By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview with Joe Richeson on our Kubota Podcast
Central Nebraska community partners are coming together to host a free Ag Health and Safety Event, Cultivating Health, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Gothenburg.
The event will be held at the Dayspring Bank Event Center and is designed to take a broad look at the health, safety, and day-to-day challenges involved in agriculture and rural life.
Joe Richeson, one of the organizers, said the event goes beyond traditional safety training.
“This isn’t hard-hat safety or excavation safety,” Richeson said. “It’s more of a top-down approach to what it takes to run an ag operation, whether you’re a producer, farmer, rancher, or involved in ag in some other way.”
Sessions throughout the day will cover a wide range of topics, including mental health, distracted driving, water quality and quantity, nitrates in drinking water, occupational safety, and nutrition for long workdays in the field.
Presenters include the Nebraska Trucking Association, members of the governor’s groundwater task force, Nebraska Medicine, and an occupational therapist focusing on safe movement and body mechanics. A session on food preparation will also address how to safely prepare energy-rich meals for long days during planting, harvesting, or livestock work.
Richeson said the event is open to anyone, not just those directly involved in agriculture.
“You don’t have to be ag-related to attend,” he said. “Ag touches everyone’s life every day, whether you realize it or not.”
Spouses and family members are encouraged to attend, particularly for the mental health session, which focuses on coping with the stresses unique to the agricultural industry, including markets, employees, and daily uncertainty.
The event begins at 10:30 a.m. Exhibit booths will be set up by noon and remain open until 4 p.m., with sessions concluding at 4 p.m. A business-after-hours event will follow from 4 to 7 p.m.
Attendees may come and go throughout the day and are not required to stay for all sessions. A free lunch will be provided, and local FFA members will assist during the event.
Health screenings will also be available through Gothenburg Health, with options for multiple screenings, including full blood work for those who choose to fast.
Registration is not required but is encouraged. Information is available on the Gothenburg Health Facebook page, the Gothenburg Irrigation Facebook page, or by contacting Richeson directly at 308-529-1181.
The free event is open to the public and will take place at the Dayspring Bank Event Center in Gothenburg on Tuesday, Feb. 3.