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The first-ever Ohio Youth Safety Congress was held in conjunction with the Ohio Safety Congress and Expo in late March in Columbus. Ohio Farm Bureau and Ohio State University Extension developed a four-hour safety program to emphasize the importance of safe work practices in young adults ages 16 to 18 who are preparing for or who have just entered the work force.

Nearly 100 youths had the option of choosing from among six break-out sessions on topics such as ATV safety, equipment and machinery safety, safe vehicle operation and employee rights. The session topics focused on farming and fast food safety since those are areas where many students obtain their first jobs.

OSU and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation personnel conducted the sesssions. Keynote speaker, Randy Snow, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a farm accident and went on to be an Olympic medalist, opened the day’s General Session, and Katie Endsley of the Ohio Department of Agriculture spoke at the closing session.

Snow encouraged the youths to listen to the "little voice" that speaks to them when in an unsafe situation. Often youths think accidents won’t happen to them, but when the little voice is there, it is there for a reason.

He said every decision that people make has a payoff and a consequence. In his situation, he hurried too much while baling hay, and a large round bale fell on top of him and broke his back. He thought the payoff would be getting the bailing done earlier so he could spend time with friends, but the consequence was that he ended up paralyzed.

He advocates the three As – positive attitude, accountability and taking action. He believes what people tell themselves makes a difference in what they can accomplish.

OFBF staff members Larry Gearhardt and John Wargowsky also conducted concurrent sessions for the adult chaperones of the youths.

Based on this year’s success, OFBF Director of Youth and Safety Programs Darrell Rubel said the event will be held again next year.

Students from the Butler and Mahoning County youth councils were in attendance as were students from Wynford High School, Bucyrus, Goshen High School, Waynesfield and Riverside High School, Bellfontaine.

Caption: Nearly 100 youths attended the first-ever Ohio Youth Safety Congress where they learned about ATV safety, equipment and machinery safety, safe vehicle operation and employee safety in the workplace.