Congratulations to AgriSafe’s Development Coordinator, Allison Flynn, and her family on the arrival of their precious baby boy, Maximilian Joseph Flynn, born in June, weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces!

We’re also thrilled to congratulate AgriSafe’s Professional Development Coordinator, Dr. Jessi Grote, and her family on the arrival of their beautiful baby girl! Sophie also made her debut in June, weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces.

Welcome to the AgriSafe family, Max and Sophie!

Please join us in extending a warm farewell to Abby Kahrs, AgriSafe’s dedicated Program Coordinator. Abby has been an essential part of our team, and while we are sad to see her go, we are incredibly proud of the exciting journey she’s about to begin—pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

Since joining AgriSafe, Abby has brought passion, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose to everything she touched. Her contributions have helped shape and strengthen our programs, and her unwavering commitment to agricultural health and safety has left a lasting impact. Whether leading initiatives or offering support with genuine care, Abby’s dedication to improving lives, human and animal alike, has been evident in all she does.

As Abby moves on to this next chapter, she leaves behind a legacy of compassion, excellence, and service to the agricultural community. We know she’ll continue to do incredible things, and we’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.

Thank you, Abby, for everything you've done for AgriSafe. You'll always be part of our family. Best of luck on this exciting new adventure—we can't wait to see where it takes you!

July Is UV Safety Awareness Month! Long days in the field mean more time under the sun’s powerful rays, and July’s high UV index brings an even greater risk of sun damage. Farmers and ranchers work hard outdoors, but it’s just as important to protect your skin as it is to protect your crops and livestock.

Practicing sun safety can help prevent painful burns, premature skin aging, eye damage, and skin cancer. As UV exposure peaks this month, it’s the perfect time to build safer sun habits into your daily routine:

• Apply Sunscreen Regularly: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Don’t forget commonly missed spots like your scalp, ears, lips, neck, and the tops of your feet. Reapply every two hours and after sweating or working in water.
• Seek Shade Midday: UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. When possible, plan tasks for earlier or later in the day or take breaks in the shade to limit exposure.
• Cover Up: Protective clothing is your best defense. Wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats to shield your face and neck, and UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Resources to learn more:

• CDC’s Sun Safety Tips
• UV Safety for Agricultural Workers - Rutgers Cooperative Extension
• UV Safety Checklist - Virginia Department of Health
• Sun-Safe Habits Farmers Need to Know - SIU Medicine

Kate Hohensee, a senior at Miles High School in Texas, first connected with AgriSafe while creating a powerful video project for her Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competition video. Her project focused on agricultural stress, a topic close to home, and highlighted her family’s experiences, key mental health statistics, warning signs, and vital resources like the AgriStress Helpline.

Impressed by her passion and commitment, AgriSafe welcomed Kate as a summer partner. She is now helping raise awareness about the AgriStress Helpline throughout Texas, using her voice to support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities!

A message from Linda Emanuel, AgriSafe's Agricultural Health Liaison

Summer farm work often means long days in the fields and more time traveling on rural roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, while only 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, rural roads account for 40% of traffic deaths (Kauffman, 2024). Rural roadways pose unique risks—narrow lanes, poor lighting, unmarked intersections, lower seat belt use, and higher rates of impaired driving.

Rural Road Safety Awareness Week is July 14-18, 2025, with this year’s theme focused on post-crash care. Learn more at the National Center for Rural Road Safety.

This summer growing season, farmers and ranchers should observe the following roadway safety protocols as listed by Purdue University Extension when operating agricultural vehicles to help keep roadway travelers safe:

• Avoid busy roads when possible, even if it takes longer.
• Use lower gears on hills to prevent freewheeling.
• Stay on the shoulder of paved highways when safe.
• Pull over to let traffic pass when you can do so safely.
• Move equipment during daylight and light traffic when possible.
• Travel at night only when necessary, using proper lighting.
• Enter and exit roadways with extreme caution if visibility is limited.
• Always follow traffic laws—courtesy saves lives.

Resources:

• Facing Disproportionate Danger, Rural Communities Take a Grassroots Approach to Road Safety - The Rural Monitor 
• Farmers and Drivers are Reminded to Safely Share the Road this Growing Season 

ISASH Conference 2025 (Portland, ME - June 23 - 25, 2025)

AgriSafe had an enriching experience at the 2025 ISASH Conference, held in Portland, Maine, this June. It was a fantastic opportunity for learning, collaboration, and connecting with others passionate about agricultural safety and health. Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Natalie Roy, was honored to present on Natural Disaster Recovery Response, sharing practical strategies to support farmers and rural communities in the aftermath of natural disasters. Natalie’s session emphasized the importance of early coordination, local partnerships, and mental health support in disaster recovery efforts.

AgriSafe is incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us throughout the conference and attended our networking events. Our team is proud to be part of this valuable gathering, and we look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones at the 2026 ISASH Conference!

AgriSafe at the American Heart Association's first annual Eastern Region Rural Health Summit (Arlington, VA - June 13, 2025)

AgriSafe Network was honored to take part in the American Heart Association’s first annual Eastern Region Rural Health Summit in Arlington, Virginia. This inaugural event provided a meaningful platform to address the unique health challenges facing rural communities.

AgriSafe’s Professional Development Coordinator, Jessi Grote, and Health Communications Specialist, Vanessa Martinez, had the privilege of presenting an overview of AgriSafe’s programs and resources to a live audience of rural health leaders, providers, and advocates.

We are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to participate in this important summit and contribute to the ongoing efforts to advance rural health across the Eastern Region.

The Society for Occupational Health Psychology's Work, Stress, and Health Conference (Seattle, WA - July 8-11, 2025)

AgriSafe's CEO Natalie Roy attended the Society for Occupational Health Psychology's Work, Stress, and Health conference in mid-July. During the Organizational Interventions and Approaches poster session on July 9, Natalie presented AgriStress Helpline data from February 1, 2022 - May 30, 2025 in her poster titled, "AgriStress Helpline® A Unique 24/7 Crisis Line to Improve Farmer Well-Being." Natalie was grateful for this opportunity to highlight AgriSafe's work, and the opportunity to form new connections in the behavioral health field.

AgriSafe at the Northeast Texas CHW Coalition Conference (Whitehouse, TX - July 10-11, 2025)

Dr. Tara Haskins, AgriSafe's Total Farmer Health Director, attended the Northeast Texas CHW Coalition Conference last week in Whitehouse, TX. On Thursday July 11, Tara delivered "Naloxone Training: Responding to Opioid Overdose" to a roomful of Community Health Workers (CHW's), and distributed around 100 boxes of Kloxxado to conference goers following the Naloxone training.

If you're interested in learning more about AgriSafe's CHW offerings or Naloxone information, check out the following pages:

• AgriSafe's CHW offering's
• AgriSafe's presentation request form - make sure to check the box for "Naloxone Training: Responding to Opioid Overdose"
• AgriSafe's Talking Total Farmer Health podcast episode, "Why You Should Keep Naloxone on the Farm"

AgriSafe is excited to host 10 webinars this year during National Farm Safety and Health Week (NFSHW), taking place September 21–27, 2025. Each year, AgriSafe joins this nationwide effort by curating a series of educational webinars aligned with the annual NFSHW theme.

This free, virtual series is designed for a broad audience that includes healthcare professionals, agricultural health and safety researchers, extension staff, farmers, ranchers, and others working in the agricultural sector.

With the support of our valued sponsors, AgriSafe develops, promotes, and evaluates this event to ensure it provides timely, evidence-based information to help improve safety and health outcomes across rural communities.

Check out the webinar lineup below!

Did you know that agricultural workers are at increased risk for on-the-job injuries? While some injuries might be minor, some can be life-threatening - but, if first aid is given within the first hour post-injury, the chance of survival exponentially increases. But what about when EMS is far away?

Well, anyone can help to save a life! In this episode of Talking Total Farmer Health, our host Linda Emanuel speaks with guest Robby Rhembrandt about important farm first aid kit items as well as what you can do on the farm in the event of a traumatic injury, and how you can help someone stay stable until EMS arrives.

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!

Stay up to date with the latest in agricultural health and safety by exploring our upcoming training sessions and events. Each webinar offers expert-led discussions and practical insights tailored to support the

well-being of agricultural communities. Reserve your spot today!

Webinar Recording: Grain Related Entrapment: Are We Focusing on the Right Problem?

This webinar challenges the common focus on rescue efforts in grain entrapment incidents. A review of over 1,200 cases shows that the root cause is often out-of-condition grain, not flowing grain. Addressing grain quality before storage can significantly reduce entrapments and improve producer profitability. The session explores the link between spoiled grain and entrapment risk, and provides safe strategies for grain removal.

Intended Audience: Agricultural safety and health professionals, emergency first responders, agricultural workers, grain storage and handling personnel-

Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to…

1. Identify the most significant causes of grain-related entrapment, including out-of-condition grain
2. Discuss the need to focus on preventative measures rather than emergency first response strategies 
3. Explain strategies for removing out-of-condition grain in a safe manner 

Continuing Education: The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hours for this activity. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals. Please contact your accrediting agency regarding questions about receiving credits for this activity.

AgrAbility National Training Workshop Encore Webinars 2025

Join AgrAbility for monthly webinars from some of the most requested sessions of the 2025 in-person National Training Workshop. Each one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 p.m. CDT on the given Wednesday below.

• August 20: “Low-vision Smartphone Assistive Technology”
• September 17: “Boots to Business Overview”
• October 15: “From Loss to Resilience: The Science of Grief”
• November 19: “Bee Calm, Bee Well”
• December 17: “Why Do My Hands Hurt, and What Can I Do About It?”

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