Paul Jones and William Field Purdue University Farm Safety Issues in Old Order Anabaptist Communities: Unique Aspects and Innovative Intervention Strategies

The Anabaptist/Agriculture Connection A primary means of economic survival A primary means of cultural survival

The Information Gap Though the Old Order Anabaptists have a distinctly agrarian culture, centralized statistics regarding agricultural safety have been sparse in regard to this population.

Potential Reasons for Sparse Information Desire to remain separate from the world Resistance to higher education and impractical information Unwillingness to participate in many government programs Reporting procedures often do not distinguish “religious preference”

The Old Order Anabaptists as a Subculture Religious Historical Geographical Social Economic –Kreps, et.al.

Impact of Religious Beliefs on Agricultural Behavior Largely ignored or dismissed as irrelevant by researchers The few studies done indicate a link Possible relationship between Old Order beliefs/behaviors and those of the larger farm population

Basic Anabaptist Beliefs Knowing basic spiritual and cultural principles is important for understanding and working with the population

Anabaptist Beginnings Early 1500s: movement began in Switzerland Early 1700s: came to America to escape persecution in Europe

Basic Beliefs Literal obedience to the teachings of Christ and the Scriptures Adult “believers” baptism (Anabaptist means “re-baptizer”) The ban (shunning)

Basic Beliefs (cont.) Social separation from the world Rejection of violence Refusal to swear oaths Church as covenant community

Gelassenheit Submission/obedience Yielding to a higher authority Resignation to God’s will Humility

Ordnung (Ott-ning) Unwritten rules of conduct Discipline Ordering of one’s life

What Does it Mean to be Old Order? Selective Use of Technology Distinctive Dress Gemeinde or Redemptive Society Strict Adherence to Basic Beliefs

Churches that hold Similar Beliefs Old Order Amish Old Order Mennonites Hutterite Beachy Amish New Amish German Baptist

Growth Old Order congregations and 2,038 baptized adults districts and 145,000 population Current estimates - up to 250,000

Distribution of Amish Communities -1991

Socio-religious Characteristics Relevant to Understanding Farm Safety Issues

Selective Use of Technology Modern conveniences used with reticence (cultural preservation) Not anti-technology; instead, “negotiated cultural compromises” (Kraybill) Heavy reliance on and contact with animals

21.8% of Amish couples have 10 or more children with the average of 7 children per family Doubling of population every years Amish Family Size

Other Unique Population Characteristics of Amish Half the proportion of people over 65 in comparison to the rest of the rural population Twice the proportion of youth under 20 in comparison to the rest of the rural population

Attitudes Toward Child Labor Economic: helps family/community Social: learning value of work Spiritual: stewardship of creation

Beliefs About Death God’s sovereignty “Thy will be done” –gelassenheit The best is yet to come

Summary of Farm-related Fatalities within Old-Order Anabaptist Communities

Number of Fatalities from Reporting States No buggy fatalities Performance of farm work or in farm environment 2 1

Age in Years Total # of Deaths 63% = 15 Years or Younger Fatalities: Age

Fatalities: Gender

Fatalities: Source of Injury

17% 66% Fatalities: Animal Behavior

JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUN JUL AUGSEPOCTNOVDEC Fatalities: Month

SUN MON TUEWED THU FRI SAT Fatalities: Day of Week

Developing Effective Intervention Strategies

Factors in Working with Old Order Anabaptists “Primary, face to face social ties” (Kraybill) Knowledge of Ordnung Two kingdom worldview –Separation from the kingdom of the world –Separation of church and state

Establish Northern Indiana Family Safety Committee Representatives of Amish Community Cooperative Extension Educators Purdue ASH Program Local law enforcement Local EMS/fire-rescue

Agricultural safety Fire safety Foods and canning safety Electrical power safety Substance abuse information Conducting Family Safety Days in Church Districts

Implement Buggy Safety Initiative SMV Emblems Reflective Tape Safety Brochure for Tourists

Conferences for Professionals working with Anabaptist Communities 1998: Shipshewana, Indiana 2001: Holmes County, Ohio

Additional Interventions “Amos and Sadie’s Farm: A Pathway to Safety” Indiana State Police initiatives