Geschke Reflects on Nearly 30 Year Farm Safety Legacy

An agriculture safety advocate and trailblazer. He has been an educator, an inventor, a mentor, and a friend, one who dedicated his profession to making another’s life better – and safer. On March 31, Bernard Geschke will officially retire from the Progressive Agriculture Foundation® after playing an integral role in the Foundation’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program since the start. 

From the humble beginnings in 1995 with 19 safety day camps held across the south and Midwest regions of the United States, to now reaching more than 1.8 million children and adults across North America, Bernard has been instrumental in growing the Foundation’s program and helping local communities become safer and healthier. For nearly three decades, Bernard embodied the mission and vision of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, whether traveling throughout North America to train volunteers or teach hands-on lessons to small groups at farm shows, conventions, and Progressive Agriculture Safety Day events. 

Bernard said that working with the volunteers has remained the best part of his job, as these individuals are the life and blood of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program. He fondly recalled those moments of providing a training, talking with them on the phone, or visiting with them in person, and shared how easy it was to get excited about what the volunteers had accomplished. During an average year, the Foundation’s program involves nearly 20,000 volunteers ranging from those serving as the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day coordinator or assistant coordinator, to those serving as a member of the planning committee, to content presenters, to a group leader assisting with the movement of each class of participants – and the list goes on.

Bernard reflected on his many years working with the volunteers, and shared that each bring with them valuable skills, and how it was a privilege to see firsthand their personal growth year after year. One of the most obvious skills he noted seeing was their coordination skills while hosting their event. But beyond that, he noted the soft skills that he watched so many volunteers develop through the smiles, the happy atmosphere, visiting with friends and neighbors, and helping the kids on a special day. He truly believed that their passion for the program is what energized him as they would ask him how else they could help, thank him for asking to help, and always reminding him to call next year. Each event reminded him firsthand that volunteering is good for the mind, body, and soul. Throughout the years of the program, Bernard explained how one of the most heartwarming moments was when he would see the progression of a participant becoming a volunteer at their local event, with some even continuing to lead the effort as a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day coordinator.

From working closely with the volunteers to building props to helping with the implementation of hundreds of hands-on activities and demonstrations embedded into the Foundation’s curriculum, he leaves an incredible legacy, one that continues to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all youth and their communities.