Calling Co Antrim classrooms: new push to make farm safety second nature

Saoirse Stacey and Oran Masterson with Irish Minister Michael Healy-Rae at Carrigduff National School, Bunclody, Wexford at the launch of the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador School Programme.

Primary schools across County Antrim are being urged to step beyond the classroom and become leaders in farm safety, as a nationwide initiative opens for enrolment ahead of an April deadline.

Irish Rural Link has launched its AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador School Programme, inviting schools to take part in a community-led effort designed to embed life-saving awareness from an early age. Backed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the programme follows a successful pilot and aims to make farm safety an instinctive part of everyday learning.

At its core is a simple but urgent message: while farms are central to rural life, they also carry real risks — and education could be key to preventing tragedy.

Bringing real-world voices into the classroom

Minister Michael Healy-Rae at the launch of the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador School Programme. (Photograph: Patrick Browne)

The initiative goes beyond textbooks, encouraging teachers to connect directly with local farmers, vets, and emergency responders.

These real-world voices will deliver talks and demonstrations, helping pupils understand the realities of farm life and the importance of staying safe in often unpredictable environments.

Irish Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae T.D., said:

“A farm is a wonderful place to rear a family, but safety must always be the priority. Building on the success of this programme in 2025, I am confident that this training will help foster an awareness of farm safety from a young age which can become instinctive.

“I am reminding parents that they play a key role in developing the learnings by adopting best practice when it comes to farm safety and encouraging children by showing good example”.

Flexible approach for busy schools

Recognising the pressures on teachers, the programme has been designed with flexibility in mind.

Schools can choose between two formats:

• Farm Safety Hour – a short, structured introduction to key safety topics

• Farm Safety Day – a more in-depth experience built around themed learning

The full-day option allows schools to focus on areas such as farm and field safety, machinery awareness, or animal wellbeing. Completing each theme earns a pennant, with schools awarded a Farm Safety Ambassador Flag once all three are achieved.

Irish Rural Link CEO Seamus Boland said:

“Ireland is an agricultural country, and the reality is that farming activities have cost lives and resulted in serious injuries. That is why it is so important that we bring this message straight to classrooms and to the wider community, so that together we are more inclined to automatically think about farm safety and becoming instinctively safer as a result.”

Making a serious message engaging

Programme manager Alma Jordan highlighted the importance of keeping the subject accessible for young learners:

“We want to help our educators make time for farm safety, keeping the subject real and relevant for students and teachers. Being aware of existing curriculum commitments, these programmes are designed looking at teacher’s time allocation, aiming to make a serious message fun, and to include the wider community. This is what makes this programme unique and applicable to how children learn.”

Awards and recognition for schools

Schools that take part in the full Farm Safety Day can also compete in the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador Awards.

Categories include Best Farm Safety Ambassador and Best Learning Initiatives, alongside awards for Best Class and Best School. Winners will receive cash prizes to reinvest in further safety initiatives.

Carrigduff National School in Bunclody, Co. Wexford, took the top prize during the pilot phase in 2025 — setting a benchmark for what participating schools can achieve.

How to get involved

Schools can sign up to the programme ahead of the closing date on April 17, 2026.

Award nominations open on March 17 and close on May 31, with winners set to be announced in June.

With farming playing such a vital role in rural communities, organisers hope classrooms across Antrim will seize the opportunity — helping to shape a generation for whom farm safety is second nature.

Visit www.agrikids.ie for more information on the initiative.

At a glance

• Nationwide farm safety programme open to primary schools in Antrim

• Led by Irish Rural Link and funded by the Department of Agriculture

• Schools can choose a one-hour session or full themed safety day

• Community involvement encouraged from farmers, vets and first responders

• Pupils learn about machinery, animals and general farm risks

• Schools can earn a Farm Safety Ambassador Flag through participation

• Awards include cash prizes for standout schools and initiatives

• Sign-up deadline: April 17, 2026

• Award nominations close May 31, winners announced in June