The Rural Firefighters Delivering Agriculture Safety and Health (RF-DASH) program is excited to announce the addition of its first full-time trainer. With support from the CHS Foundation and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, Tim Zehnder, whose background combines farming, rescue and emergency preparedness, will provide training events throughout the United States and help implement the program on farms and ranches.
Agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in the nation. Building upon research from the National Farm Medicine Center showing that rural emergency responders are highly trusted sources of safety information, RF-DASH trains and assists rural fire departments to advocate for emergency preparedness and hazard reduction. The RF-DASH program is entering its ninth year and has extended to 16 states and five Canadian provinces. The program has directly trained more than 170 first responders.
