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Water Safety for Events on Farms

When crowds come to the farm, ponds, ditches and tanks become hazards for people who do not know the property. Event planning should treat water as a hazard from the start.

Why do events change the risk around water?

Visitors do not know where the soft banks, deep spots and hidden hazards are. Children run ahead, adults are distracted by activities and darkness or crowds make it harder to notice someone near the water. Events may also include food, drinks, music and weather changes that affect attention.

A farm that is safe on an ordinary day may need more barriers and more people watching when many guests arrive. Treat each event as a new situation and plan from the water outward.

Check with your county, your insurer and your state agriculture department about permits and rules that apply to events at your farm, because requirements differ by location and event type.

• Walk the property as a guest would and note every water hazard.
• List which areas will be closed for the event.
• Confirm permits and insurance before announcing the event.

How do you keep guests away from the water?

Fence or otherwise block access to ponds, ditches, tanks, lagoons and wells, and keep gates closed and secured throughout the event. Put signs at approaches and make clear on maps and welcome messages which areas are closed.

Think about foot traffic. Where will guests walk, park and line up? Route paths away from water wherever possible. Use event staff or volunteers to guard any approach that cannot be closed off completely.

• Closed and secured gates at every water site.
• Signs and maps that mark off-limit areas.
• Paths and parking placed away from the water.
• Staff stationed at open approaches.

Who watches the children?

Tell parents plainly that they are responsible for their children at all times and that the farm is not a place for unsupervised play. Repeat the message in invitations, at check-in and on signs. Staff are there to guide events, not to babysit.

If your event includes children's activities near water, such as a boat ride or a petting area close to a pond, ask your insurer and your local authorities about the requirements and the staffing they expect. Do not guess at ratios; ask the official body.

Parents of young guests should be told that the farm cannot provide one-on-one supervision. Clear expectations avoid confusion on a busy day.

What should the emergency plan include?

Before the event, write down who calls 911, who meets responders at the road and who keeps eyes on the person in trouble. Post the farm address and directions where staff can see them and brief everyone at the start of the day.

Make sure phones work at each water site and that staff know where rescue aids and first aid kits are kept. In an emergency, call 911 and do not enter the water to attempt a rescue unless you are trained and it is safe to do so.

• Name one person to call 911 and stay on the line.
• Name one person to meet responders at the road.
• Brief all staff and volunteers before guests arrive.
• Post the address and directions at the check-in table.

How do you handle weather and darkness?

Rain makes banks slippery and raises water levels, and dark evenings make hazards harder to see. Check the forecast with the National Weather Service before the event and decide in advance what conditions will lead you to close areas or end the event.

Light the paths for evening events and mark the edge of any hazard that cannot be fenced. Make announcements calmly and clearly so that guests move away from the water without panic.

• Check the forecast the day before and the morning of the event.
• Set clear conditions for closing areas or ending the event.
• Light paths and mark hazards for evening events.

What about alcohol, boats and activities?

Alcohol and water do not mix, and events that serve alcohol deserve extra care around ponds and boats. Check the rules for serving alcohol with your state and local authorities and your insurer, and consider keeping water areas completely closed.

If your event includes boats, floating platforms or swimming, check with your state boating agency and your insurer about requirements for equipment, supervision and licensing. Do not add water activities without official guidance.

How do you review after the event?

Hold a short debrief with staff and volunteers. Ask what they noticed near the water, whether any guest approached a hazard and what could be improved. Write down changes and put them in the plan for next time.

Keep records of inspections, staffing and communications. Records are useful for your own learning and when talking with your insurer or local officials.

Consider asking a local emergency responder to review your event plan, since responders know the area and may notice issues you have not considered.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.