Sangamon Sun

State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) has collaborated with the family of Caleb Thomas Elliott to donate multimeter digital testers to Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters throughout Illinois. These devices are intended to help students learn how to safely test electric currents and emphasize the importance of electrical safety. Caleb was accidentally electrocuted while working on a house in Troy, at a time when he was pursuing a career in welding and heating, and cooling.

“When I heard of the terrible tragedy that happened to Caleb, I knew we had to do something,” said Meier. “Earlier this year, we passed House Resolution 283 to name August 11, 2025 as Caleb’s Legacy: Electrical Awareness for a Safer Tomorrow Day. When Caleb’s family came to me and asked if we can do anything else, we thought it would be very influential to donate multimeter digital testers to FFA chapters at the State Convention, and we made it happen.”

Rep. Charlie Meier and the family of Caleb Thomas Elliott shared the cost of these multimeters, aiming for their distribution to promote caution in handling electricity. More than 300 Illinois FFA Chapters attending the 2025 FFA State Convention in Springfield received a multimeter.

“I brought this forward to bring awareness to the need to be extremely cautious when working with electricity, and to hopefully ensure that a tragedy like the one endured by Caleb’s family never happens again,” Meier stated. “I want to extend my condolences and my gratitude to Caleb’s two sisters, three brothers, and his parents, Doug and Dawn, for their loss, and Buchheits store for their help in obtaining these devices. I will work to continue to educate everyone on this issue so we can save lives in the future.”

Read more at Farm Week here.