PAF Safety Coordinator Spotlight: Ellen Duysen
For more than a decade, Ellen Duysen has been a driving force in agricultural health and safety education across the Midwest. As a dedicated PAF Coordinator and Vice Chairperson of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) Board of Directors, Ellen’s leadership and passion are helping shape safer futures for rural families.
When Ellen joined the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) in 2011, one of the first people she met was longtime PAF Coordinator Bernard Geschke. “If you’ve ever met Bernard, you know how passionate and persuasive he is!” Ellen recalls. She was quickly recruited to present at Progressive Agriculture Safety Days (PAF Safety Days) across Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas, covering important topics like ATV safety, hearing conservation, and chemical safety.
Since then, Ellen has served as a PAF Coordinator at more than 40 PAF Safety Day programs and has proudly served on the PAF Board of Directors for the past three years. Beyond local events, she’s expanded outreach efforts by organizing PAF Safety Zones at major agricultural expos like FarmFest and Husker Harvest Days. “I do this because I truly believe in the PAF mission of educating children and communities about staying safe on the farm. It’s a meaningful, lasting investment in rural health.”
In the communities where Ellen coordinates events, PAF Safety Days are highly anticipated. They offer a fun, interactive way for children to learn real-world safety skills, while bringing families, educators, and local partners together with a shared purpose. “It shows our communities that the well-being of our youth is a shared responsibility, and it reinforces safety as a core value in agriculture,” she says.
Ellen credits her ability to make an impact to the partnership with PAF. “I truly couldn’t do this without the support of PAF,” she explains. “They provide a strong, research-based foundation, a top-notch curriculum, and outstanding support. With those resources in place, we’re able to focus our energy on engaging with kids and tailoring the content to meet the needs of our specific communities. Partnering with PAF ensures consistency, credibility, and impact.”
Of all the benefits of working with PAF, Ellen says the people are what she values most. “The PAF team is passionate, responsive, and genuinely committed to making a difference. There’s a great sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. I always know I can count on them.”
Ellen’s work as a PAF Coordinator also complements her role at CS-CASH, where the mission is to promote the health and safety of agricultural workers and their families. “PAF’s curriculum aligns seamlessly with that goal, offering age-appropriate, evidence-based education that helps instill safe behaviors early in life. It’s also flexible enough to incorporate emerging issues in ag safety, which is critical.”
Over the years, Ellen has experienced countless moments that affirm why this work matters. “One moment that stands out was a student who came up to me after a hearing conservation session—earplugs in—and said, ‘I’m going to remind my dad and mom to wear earplugs when they are on the mower.’ I gave him a few extra pairs. That’s the ripple effect we hope for; kids becoming advocates for safety at home. Another time, a student who had attended a PAF Safety Day previously approached our booth at Husker Harvest Days and proudly explained grain bin safety to his family. It’s those small but powerful moments that remind me why this work matters.”
To those considering a partnership with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, Ellen has one message: “Do it. The structure, support, and resources that PAF provides will elevate your program and help you reach more children with a stronger impact. You’ll be joining a network of passionate advocates making rural America safer, one child at a time.”