On Thursday, 118 fifth graders from Poplarville Upper Elementary School attended Farm Safety Day at the Pearl River County Fairgrounds, engaging in various hands-on learning sessions to promote safety and awareness in agricultural settings.

The event featured numerous interactive sessions covering a wide range of topics, including Tobacco Awareness, Basic First Aid, Hidden Hazards, Firearm Safety, Electric Safety, Toxic Plants, Before You Dig, Wildlife Safety, Alcohol Awareness, Tractor Safety, Chemical Look-A-Likes, Drug Awareness, Fire Safety, and Large Animal Safety.

Among the presenters were Jessica Woods, the school nurse at Poplarville Upper Elementary; Laurie Jaufre, a Pearl River County 4-H volunteer and advisory council member; Jenna Deschamp from the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Payton Barnes with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. Other contributors included Sabrina Cummings from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Elen Russell and Dr. Eddie M. L. Smith from the MSU Extension Service, and Faith Galloway with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

Officers Fred Eagan and Neil Dugas represented the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, while Jonathon Culpepper from Coast Electric, Kevin Craft from the Mississippi Forestry Commission, and Bert Pickard from Mississippi 811 also lent their expertise. Dawn Vosbein with the Poplarville Woman’s Club, Larry Davis from Pearl River County Farm Bureau, and Haven Simon from Pearl River County 4-H provided additional support.

The event aimed to equip students with crucial safety knowledge and practical skills, fostering a safer environment in agricultural contexts and everyday life.