5 yr old Killed in Farming Accident

If you have worked on a farm, especially if you grew up on a farm then you already know how dangerous machinery can be. This happened the other day, near Abilene, KS. I can't imagine the horror, the total helplessness that father felt. I'd say that he will never climb into a combine again. If he continues to farm, someone else will be doing the combining. I've also learned that John Deere mechanics had to respond to disassemble the header to get the girl out. With farm equipment it takes less than a blink of an eye for things like this to happen.

Should dad be held accountable? NOPE. This is farming, and has been common practice since Jesus was in diapers, to have your kids alongside you, teaching them about farming. Farm kids always knew how to drive by the time they're 10-12 yrs old. It's not abusing them, it teaches them more than just how to run equipment, how to farm or raise livestock. It teaches discipline, responsibility, self-reliance. Someone raised on a farm can out drive, out back the majority of the truck drivers out here today. They can do this by the time they're 16. I'd put a 16 yr old farm boy or girl up against a lot of 20 yr veteran truck drivers.

http://www.kwch.com/news/kwch-als-kansas-girl-killed-in-farming-accident-20131024,0,5291143.story