RURAL RETREAT, Va. — When a local farmer was fatally struck by another vehicle while operating his tractor in September 2022, one Wythe County high school student decided something had to change.
Olivia Crigger was deeply moved by the tragedy and felt compelled to act. “This tragedy made me realize how quickly something preventable can take a life,” she said. “It inspired me to take action and become a voice for safer rural roads.”
What started as a Girl Scout Gold Award community service project grew into a full-scale safety campaign through the Virginia Farm Bureau SAFER contest, which Crigger joined along with 15 other organizations and individuals last year.
Matt Nuckols, the Virginia Farm Bureau’s safety coordinator, explained the purpose behind the contest. “The SAFER contest was created to raise awareness about the presence of farm equipment on our roads and ultimately change behaviors to keep both farmers and drivers safe,” he said. “It’s about giving communities the tools and encouragement to take that message locally and make a real impact.”
Crigger is no stranger to the dangers of slow-moving farm equipment sharing the road with regular traffic. She frequently escorts friends and family during spring planting and fall harvest seasons, using her vehicle’s hazard lights to alert drivers to slow down.
The numbers tell a sobering story: a vehicle traveling at 55 mph needs roughly 5 seconds and 300 feet — about the length of a football field — to brake and avoid hitting farm equipment moving at up to 20 mph.
“But many people will just keep going 55 miles per hour,” Crigger said. “My family, friends and I have experienced many close calls and near-misses.”
Under the slogan “One close call is one too many,” Crigger created posters, flyers, graphics, and videos that were distributed at local businesses, community events, and across social media. Her materials covered safe driving practices, tractor hand signals, and the challenges that come with operating large farm machinery on public roads.
Her campaign reached a high point at Rural Retreat Heritage Day, where she set up a real tractor display and gathered signatures on a petition calling for warning signs along local roadways. The effort drew strong community backing and caught the attention of the Virginia Department of Transportation.
VDOT Wytheville Residency Administrator James Schwartz described the outcome: “Olivia provided VDOT locations where she felt that farm equipment signs were needed for the safety of farmers in our region. Our staff evaluated the locations and determined the need for 14 signs on six routes, and all 14 signs have been installed. Our team was impressed with Olivia’s initiative, and we were happy to work with her in her effort to improve safety for farmers.”
Nuckols said the newly placed signs carry real value. He noted that the signs “can have a lasting impact by raising awareness in the moment, and pairing them with Olivia’s story — a young leader who chose to make a difference — is the kind of connection people remember.”
The Virginia Farm Bureau supported Crigger throughout the process, offering guidance on campaign strategy, branding, and messaging, along with printed materials and connections to local partners.
“Efforts like Olivia’s are exactly what the SAFER contest was designed to inspire: local leaders identifying a need, engaging their community and taking action,” Nuckols said. “That kind of grassroots impact is what ultimately strengthens safety across Virginia.”
Last month, Crigger presented her farm equipment road safety campaign at the Virginia 4-H State Congress, where she earned a blue ribbon and took first place in the public speaking category. She says she plans to continue expanding her outreach through new partnerships and opportunities.
