Grain Rescue Tube Donated to Atchison County Emergency Services

A new grain engulfment rescue tube was donated Friday to Atchison County Emergency Services, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Hoegemeyer Hybrids, Taylor Seed Farms and the Mike Falk family seed operation.

The donation provides local emergency responders with a critical life-saving tool used to safely extract individuals trapped in grain bins — a serious and growing risk in rural agriculture. According to Purdue University’s Agricultural Confined Space Incident report, there were 42 grain entrapments in the U.S. in 2023 — the highest number reported in over a decade. More than half of those incidents were fatal.

The effort was organized by Dustin Falk, who worked alongside family members Mike Falk, Laura A. Seager Falk, Darren Falk and Emily Falk to bring the donation to life.

“Yesterday was a remarkable day for the Ag community of Atchison and surrounding counties, as Hoegemeyer Hybrids, Taylor Seed Farms, and Mike Falk Family Seed generously donated a new grain engulfment rescue tube to Atchison County Emergency Services,” said Falk. “I'm deeply thankful for the fantastic help of my uncle Mike, Aunt Laura A. Seager Falk, Darren Falk, and Emily Falk — without them this wouldn't have happened!”

For Hoegemeyer Hybrids, the project reflects a broader commitment to rural communities.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to support the communities we serve — not only through financial donations, but by prioritizing the everyday safety of the people who make agriculture possible,” said Abbie Babb, Hoegemeyer District Sales Manager. “This is about more than giving back — it’s about looking out for the people who look out for all of us.”

The donation ensures Atchison County first responders are better equipped to handle emergencies in and around grain storage facilities — helping protect lives in a region where agriculture is a way of life.