Approximately 170 fifth grade students from Llano and Packsaddle Elementary Schools learned about being safe at home, at play, and in their communities at Llano County’s third annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day on March 28 at the Llano County Community Center.

The day started with a welcome from Dennis Hill, superintendent of Llano ISD, who emphasized the importance of learning about safety in order to prevent accidents that can have serious consequences.

Shannon Jenkins shared with the assembly an account of how using safety belts saved her children, her husband, and herself from serious injury or death in a rollover accident several years ago. She stressed the importance of using a safety belt on each and every ride in a vehicle.

Safety Day featured skilled instructors who used a variety of methods to teach safety practices. Llano Volunteer Fire Department members showed the fire truck to students and taught them the basics of fire safety, and employees of Central Texas Electric Cooperative taught about electrical safety.

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Rangers gave instruction in water safety, and LCRA provided instructors for ATV safety, lawn mower safety, and tractor safety. The Department of Public Safety provided passenger safety instruction with the use of a rollover convincer, showing the importance of seat belt use.

Fred Reyna of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) taught about reptile safety, and Ross Bransford, a National Firearms Association (NRA) instructor, taught firearm safety. Bad weather forced the cancellation of an appearance by Air Evac Life Team helicopter that had been planned for the day.

Some forty volunteers were involved with Safety Day. Volunteers came from Texas Extension Education Association; Llano Master Gardeners; Llano County Commissioners Court; Llano Chamber of Commerce; and Llano Soil and Water Conservation District.

Local and regional sponsors of Progressive Agriculture Safety Day were: Air-Evac Life Team; Arrowhead Bank; Texas Electric Cooperative; First State Bank; Hill Country RC&D; Llano Community Center; Llano County Extension Education Association; Llano County Soil and Water Conservation District; Llano ISD; Llano National Bank; Llano Volunteer Fire Department; Lower Colorado River Authority; Miiller’s Llano Smokehouse; Ross Bransford; San Saba New Holland; Stroeher & Associates; Texas AgriLife Extension Service; Texas AgriLife Extension Passenger Safety Division; Texas Department of Public Safety; and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The planning committee consisted of Bobby Humphrey, Ernest Ligon, Harold Goehmann, Johnny Sawyer, Tori Dutton, Fred Reyna, Katie Goodson, Ron Province, Annette Moresco, Mary Lou Smathers, Marilyn Hale, and Jamie Osbourn. Plans are already beginning for next year’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Day.