HOUSTON (10-14-25) — In celebration of National Farmer Appreciation Day, Spirit EMS employees spent Sunday and Monday thanking area farmers for their tireless work by personally delivering cards and multi-tool kits to fields across Loramie and Washington townships in Shelby County.


Spirit EMS EMT John R. Hathaway Jr. speaks with Houston area farmer Larry Phlipot about his Highland cow named Bo as the EMS agency spreads the word about farm safety and honors farmers on National Farmer Appreciation Day.

Two teams of EMS staff fanned out at dawn to surprise farmers in their fields. Each farmer received a personalized card expressing Spirit EMS’s gratitude for their dedication to “feeding the world,” along with a compact multi-tool kit—handy for quick repairs and unexpected challenges on the farm.

Brian K. Hathaway, President and CEO of Spirit EMS

“As a family-owned and operated business, we’re committed to giving back to the communities we serve. Each year, our first-aid kits have proven invaluable in the field. This time we wanted to offer something even more versatile—an all-in-one multi-tool that puts pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, and more right in farmers’ hands. It saves them a round trip back to the barn for basic repairs, and reduces the temptation to improvise with unsafe makeshift tools.”  

Spirit EMS staff who helped distribute the kits included Vice President Aaron Guthrie, Captain Will Gardam, John R. Hathaway Jr., Jeannie Lewis, and Jessica Park.  

National Farmer Appreciation Day, formally recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 1970, highlights the vital role of farmers in the nation’s economy and food supply. Spirit EMS’s outreach reflects its broader mission to protect and support the people who live and work in rural Ohio.

According to the Ohio State University Extension, 1 in 14 Ohio farm families reports at least one yearly injury. Over the past decade, the state’s annual farm-related fatalities have fallen to an average of 12 deaths, down from a high of 18 in 2009. The most common non-fatal injuries involve sprains and strains, cuts and lacerations, fractures, and falls from machinery or structures. Fatal accidents most often result from tractor or UTV rollovers, being struck by equipment or livestock, and entanglement in PTO shafts and augers.

With harvest season well underway, Spirit EMS urges motorists to exercise extra caution around farm vehicles on public roads. Farmers, in turn, are encouraged to keep their equipment well-maintained and properly lit when traveling between fields, and to follow all safety protocols in the field.  

Hathaway added-

“As EMS providers, our mission is to promote the health and safety of everyone in our community. By staying alert and prepared, we can help prevent needless injuries and save lives.”

 

About Spirit EMS:  

Spirit EMS is a community-focused emergency medical services provider headquartered in Greenville, Ohio. Since 2007, our team has delivered professional pre-hospital care and community outreach programs throughout western Ohio and eastern Indiana.