry out their project.  Several of the projects are Farm Safety Days that will teach elementary students about electrical hazards, livestock safety, chemical safety, ATVs, and other topics related to rural safety and health.  In Shelby County, members of the 4-H County Youth Council will do a presentation at Farm Safety Day in June on the prevention and treatment of animal bites and insect stings. All youth participants will receive a 1st aid kit. A video of the presentation will be made available on the Shelby County Extension and Outreach website. Youth groups ranging from 4-H to FFA to County Farm Bureau groups were represented.

At the end of the season, grant applicants will submit a final evaluation that will again be judged by the grant selection committee.  One group will be awarded the “Outstanding Youth Grant Award,” which carries another $500 in funding and a trip to the Midwest Rural and Agricultural Safety and Health Conference (MRASH), which will be held in Council Bluffs, IA this November.

For more information about the Youth Grant program, go to www.i-cash.org.