The Fair Grove Agriculture Department has begun their hunter’s safety program. This program is taught in Cole Johnston’s, one of the agriculture teachers’, conservation class to help keep young hunters safe and educated while hunting and using weapons.
Johnston said, “I have been certified to teach hunters education for 3 years. I teach this in my conservation class which is focused on wildlife and fishing in Missouri.”
Johnston continued, “Hunter Safety Education is an important aspect of becoming a hunter and making sure that hunting is done safely and our wildlife species are managed properly and taken in a humane manner. Having the opportunity to teach hunter safety and certify students in hunter education helps them be better prepared when they hunt or have the opportunity to hunt.”
A day in conservation class while taking the hunter’s safety program typically looks like learning in class about safety, ethics, and wildlife regulations. The class also focuses on things such as fishing and wildlife.
There are many Fair Grove Students that participate in the hunter’s safety program during their Agriculture Conservation class. Mackynzi Sekulic (10) stated, “I have learned all about the different structures of weapons, the ethical way to hunt, and the safest way for the environment, for you, and other hunters to all exist in the same area.”
The hunter’s safety program has been around since the 1920s, but became a requirement in the 1960s.
The students have learned a lot of information throughout the first semester, however, the amount of information that is learned can take some hard work and time. Sekulic stated, “We have been learning the hunters safety program for a while now, but it’s a multi-step process so you have to take breaks and wait for resources on specific parts of the process.”
Johnston has helped teach many students as well. Irelan Helmer (10) explained, “Mr. J (Johnston) has taught us about hunters’ safety and all the details about it and that it is very important that you know it before or whenever you go hunting.”
Sekulic said, “The best part about the hunters safety program is that it’s a mixture of hands-on learning and bookwork, and it’s more fun because you can see examples of it being used all the time.”
The Fair Grove Agriculture Department and Johnston are keeping this year’s hunters ready and prepared for any wildlife activities.
