The ABC Farm Program has been adapted for use in Manitoba from a program developed by North Dakota Farm Bureau in 1992. A committee of interested individuals has been working to implement the program throughout the province. To date, 22 interested rural volunteers face taken one-day training to deliver to Grade 2 and Grade 5 classes in rural Manitoba communities. "ABC on the Farm" is an intervention program designed to enable students to identify potential hazards on the farm and to practice simple farm safety rules. The "ABC on the Farm" program is based on the educational premise that children learn best by doing. Incorporated into the program format is the theory of Multiple Intelligences, which indicates that each of us has at least seven different identifiable intelligences and learning is more effective and efficient when all seven intelligences are engaged.

Because of the limited classroom time available to the program, every minute must count. Therefore, children are active participants in their one-hour with volunteers. Classroom projects and home activities also afford students the opportunity to learn and process information in more than one intelligence. Following is a list of the six intelligences and how they are incorporated into the program:

• Linguistic Intelligence: Anecdotes and examples are encouraged for the work-oriented child. Sharing stories with children and asking them to share their own experiences. The ABC trainer presents information verbally, explaining concepts and engaging students in discussions. Safety Sam's storybook is an example.
• Musical Rhythmic intelligence: Safety Sam has a slogan for each of the areas of safety covered. The slogans are put to rhythm and repeated in the review, the reward materials, and included in the theme songs, storybook and tape.
• Spatial Intelligence: The picture-oriented visual child is able to view the safety message through the 12 colourful posters, videos, and demonstrations with the grain wagon and battery operated PTO tractor/wagon.
• Bodily Kinesthetic: The physically-oriented child is able to learn by helping with the grain wagon and PTO demonstration, reaction time test, and eye blinking to reinforce how fast a PTO revolves in one second.
• Interpersonal Intelligence: The socially oriented child enjoys the sharing of stories, personal examples, and cooperative learning.
• Intrapersonal Intelligence: This self-motivated child will use the individual activity packets or things they can do on their own and the verbal presentation is internalized.

Evaluation of the program is accessed by: Students completing a pre and post test Student informal observation of classroom participation and return of home materials The teacher completing a post program evaluation In 1996 the US National Safety Council awarded the program First Place Award of Honours in the Community Safety Division.

According to Gail Scherweit, Safety Coordinator, North Dakota Farm Bureau, "the rewards of teaching this program to the students are beyond words. It is very worthwhile and exciting experience to see the enthusiasm and excitement of the students during and after the program. As a farm wife and mother of three, I believe the way to make our farms safer is too teach the children. The safety habits these children form now, will be far-reaching as they become adults and have farm families of their own."

The Manitoba committee has been pleases by initial positive feedback from trainers, teachers, students and parents. We feel that this is a quality program, which will provide solid resource material and training to successfully increase safety knowledge and behaviour in rural Manitoba.