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In a state where corn and soybeans dominate the rural landscape, the importance of grain bin safety cannot be overstated.

Since 2014, Ohio Farm Bureau’s Heritage Partner Nationwide has conducted Nominate Your Fire Department, an annual grain bin rescue tube contest in conjunction with Grain Bin Safety week in February.

The contest has received over 12,000 nominations and awarded grain rescue tubes and hands-on rescue training to 390 fire departments in 32 states saving 13 lives, including a rescue in Sabina, Ohio, in 2023.

Since the contest began, 30 Ohio fire departments have received the tubes and the training. Dan Neenan, director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, travels with a state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulator and rescue tube to the winning locations to conduct the training session.

Each year, one or more county Farm Bureaus in the state team with Nationwide and/or local fire departments and safety organizations to help facilitate the grain bin safety and rescue training. Last year, Highland and Brown County Farm Bureaus collaborated with the Highland County Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio Fire Academy, and local fire chiefs to host a Level 1 Grain Bin Rescue Training in southern Ohio.

The program was designed to equip first responders and local farmers with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely rescue individuals trapped in grain bins. The training covered rescue techniques, safety protocols, and the use of specialized equipment. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, conducting rescues in both a grain bin and a gravity wagon, simulating real-life scenarios.

“This collaboration highlights the importance of community preparedness and proactive measures to enhance safety in farming operations,” said Heather Utter, organization director for Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties. “By fostering partnerships between local organizations and emergency services, these trainings aimed to strengthen safety awareness and response readiness.”

The annual Nominate Your Fire Department contest runs Jan. 1 through April 30.