Kentucky Schools Received Agricultural Safety Books

More than 700 elementary schools across Kentucky received a new book focused on farm safety and agricultural education.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Primary Education

Screen-print poster illustration showing a stylized wooden barn silhouette and a plush toy dog on a desk, representing agricultural education. — Public elementary schools across Kentucky have received over 700 copies of a new agricultural safety book, part of an initiative to educate students on farm hazards. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Over 700 public elementary schools in Kentucky have been provided with copies of the book 'Farm Adventures with Willie B.' The initiative aims to enhance student understanding of agriculture and essential farm safety protocols.

Why it matters

This program seeks to expand agricultural awareness among young students by providing resources that integrate safety training with literacy lessons. It serves as a tribute to the late Dale Dobson, who is featured as a character in the book.

The distribution reached over 700 public elementary schools, providing literacy materials and a stuffed dog to students ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The players

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

This state agency oversees agricultural programs and created the Raising Hope Program.

Dale Dobson

The late agricultural advocate is honored in the book through his depiction as the character Farmer Dale.

The details

The program features the character Willie B., the mascot for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Raising Hope Program, and uses the book to teach critical thinking regarding farm safety. Schools also received a stuffed dog and standards-based literacy lessons designed to guide kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

Dale Dobson passed away in July 2026.
All in for Ag Education Week takes place from September 21 to September 25, 2026.

Roadmap

This effort represents a significant expansion of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Raising Hope Program into the primary education sector. It follows a growing trend of integrating state-specific agricultural safety standards into early literacy frameworks.

Families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade can expect the new farm safety materials to be integrated into their classroom literacy lessons. Parents may see students bringing home or discussing the Willie B. mascot and the agricultural safety concepts taught in the book.

The takeaway

The program emphasizes the importance of teaching farm safety early to help prevent accidents in rural communities. Parents and teachers can use these specific literacy tools to initiate critical conversations about safety with young children.