Seeing as some of my fondest childhood memories are related to time spent on a farm, I felt inclined to share the following Facebook-Twitter campaign with you.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC), the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) are asking Canadians to help farmers and agricultural workers who have experienced a life-altering injury get back to the industry they love.
The Back to Ag campaign asks social media users to like or share campaign posts on Facebook and retweet campaign posts or use the hashtag #BacktoAg on Twitter. FCC will donate $1 for every like, share, retweet or #BacktoAg hashtag mention, up to $100,000, to a new granting program called Back to Ag.
The Back to Ag Program, administered by CASA will help injured farmers get back to the farm by providing the resources needed to purchase or modify adaptive technology. Social media users may like, share, retweet or use the hashtag as often as they want to for the duration of the campaign, which runs from May 29 to June 13.
“We care about our customers and we want to help those who have been injured, as well as raise awareness that returning to work post-injury is definitely possible,” said Greg Stewart, FCC president and CEO. “This is good for the producer and contributes to a strong and prosperous industry, so we’re asking our loyal social media followers, and all Canadians, to join us in helping farmers in need.”
“With a click of your mouse or a touch of your mobile device, you can show your support for a program that will help get Canadian farmers and agricultural workers back to work after a life-altering injury,” said Rick Hansen, whose foundation aims to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. “It’s that easy, but it will make a big difference in someone’s life.”
Every year, Canadian farmers and agricultural workers experience life-altering injuries, such as paralysis or lost limbs while doing farm-related work. CASA will manage the Back to Ag program, which will allow injured farmers and agricultural workers to apply for funding for the purchase of specialized equipment or adaptation of existing equipment in order to get them back to farming.
“This kind of equipment can be very expensive or difficult to access, forcing some farmers to leave agriculture all together,” according to Marcel Hacault, executive director of CASA, a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and workers. “Prevention is still the best way to keep farmers and farm workers safe, but the Back to Ag program will help those who have already been injured.”
The Back to Ag program will be open for applications in October of this year. Those interested are asked to visit FCC is proud to partner with the Rick Hansen Foundation and is a long-time partner and supporter of CASA.
FCC is also a major annual sponsor of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s vision is a country where no one is hurt farming and CASA is working with partners in government, business, and farming organizations across the country to support initiatives that equip producers, their families and their workers with the information and tools needed to make farms a safe place to live, work and play. CASA is funded in part through Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative, with support from the agricultural and corporate sectors.
Connect with CASA at www.casa-acsa.ca through Facebook, YouTube or Twitter @planfarmsafety.