Illinois ranks fourth in the nation for confined space grain bin incidents, and to help area farmers who might find themselves in danger, Macomb High School horticulture students have raised money through their small business for rescue equipment for the Macomb Fire Department. The class presented the donation to MFD Assistant Chief Adam Rhoades Friday to round out FFA Week.
FFA 'Bomber Blooms,' led by MHS Agriculture Teacher Kaity Bowman, is a class floral shop that brings floral design and the students' love of flowers into a program, 'Flowers for Farm Safety.' According to Bowman, the class donates proceeds from its flower subscription service to the rescue department for the purchase of grain bin rescue equipment. A donation from the Delores Beck family and subscribers to date, over $7,000 was provided to the Macomb Fire Department to purchase a tripod hoist for grain bin rescues.
'Through the subscription program, each month our students create and deliver more than 40 themed floral arrangements throughout the community. Thanks to our amazing subscribers and donations, we're able to support a cause that means so much to us,' Bowman said. 'If you missed our subscription service this year, the Bomber Blooms subscription sign-up will re-open in August 2026.'
At Friday's presentation, MHS Student Jack Dunseth noted that since agriculture plays a major role in the community, this cause was important to the students.
'One in five grain entrapments involve young people 11-20,' he added. 'This project showed us that students can take the lead and make a real impact When a community comes together, we can accomplish meaningful things.'
Delores Beck, who is the mother of Barb Coker of Macomb, said she has been a contributor to Macomb's FFA program since her youngest granddaughter was a member. Plus, her husband farmed, as did her father and grandfather, so farm safety has always been something she's thought about.
'It's important to support this and it hits the spot,' she added. 'I remember my husband going into the grain bin when I didn't think he should. This helps make people aware of the dangers, and can help in an emergency. According to Rhoades, there are 4,500 farm-related emergencies across the U.S. each year. In Illinois alone last year, there were 218 grain bin accidents, with 45 fatalities in the last two decades and the majority involved individuals under 24 years old. The Macomb Fire Department has been involved in two grain bin incidents in recent years, including one on Smithfield in July 2024, fortunately both had successful rescues, he noted.
'With the help of organizations like this, we'll be able to purchase rescue equipment that will allow us to place a tripod at the top of the bin to hoist individuals out if we cannot cut the bin open or get a door open,' Rhoades said. 'On behalf of the Macomb Fire Department, we extend our thanks to the Macomb FFA, the advisers, the Macomb FFA Alumni Association and the Delores Beck family. With bins getting taller every year, you can't always get to the top of a bin with an aerial truck or open the door, so the tripod hoist will provide a vital piece of equipment for grain bin rescues.'
Rhoades also shared some safety tips for farmers as in just four seconds, an adult can sink knee-deep into flowing grain, rendering them unable to free themselves without assistance. Once entrapped, it takes only 20 seconds for a person to be completely engulfed:
• Never go into a bin alone. Let someone know where you're going to be and when.
• Shut off heavy equipment.
• Test the air quality and recirculate the air.
• Use a harness if you're going into a bin.
• Avoid walking on crusted grain.
