The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Nationwide, the No. 1 farm insurer*, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Nominate Your Fire Department Contest held in conjunction with Grain Bin Safety Week.

Congratulations to the Big Sandy Fire Department in Big Sandy, Montana, on winning a grain bin rescue tube and hands-on rescue training. A local presentation of the tube and training took place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 13.

"For the third straight year, Nationwide is bringing awareness to preventable grain bin entrapments and deaths through Grain Bin Safety Week," said Nationwide Agribusiness President Brad Liggett. "Grain bin accidents can tragically impact individuals, families and entire communities. Accident prevention means everyone working together - and Grain Bin Safety Week provides a forum for the agricultural community to help keep people safe."

Grain Bin Safety Week is an annual observance that occurs the third full week of February to promote grain bin safety on farms and commercial grain handling facilities. A highlight of Grain Bin Safety Week is the contest, which runs from January 1 – May 31 and awards grain rescue tubes and training to first responders across the country.

The contest encourages nominations of first responders whose communities would benefit from winning a tube and training. It asks departments to describe how they'd share the tube and training information with nearby fire departments. This year's contest generated a record 641 nominations and will provide tubes and training to 19 fire departments across 14 states-another record.

For additional information about the program, please visit our Grain Bin Safety Week page or see the contact information above.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit http://www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, Join the Nation and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

*A.M. Best, 2013 DWP. Based on premiums written. Conning Estimated Insurer Market Share Distribution.