FARMINGTON – Franklin County Farm Bureau will be sponsoring a two-day large animal rescue workshop at the Farmington Fire Station on Friday evening, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11.
Everyone who works with livestock, both miniature and full sized varieties, those living near farms or places where large animals are kept, and other interested community members should plan to attend. The highly informative workshop will help prepare participants for what to do should an emergency involving farm animals ever occur.
Firemen, policemen, emergency medical technicians and others who routinely respond to emergency calls should also attend this meeting since they not be familiar with working around large animals. Information to help better prepare local departments for large animal rescues will also be shared.
Vicki Schmidt, state fire instructor and well versed in the handling and rescue of farm animals, will lead the workshop. Some of the topics Schmidt will discuss include how to better prepare an animal for a rescue attempt, how to become a rescue ready owner, and information that animal owners should make available to the fire department before an emergency occurs. Attendees will be provided with several useful handouts.
There will be a $25 preregistration fee to cover Schmidt’s time and help pay for workshop materials. As a way of saying thanks for their efforts and to encourage participation by first responders, those classified as first responders may attend for free. Registration at the workshop will cost $30.
This workshop can only accommodate 50 attendees, so preregistration is highly recommended.
The Friday evening session will go from 6-9 p.m. while the Saturday session is tentatively scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Light snacks and lunch on Saturday will be provided as well.
To preregister or for more information, contact Frank Forster at 652-2920. Preregistration closes Oct. 3.
