Kentucky Agriculture Department mourns longtime farm safety leader Dale DobsonPhoto by: Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is mourning the death of longtime farm safety advocate Dale Dobson, whose work over several decades helped reduce farm-related fatalities and expand safety and mental health programs for agricultural communities across the state. In a Facebook post, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell called Dobson “a true servant, leader, and friend” who dedicated his career to protecting Kentucky farm families. According to Shell, Dobson was hired by former Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray Smith to establish the department’s Farm Safety Program and served under four agriculture commissioners before Shell appointed him director of Farm Safety and Rural Health. In addition to promoting physical safety, Dobson advocated for farmers’ mental health. Shell said Dobson was especially passionate about educating young people about farm safety, believing those lessons often influenced the practices of entire farming families.