Bradley McManus and Diamond Scott hitch rides with Hunter Partridge and Brandon Spears as they learn the importance of water safety and wearing a life jacket.

By Lora Scripps lora@athensnews-courier.com

- Horses, dogs and goats on the campus of Creekside Elementary School on Wednesday - Oh my!

Fortunately they're not local escape artists. Instead, part of the elementary school's Safety Day put on by the East Limestone High School FFA Chapter, formerly known as Future Farmers of America.

Fifty East Limestone students took part in the event and taught second-grade students the importance of staying safe and knowing what to do in a number of scenarios. The students covered a broad range of topics including how to use 911, chemical safety, recreational safety, large animal safety, small animal safety, water safety, bike safety and many others.

FFA students took time to explain every aspect of safety to their younger counterparts.

"This project is all them," said FFA advisor John Wilson. "They brought their own equipment and arranged their own presentations. They have been working on the project over the past couple of months and this is the chapter's eighth year to be a part of the event."

Although this is Wilson's first year at the high school, he said he has been very impressed with the student's work. "I think this is the biggest year we have ever had," he said. "They have exceeded my expectations and excelled."

"Safety is every day," said Wilson. "Safety is no accident. You have to be aware of your surroundings in whatever you are doing. Even simple things require safety. That is why it is so important for students to learn safety at any age." He added they are also preparing students for the workforce where safety is the number one priority.

Wilson said taking part in Safety Day is also a great means of recruitment for East Limestone's agriculture program and prepares students for their future.

Brittany Killan, FFA chapter president and North District FFA historian, has been a member of FFA since the seventh grade. She is a sophomore. "I got involved in FFA because I am really involved in agriculture," she said. "I was born and raised on a farm and when I got to East Limestone High School I became interested and joined. It has honestly made me a bigger and better person." She added in the future she would like to become a veterinarian.

Killian showed students her family pet on Wednesday. A baby goat named, Bandy, whom she raised from birth. Killian said she was part of a group, teaching students to use safety around large and small animals. Her main advice to second-graders, "Don't pet an animal unless the owner is present. You should always ask the owner for permission."

"I believe this program shows the community that we really do care," Killan said. "It shows them we want to share what we have learned with others."

"This program is great for the students," Wilson said. "It teaches them leadership and allows them to apply what they learn in other subjects while in the course."

"I think this program really gets the kids involved and they realize they can be in FFA when they get older," said FFA secretary Kaitlyn Terry who had her horse, Oreo, on campus. "They learn a lot of stuff about things they probably don't get to see every day. Most kids don't have horses and today they got to play with one and learn how to act when around one."