Ride Right Rally teaches life-saving safety skills to more than 340 local sixth-graders

MENDON, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension and a coalition of local partners recently came together to host the Ride Right Rally, a hands-on safety event designed to equip sixth-grade students with the knowledge and skills to stay safe around ATVs, mowers and other equipment.

Held at the Adams County Fairgrounds, the event brought together more than 340 sixth-grade students from Adams, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler counties. Led by local 4-H and FFA members, participants rotated through five interactive stations covering ATV safety, mower safety, rollover protection safety, power take-off (PTO) safety and bicycle safety. The day concluded with a powerful mock ATV/UTV accident simulation, giving students a firsthand look at how emergency responders handle real-life emergencies.

The simulation featured Adams County EMS, the Adams County Sheriff’s Department and Air Evac from Macomb, who walked students through the 9-1-1 response process — from dispatch to helicopter evacuation. Students explored the inside of the Air Evac helicopter, turning a dramatic scenario into a learning experience.

Community partners were Adams County Emergency Management Services, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Adams County Fair Board, Birkey’s Farm Store, Heritage Tractor, Smith Brothers Powersports and the Farm Bureaus from Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler counties, who also provided lunch for participants. Knox Seed, First Bankers Trust, Refreshment Services Pepsi and Ursa Farmers Cooperative provided additional contributions.

In a press release, Adams County 4-H coordinator Siera Duesterhaus said, “By giving students a chance to see, hear and experience what safety looks like in action, we’re helping them make smarter choices that could one day save their lives.”

Off-road vehicle accidents send more than 100,000 people to the emergency room each year in the U.S., with an average of 500-700 lives lost annually.