Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run into a burning building? Fire blazing up all around you and smoke so thick you can barely see in front of you. What about in the spring or fall when the farmers are harvesting? What would it be like to drive a combine or a tractor? Austin Helle has done all of these and more, he has had to run into a burning building, driven a combine, and a tractor. Austin has saved our friends and family from danger and provided for families all around the world during harvest, for all of these reasons, Austin Helle is a true hero. The first reason I believe Austin is a hero is because of his dedication and involvement with the Masonville Fire Department. Austin is the assistant fire chief of Masonville, …show more content…
Farming involves many risks and dangers. According to “Farm Safety - Risks and Hazards,” farming is a very threatening activity to anyone. Most people that get injured on a farm are either under the age of 15 or over the age of 65(Better Health Channel). Additionally, farming has multiple other reasons it is and can be a danger to anyone, such as long hours and working with dangerous machinery. According to Bethany Baratta, a reporter for the Iowa Farm Bureau, “It only takes 14 seconds for a person working inside of a grain bin to be pulled under the surface of the corn pile. With more than 60 percent of the grain in the United States being stored on farms, there’s a greater chance that farmers and farm workers may be tasked with checking the condition of the grain inside the bin. But with that chore comes the risk of a grain engulfment” (Baratta). This can be a huge problem for Austin when he farms during harvest season because like the quote says it only takes 14 seconds to be consumed by grain, and Austin works a lot with the bins around the farm, so he is always putting himself in danger. Farmers also help with our economy in Iowa and around the world. Austin explains, “The land we farm has CRP (conservation reserve program) strips and CRP waterways bordering the creeks and streams providing wildlife habitat and preventing soil erosion and contamination of the stream.” This is positive because this ensures that farmers don’t damage the water in our creeks and streams which flows into our rivers and eventually into our oceans. They’re also providing habitat for wildlife so they can prosper; therefore, providing food for some people in Iowa and food for many others around the