Rural sociologist Florence Becot honored by agricultural safety, health society

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, received the Jim Williams Early Career Achievement Award from the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health at the organization’s recent conference in Portland, Maine.

The society noted that Becot, who leads the Agricultural Safety and Health Program in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was given the award “in honor of her outstanding early career accomplishments in research, outreach and educational initiatives demonstrating significant impacts and results in agriculture injury prevention, health, environmental concerns, safety and well-being.”

“As a rural sociologist trained in the land-grant system and committed to the translation of research, Florence has dedicated her career to supporting agricultural communities through research on farm families’ health, safety and economic well-being,” said Gloria Brock, society president. “Her work employs diverse methods — literature reviews, interviews, focus groups and surveys — and addresses both practical and theoretical issues.”

Becot’s work is among the most read in the Journal of Agromedicine, Brock pointed out.

“Her research challenges common narratives, such as the belief that farmers avoid seeking help, showing instead that many are open to support when economic and policy barriers are addressed,” she said.

Becot earned her doctorate in 2020. Over the years, she has published 46 peer-reviewed articles, produced 59 outreach materials and secured more than $1.4 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health funding as the principal investigator. Her current projects include the first national study on childcare and farm safety and a regional analysis of mental health help-seeking among farmers.

Becot’s expertise is sought by policymakers at state, federal and international levels, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the European Union, according to Suat Irmak, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

“As a part of our land-grant mission, it is critical that we raise awareness about and work toward addressing the challenges related to safety, health care, child care and mental health that our citizens and stakeholders face in rural communities,” he said. “In the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, I am committed to supporting and providing resources for expanding and improving the impact of our Agricultural Safety and Health program, which provides unbiased data and information to improve the well-being of our citizens. Dr. Becot plays an important role in these processes and in fulfilling our mission.”