AgriSafe is excited to feature 'Yemi Arotile in July's AgriSafe Nurse Scholar spotlight! 'Yemi completed the Nurse Scholar Program in 2023, and is currently a Health Systems Leadership doctoral student. She serves as the Assistant Director of Nursing at the University Illinois Chicago, College of Nursing.



Why 'Yemi became a nurse:

"I have wanted to be a nurse since around age 5 or 6. The white uniform (which is traditional in my home country) was the first factor. Later on, growing up i was a bit sickly, and wanting to know exactly what was going on in my body, but above all being in a position to help care for sick individuals became a driving factor. I have found myself lately developing an increasing passion for grassroot education, and empowering the incoming generation of nurses in caring - which is the heart of nursing."

Her favorite thing about being a nurse:

"Knowledge - which they say is power! I can educate my patients while providing care. Being the point person for my family for all medical issues has been a huge blessing."

How the AgriSafe Nurse Scholar Program has impacted her nursing career:

"I discovered AgriSafe during one of my courses last summer, and the courses were true eye-openers as to what happens behind the scenes. I go to a farm yearly to harvest products, and I love buying fresh from the farm stands. The AgriSafe course gave me a true insight into what farmers are going through, that side that is often hidden from the outside world, and I particularly identify with the unspoken mental health issues (since this is also like a forbidden topic where I come from). The measures outlined in different aspects of the Nurse Scholar course approach to safety in the Agricultural community from the youngest to the oldest, body ergonomics, and general healthcare - this is knowledge that I know I can take and build on as I continue to advance in the nursing profession."

Learn more about the AgriSafe Nurse Scholar Program here.

AgriSafe is hosting webinars each weekday of NFSHW 2024. You’re invited to join in for all of them (or just pick the ones that interest you most). Thanks to our generous sponsors, these webinars are FREE and open to the public. Click on the titles below for more information. We hope to see you there!

Monday, Sept 16: Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety

• 11 AM - 12 PM CDT Skid Loader Safety
• 1 PM - 2 PM CDT Sharing the Road: Agricultural Equipment and the Driving Public

Tuesday, Sept 17: Health and Wellness

• 11 AM - 12 PM CDT Noise: Bad for My Ears and Heart, Too?
• 1 PM - 2PM CDT Conversations on Access to Lethal Means

Wednesday, Sept 18: Generations of Farming

• 11 AM - 12 PM CDT Three Step Process to Farm Succession Planning
• 1 PM - 2 PM CDT Training Future Generations of Farmers through Registered Apprenticeship
• 3 PM - 4 PM CDT Train the Trainer – No Safe Way to Vape

Thursday, Sept 19: Confined Space

• 11 AM - 12 PM CDT Causes of Oxygen Deficiency, Confined Space, and Toxic Fumes
• 1 PM - 2 PM CDT Grain Related Entrapment: Are We Focusing on the Right Problem?

Friday, Sept 20: Reporting Ag Injuries

• 11 AM - 12 PM CDT It Pays to Talk Safety in Ag
• 1 PM - 2 PM CDT Using a Novel App Prototype to Assess Heat Stress Risk Among Outdoor Workers

World Affairs Council ~ Dr. Tara Haskins, AgriSafe's Total Farmer Health Director, was invited to share AgriSafe's Total Farmer Health® Model and the AgriStress Helpline® at the World Affairs Council in Dallas-Fort Worth. The International Visitors Leadership program is arranged by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Attendees are nominated by foreign state departments and are leaders in their areas of expertise.

This event hosted leaders from seven countries for an opportunity to learn and share approaches addressing Advancing Global Health Equity. Health leaders from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, New Zealand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Conversations regarding One Health, vaccine confidence and mental health strategies for agricultural communities were topics of interest. 

"It was an honor to share AgriSafe's work and learn from health leaders across the globe. We have a shared responsibility and commitment to improve agricultural workforce safety and health." - Dr. Tara Haskins

World Pork Expo ~ People, Pigs, Planet - The National Pork Board has coined the term People, Pigs, Planet as a message conveying the One Health approach of a balanced global health system. AgriSafe staff members and registered nurses (RNs), Charlotte Halverson and Linda Emanuel, collaborated with Pork Checkoff at the World Pork Expo, held June 4 - 5, to converse with producers and their families regarding health promotion topics vital to living healthier lives. Community level partnerships are essential to lasting progress in public health initiatives, and AgriSafe was grateful for the opportunity to network and educate!

At the 2023 National FFA Convention, AgriSafe surveyed teachers and students about health topics and found that they would all around like more resources and support regarding youth and vaping. In this episode of Talking Total Farmer Health, our host Linda Emanuel speaks with AgriSafe's Program Coordinator, Abby Kahrs, and they discuss vaping and e-cigarette use amongst agricultural youth, and share some tips on discussing vape usage with youth, and sharing many helpful resources!

To listen to the latest episode, visit our website or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - make sure to subscribe so that you to get notified when our episodes are released!

Disability Pride Month 

July is Disability Pride month, commemorating the signing of the American with Disabilities Act in 1990, and celebrating the achievements and experiences of individuals living with disabilities! AgriSafe is proud to support the National AgrAbility Project, who helps farmers with disabilities continue to work. AgrAbility has provided on-farm help for around 11,900 farmers since 1991, setting up and connecting individuals with resources that help them work better, longer. For more information on how they help individuals, visit the AgrAbility website. They also have a comprehensive assistive technology database, called “The Toolbox,” which features ergonomic products across a wide range of tools and tasks.  

Making sure to have an inclusive environment at work is key in fostering a great work relationship. Tips on helping create this can be found in this YouTube video, You Belong Here: A Total Worker Health® Approach to Inclusive Engagement in Your Workplace.

Additional resources to check out: 

• What is disability pride?
• Overview of the American with Disabilities Act
• Disability Pride Toolkit
• The Disability Visibility Project

UV Awareness Month

With an extreme heatwave across the United States right now, it’s important to know how to beat the heat. Sun exposure and Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be extremely damaging and should not be taken lightly. Skin cancer is a big concern for people who must be in the sun for large parts of the day. Skin exposed to the sun has a greater risk of developing cancerous cells, however, you can develop cancer in areas not normally exposed.

Here are some options for increasing ones protection when working outside: wearing wide-brimmed hats, applying sunscreen regularly, drinking plenty of water, and wearing UV protected clothing.  

Heat-Related illnesses are another risk factor - here are some helpful resources to stay safe this summer: 

• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration's (OSHA) page on heat illness prevention which has guides for employers, and tips for workers (including their rights) 
• California OSHA's heat-related illness prevention page 
• The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety's page on heat illness prevention 
• AgriSafe's page on Heat-Related Illnesses including free recordings, flyers, and more 

Thank you so much for voting for us in the Target Circle Giving Program. We received $2,178.90 to help us further our work of Protecting the People Who Feed the World, with help from your generous votes. This donation came from a larger pool of funds donated from Target to nonprofits tied to the local community. View all the results at target.com/circle.

Continue checking our website and social media channels to learn more about our work. Again, to everyone who participated, spread the word, and shared the love, thank you!

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program aims to reduce human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancer deaths by increasing HPV vaccination rates. Rural life is a choice made by 1 in 5 people, but they don’t choose to be at higher risk of cancers, including HPV cancers. Health care providers play an essential role in helping people in rural communities recognize the importance of HPV vaccination. Engaging and working with people in rural communities is essential to understanding how to change the pattern of low HPV vaccination rates and high HPV cancer rates.

Join AgriSafe in helping to spread the word about the importance of HPV vaccination by :

• Downloading and sharing the Preventing HPV Cancers with Rural Communities Factsheet
• Registering for the upcoming St. Jude Research Quarterly Update: Preventing HPV Cancers with Rural Communities: Updates and Opportunities on Wednesday, August 21 from 11 AM to 12 PM CT
• Visiting the Preventing HPV Cancers in Rural Communities St. Jude Research Webpage

Monthly Mental Health Innovations Exchange- AgriStress Response Network

Wednesday, August 7

10 am - 11 am CDT

National Farm Safety and Health Week (NFSHW)

2024 AgriSafe Webinars

September 16 - September 20

MRASH Save the Date and Call for Abstracts

The 2024 Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health (MRASH) Conference will be held November 6-8, 2024, at the Iowa State University Alumni Center. Abstracts are currently being accepted and there are three different formats to choose from:

• Breakout session abstracts for either a single presentation, or a roundtable featuring multiple presenters with a common theme, are due August 1.
• Poster abstracts will be accepted until October 8.
• Messaging in Minutes abstracts (a new format this year) Practice hands on skills with conference participants in 15-minute small group sessions. Abstracts are due August 1.

If you have questions, please contact Gayle Olson, MRASH Conference Coordinator at gayle-olson@uiowa.edu.

The Cultivating Change Summit Save the Date and Call for Presentation Proposals

The 2024 Cultivating Change Summit will take place October 6-8, 2024 at the Embassy Suites in Portland, Oregon. The Cultivating Change Summit is to brings together agriculture LGBTQ+ employees, human resources and diversity and inclusion professionals, employee resources group leaders, executives and organizational leaders, allies and others who are working toward an equitable industry environment for LGBTQ+ agriculturists everywhere.

Early bird registration is open through August 15th - find more information and register here.

Did a colleague forward you this email? Hear directly from us by subscribing to our contact list! ---->

Want to gain access to exclusive benefits? Become a premium member with AgriSafe today! Check out the details ---->