UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With skid-steer accident and rescue demonstrations, free health screenings and on-site agricultural emergency specialists, this year's version of Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 14-16, focuses on the health and safety of farmers like never before.

"Farmers won't want to miss the farm-safety demonstrations, Agricultural Health and Safety Tent and the AgrAbility and Agromedicine Tent," says Dennis Murphy, Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Safety and Health and coordinator of the farm- safety area of the event.

Safety specialists will demonstrate skid steer operation hazards with a remote-controlled skid steer, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. After the demonstrations, an officer from the Northern York County Regional Police Department will discuss operating farm equipment on public roadways.

Also, demonstrations of the PAgricultural Rescue Training Program "Managing Skid Steer Entrapments," including emergency scene stabilization and victim-extrication techniques, will be presented on Wednesday at 11 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m.

In the Agricultural Safety and Health Tent at the end of West 8th Street next to the Farm Safety Demonstration Area, Cargill employees will promote farm-safety activities outside the tent area under the theme, "Best Safety Practices on Your Farm." Activities will include farm-safety mini-golf, a hazard hunt and a safe-play area. Visitors also can speak with farm-safety and agricultural emergency-management specialists about additional programs and resources.

In the AgrAbility/Agromedicine Tent at the end of West 6th Street, also next to the Farm Safety Demonstration Area, visitors can learn more about Pennsylvania's AgrAbility and Agromedicine programs. Hands-on displays will feature ergonomic tools for the farm and garden.

Various health services and screenings will be offered daily in the AgrAbility/Agromedicine Tent, including free tetanus shots, vision screenings, blood pressure and blood-oxygenation readings, dusk-mask fittings, and hand strength and coordination assessments. Visit the tent for scheduled times.

Also at the AgrAbility/Agromedicine Tent, visitors can earn one core pesticide education credit by attending a workshop on worker-protection standards at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. each day, and free worker-protection-standard posters for farm operations will be available.

The Farm Safety and Health Quiz Bowl will be held Wednesday in a tent on West 9th Street. 4-H youth compete at 9:30 a.m. and FFA youth compete at 1:30 p.m. "Youth will answer farm safety and health questions in this semi-final quiz bowl event," says Murphy. "The winning teams will advance to the state finals in January at the Pennsylvania Farm Show."

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Farm Safety and Occupational Health Advisory Board will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15, in the quiz bowl tent. The public is welcome.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 14; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 15; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 16. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Dennis Murphy at 814-865-7157 or by e-mail at djm13@psu.edu.

Jeff Mulhollem Writer/Editor 814-863-2719 jjm29@psu.edu