Experiences of Farm Mothers: Safety, Work and Children on the farm

Join us as we discuss what it means to juggle safety, work and children, and what farm parents can do to safely raise the next generation.
About this Event

Moderator

Tabetha Boot

Head of Communications and Industry Relations, BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions

Panelists

Katie Keddy

A Nova Scotia Agricultural College graduate with a B.Sc in Agriculture, Katie Keddy and her husband are second-generation farmers in Lakeville, N.S., where they grow sweet potatoes and strawberry nursery plants alongside her in-laws.

Katie and her husband, Phil, were recognized as the Atlantic region’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2020. They also raise their two young sons on the farm and are dedicated to having their children grow up with safety as a culture on the farm.

Katie’s involvement in agriculture extends beyond the farm. She is a member of various agriculture boards and committees and currently serves as the president of Farm Safety Nova Scotia. As a co-founder of the Maritime Ag Women’s Network, she helped create a platform for women in agriculture to connect and thrive. In recognition of their efforts with the Maritime Ag Women’s Network, in 2022, Katie and fellow co-founder Amy VanderHeide were honoured with an Excellence in Agriculture award from Nova Scotia’s Minister of Agriculture in the category of Women in Agriculture.

As a parent and farmer, Katie recognizes the importance of normalizing farm safety and including it in everyday conversations.

Bailey Kemery

Bailey Kemery knows all too well the importance of farm safety. When she was four years old, Bailey was severely injured on her family’s grain farm in Major, SK. The nearly fatal farm accident left her with lifelong physical challenges. Determined not to let her accident hinder her goals, Bailey became invested in helping others. After receiving a degree in psychology from the University of Calgary, Bailey went to school to become a paramedic. She now works in emergency management and provides various industries with first aid and CPR training and emergency preparedness plans. Bailey is also a passionate farm safety advocate and public speaker who strives to teach others how a single choice can affect the rest of their lives. Bailey and her husband raise their three children on her family’s grain farm. As a farm accident survivor, safety advocate, and parent, Bailey believes in being open and honest with her kids about farm safety.