Tesmer Farm Safety Day has become a powerful example of what community-driven education can achieve. Held May 6 in Preston and May 8 in Caledonia, this year’s event welcomed 508 fourth grade students and 47 teachers and chaperones from schools across Fillmore and Houston counties. Students spent the day rotating through hands-on safety stations taught by local experts from electrical and grain safety to livestock handling, tractor rollover demos, and more.
This year, Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC), Inc. Foundation proudly supported the event by donating AgMags for each of the students. While AgMags are always free for educators, the planning team recognized the monetary value of the donation and honored MAITC as a sponsor.
A Legacy of Safety Education
Tesmer Farm Safety Day was started in the early 1990s by the late Jerry Tesmer and other community leaders. What began as a small summer camp has grown into an annual event reaching hundreds of students with life-saving lessons. It was renamed in Tesmer’s honor in 2016.
The event is made possible by a strong network of volunteers, Extension staff, emergency services, and over 85 community sponsors including MAITC. Students left with t-shirts, safety materials, and their AgMags, helping reinforce lessons beyond the fairgrounds and encouraging important conversations at home and in school.
We’re grateful to have board members like Katie Drewitz, who not only help guide our mission but also dive into the hands-on work that makes events like Tesmer Farm Safety Day a success. Her leadership and involvement are a true asset to MAITC, Extension and the community.
Ag Literacy in Action
MAITC’s AgMags offer grade-level content that links agriculture, safety and daily life. At Tesmer Farm Safety Day, they served as a bridge between hands-on learning and classroom discussions.
We are proud to support events that grow both ag literacy and student safety. AgMags are always free for Minnesota educators, thanks to the generosity of our supporters and sponsors. Your investment helps bring agriculture to life for thousands of students each year and supports real-world, life-saving learning experiences like this one.
