Heartland Training & Support Hub

06/05/2026

🌟 Spotlight Thursday: Elmer Elson Elementary Believes in Prevention 🌟

At Elmer Elson Elementary, the value of farm safety education was summed up in one powerful comment from a teacher:

🗣️ “It’s a great program that should continue every year. If it keeps just 1 child from getting hurt or seriously injured, it’s worth it!”

That kind of feedback stays with us. It reflects exactly why Safety Smarts exists, to give children practical knowledge that can help prevent injuries before they happen.

At its core, this program is about more than information. It is about protecting kids, supporting families, and helping schools build a stronger culture of safety year after year.

💚 Thank you to the staff and students at Elmer Elson Elementary for recognizing the importance of this work and for making student safety a clear priority in your school community.

📍 Learn more about Safety Smarts:
www.heartlandsupport.ca/safety-smarts

🚜📚

06/04/2026

🌿 Wellness Wednesday: Simple Foods, Stronger Days 🌿

Supporting your immune system starts with small, everyday choices. A colourful plate, balanced meals, and nutrient-rich foods can help your body stay energized and resilient through busy seasons.

Whether you’re working on the farm, caring for family, or managing a full schedule, what you eat can play an important role in how you feel and function.

✨ This week’s reminder: choose foods that nourish, strengthen, and support your overall wellness, one meal at a time.

💬 What’s your favourite healthy meal or snack during this season? Share your ideas below! 👇

06/02/2026

Monday Farm Safety Walkabout: Lifejackets Before Launch 🛟

🎥 Watch this great water safety activity from Progressive Agriculture Safety Days:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFSFrPbnNaE

A lifejacket does not help if it is under the seat, the wrong size, broken, or impossible to put on when panic sets in.

This video shows a powerful hands-on activity where kids sit in “boats” made from chairs, with lifejackets hidden underneath. Then they are told the boat is sinking and they have only 20 to 30 seconds to find a jacket and put it on.

Very quickly, the lesson becomes clear.

Some jackets are too big.
Some are too small.
Some have missing buckles or broken straps.
Some are not true lifejackets at all.
Some simply cannot be put on fast enough in an emergency.

That is why the safest lifejacket is the one already worn before stepping onto the boat.

🔑 Important Reminders for Families and Farm Communities

• Wear a properly fitted lifejacket before getting on the boat
• Check every jacket for size, fit, straps, buckles, and condition
• Teach children the difference between approved lifejackets and flotation toys
• Practice putting lifejackets on before heading near water
• Adults should lead by example, because kids notice what we do

💬 Could your family put on lifejackets correctly in 20 seconds? Try a safety check at home and share your best water safety tip below.

Thank you to Progressive Agriculture Safety Days for sharing this wonderful activity and helping make water safety memorable for kids.

This video was created thanks to a grant with UNMC Central States C...

05/31/2026

Did You Know? 🌟 Quick Facts to Keep You in the Loop!

🌾🍎 It’s Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month! 🇨🇦

Do you know your Agriculture Alphabet?

From A is for Acre to Z is for Zucchini, there’s a whole world of food, farming, innovation, careers, and community behind every letter.

Today’s letter is M — for Milk

As of the 2023–24 dairy year, there are 468 dairy producers in Alberta. Connecting students to local producers is a great way to bring agriculture to life in your classroom. Visit our website to learn how.

05/29/2026

Happy Friday!

😀

Learning from close calls is an important part of safety!

05/29/2026

Spotlight Thursday: Building on Learning at C.J. Schurter School 🌟

At C.J. Schurter School, one of the most encouraging parts of safety education was seeing that students could still remember what they had learned before.

A teacher shared this thoughtful feedback:

🗣️ “I like how we talked about what the students learned in Grade 1, and many could remember the phrase. I think it was a lot of specific information in this session, and a memorable phrase may assist them. This was my first time seeing one of these sessions, and overall it was very valuable information and students were engaged!”

💡 What makes this so meaningful:

✅ It shows that safety lessons can stay with students over time.
✅ It highlights the value of simple, memorable phrases that children can hold onto.
✅ It reminds us that when students are engaged, they are more likely to carry those lessons into everyday life.

We are so grateful to the staff and students at C.J. Schurter School for making space for this important learning and for noticing the value of building on what children already know.

📍 Learn more about Safety Smarts:
www.heartlandsupport.ca/safety-smarts

🚜📚

05/28/2026

🚜 Farm Safety Reminder: Working Alone Requires a Plan

Working alone is common in agriculture, but it also means one thing: if something goes wrong, help may not arrive quickly.

A slip, machinery issue, livestock incident, chemical exposure, or sudden medical emergency can become much more serious when no one knows where you are or when to check on you.

📖 The SFF Resource Kit reminds us that agriculture carries higher risks than many other industries, and delayed response time can make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

⚠️ Before working alone, take a few simple precautions:

✅ Tell someone where you’ll be and when you expect to return
✅ Keep a charged phone, radio, or emergency device with you
✅ Use regular check-ins by text, call, or safety app
✅ Save high-risk jobs for when someone else is nearby
✅ Keep PPE, first aid supplies, and water within reach

🧠 Farming often requires independence, but safety should never be left to chance. A quick check-in plan can protect you, your family, and your farm team.

💬 What’s one habit you use to stay safer when working alone? Share your tip below. 👇

05/26/2026

🐴 Monday Safety Gear Spotlight: A Simple Chore That Turned Serious 🐴

🎥 Watch the full story.

Working with young horses takes patience, awareness, and space. Even when everything seems calm, one unexpected movement can change the situation quickly.

In this story, a young filly had been saddled for the first time and handled it well. Later that evening, the handler returned to remove the saddle while his children waited nearby.

The horse did not realize he was entering the stall.

She startled, swung her body into him, and knocked him to the ground. In seconds, what seemed like a routine task became a serious injury.

He ended up with 40 stitches, a collapsed lung, major bruising, and nearly a week in the hospital. Thankfully.

📍 What We Can Take From This Story

🔹 Make your presence known
Before entering a stall or approaching from behind, speak calmly and make sure the horse knows where you are.

🔹 Give young horses extra time
A good first step does not mean the animal is fully comfortable. Building trust takes repeated, patient handling.

🔹 Keep kids out of the work zone
Children can watch and learn from a safe distance, but training areas need clear boundaries.

🔹 Take impacts seriously
Kicks, crushing injuries, and falls can cause internal damage that is not always visible right away.

✅ Safety Reminders for This Week

• Approach horses slowly and calmly
• Avoid surprising animals in enclosed spaces
• Keep kids away when handling green horses
• Use calm communication and consistent training
• Get medical attention after any hard impact from livestock

💬 What is one safety habit you teach your kids or helpers around horses?

05/24/2026

Did You Know? 🌟 Quick Facts to Keep You in the Loop!

🌾🍎 It’s Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month! 🇨🇦

Do you know your Agriculture Alphabet?

From A is for Acre to Z is for Zucchini, there’s a whole world of food, farming, innovation, careers, and community behind every letter.

Today’s letter is L — for Laboratory

Science labs in your classroom can be a great way to bring agriculture to life for students. By exploring how scientists test soil, study plants, and identify pests, students can see firsthand how research helps farmers grow healthy crops and protect our food supply. Hands-on investigations help connect classroom science to the real-world work happening in agriculture labs across the province. Visit our website for classroom ideas.

05/23/2026

Happy Friday!

😀

It’s never too early to teach your kids about safety