The Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF), a leader in farm and rural community safety throughout North America, celebrated major milestones at its recent annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.
The Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF), a leader in farm and rural community safety throughout North America, celebrated major milestones at its recent annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.
“We anticipate offering crucial safety and health instruction for more than 100,000 participants at Progressive Agriculture Safety Day programs in 2013,” says Randy Bernhardt, PAF chief administrative officer. “All told, we’ve reached more than 1.2 million children and adults with farm Safety Day programs since our inception in 1995, and it wouldn’t have been possible without all our volunteers, board members and sponsors who are committed to improving rural safety and health.”
Sponsor Support Critical for Safety Day Successes
It also was announced at the annual meeting that corporate, Foundation and individual sponsors contributed $3.1 million collectively to support 2013 Safety Day programs and more than $24.3 million during the past 19 years. “Our loyal sponsors have made it possible for PAF to provide crucial farm safety and health education to rural youth and adults throughout North America,” Bernhardt continues.
PAF recognized two sponsors for 10 years of support: National Shooting Sports Foundation, Newtown, Conn.; and Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Milwaukee. Over the past decade, these two sponsors combined have provided nearly $114,000 in both cash and in-kind donations to PAF.
Media Sponsors Recognized
PAF provides a significant cause-marketing component for their sponsors. In 2013, 11 media companies provided visibility for PAF sponsors and the Safety Day program, including: Penton/Farm Progress Companies, DTN/The Progressive Farmer magazine, Vance Publishing, Outdoor Hub & Ag Hub, Farm Journal Media, High Plains Journal, Hoard’s Dairyman, Progressive Dairyman, Meister Media, Country Folks and The Western Producer. Depending on the level of funding, sponsors annually receive between eight million and 70 million media impressions total throughout North America.
“In the past year, these 11 media companies donated more than $1.5 million in media to promote the Safety Day program and our corporate, Foundation and organizational sponsors,” Bernhardt notes. “As many of our sponsors have said, we provide more visibility for our corporate sponsors than any other nonprofit. Our largest corporate sponsors receive 70 million impressions in the farm market each year.”
A New Look and Tag Line for Progressive Agriculture Foundation
As PAF’s agency of record, MorganMyers, a strategic communications firm in Waukesha, Wis., provides a majority of their work pro bono as a generous in-kind donation to PAF. Thanks to MorganMyers, PAF has a new look and tag line – Progressive by Nature. Safety by Design – that can be seen across all its communication platforms, including the PAF website and all promotional materials.
In addition, the Asmark Institute of Owensboro, Ky., has handled all of PAF’s website redesign work as an in-kind donation, including behind the scenes efforts on the new public website.
Combined, these two organizations have provided in-kind donations valued at more than $142,000 over the past three years. “Every $13 they have saved PAF through their generous donations allowed another rural kid to attend a Safety Day,” Bernhardt adds. “We’re very proud of our new look and tag line.”
Foundation Board Navigates the Future for Farm Safety
PAF Board members also elected officers at the annual meeting. 2013-2014 officers include: President Chuck Schwab, Iowa State University Extension; Vice President Brian Kuhl, CHS, Inc.; and Secretary/Treasurer Dan Neenan, National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. A full list of board members and their positions can be found at http://www.progressiveag.org/Board.cgi.
Board members Brenda Cockrell, Monsanto Company; Julie Ferry, Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit; and Darrin Drollinger, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers were recognized for their service and contributions. Cockrell and Ferry have been board members since 2008, and have each served on many board committees. Cockrell just served a year as secretary/treasurer. Ferry was vice president from 2009 to 2012, and just concluded a year as president. Drollinger, a board member since 2011, has served on several committees of the board.
ABOUT PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION
The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America and a program of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to provide education and training to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities. In 2008, PAF was awarded the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal, demonstrating its commitment to accountability and ethical practices. Safety Day applications are due each July 15 for Safety Days that will be conducted the following calendar year. For more information, please visit http://www.progressiveag.org.
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Progressive Agriculture Safety Day and Progressive Agriculture Foundation are registered trademarks of Progressive Agriculture Foundation.
Editorial Note: The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day logo and Safety Day photos are available upon request by calling (888) 257-3529.