PAF Safety Day Coordinator Spotlight: Gina Sanberg

The Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau mission statement reads, “…to promote and support agriculture and our communities.” 

According to Gina Sanberg, manager of the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau® in Illinois and Progressive Agriculture Safety Day (PAF Safety Day) Coordinator, that statement aligns with the PAF Safety Day coordinated each year by their office for fifth-grade students which commonly reaches 250 youth participants.

“Children are impressionable, as well as being our future citizens and leaders,” said Sanberg. “We want them to be safe and to know how to be safe when presented with a situation.

“I personally still remember attending a PAF Safety Day when I was in school.”

The Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau has been coordinating the PAF Safety Day for at least twenty years and covers a wide area of topics including: fire safety, ATV/UTV safety, chemical safety, grain safety, and first aid. The annual program takes places during the school year and is a day-long educational event where all of the schools in the county participate. The Farm Bureau is even more fortunate to have a great group of volunteers, speakers, and FFA students who help make the day possible each year.

Sanberg shared that she remembers asking a student at the end of the day what their favorite PAF Safety Day station had been, and the student mentioned that first aid station was the best because they learned how to do compressions.

“I believe that the Program makes an impact with the youth we serve,” said Sanberg. “If a student learns even just one thing that helps them the event is worth it, and while the safety tip may seem obvious to some, chances are that a child might not have known it until it has been taught to them.”

When asked why she partners with PAF and its PAF Safety Day program, Gina shared that they have been partnering with PAF for so long, and the process is so straightforward.

“The resources and tools that PAF has available for Coordinators to use are really helpful,” added Sanberg. “Being able to also share ideas and listen to how others implement the Program are very beneficial.”

Gina joined Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau in 2015 as staff member and began assisting with their PAF Safety Day, later transitioning to the lead PAF Safety Day Coordinator in 2018. This will be her ninth year part of the Program in the Farm Bureau’s two county territory.