PAF Safety Day Coordinator Spotlight: Rachael Brooke

Rachael Brooke is slated to coordinate the first Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Day) in North America for the 2023 calendar year. The PAF Safety Day currently organized by Rachael was already established when she began her K- State Extension career but knew immediately that it was something that she wanted to continue.

“Coordinating a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day makes it easy to have a profound impact on safety education in a community,” said Rachael.

“It is a need in our community, and if the youth listen to the safety and health messages, then they can take that information back home or to school to share with others.”

Rachael added that she enjoys working with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF) to deliver the PAF Safety Day program because the PAF team is there to answer questions. She also shared that many components of the program – from the peer-reviewed curriculum to the t-shirts and take-home bags – are already done making coordinating a PAF Safety Day that much easier.

“The hands-on activities are just what youth want and what we provide in Extension to keep the youth’s interest,” said Rachael. “It’s awesome because it also aligns with the K-State Extension and Research guidelines.” 

When asked about her memorable moment with the PAF Safety Day program, Rachael said that there have been several memories that come to mind, but that the PTO demonstration always resonates with everyone and shows how quickly an incident can occur.

Rachael currently serves as the Agriculture and Natural Resources and 4-H Youth Development Agent with Kansas State University’s K-State Research and Extension in the Phillips-Rooks District. She has been a PAF Safety Day coordinator since 2005 with more than 1,700 individuals going through the PAF Safety Day program within her communities of Stockton and Phillipsburg, Kansas. On February 22, Rachael will be hosting her tenth PAF Safety Day.