Youth Tractor & Farm Safety Certification
Fertile, MN — The Norman and Polk County Extension office is inviting youth to participate in an upcoming Youth Tractor and Farm Safety Certification Program. The in-person portion will take place on Friday, June 10th and Saturday, June 11th.
The youth tractor and farm safety certification program provides youth 14 years and older the opportunity to learn about safe equipment operation and general farm safety. Students who participate in the program will:
Work hands-on with full-sized tractors and implements.
Receive training in farm-related basic first aid.
Learn about farm safety from a range of experienced community members.
Students who complete this program will receive a U.S. Department of Labor certificate of training. This certificate is required for 14- and 15-year-olds who wish to work with equipment with over 20 horsepower off of their family farm or homestead.
This course includes 8 hours of online instruction (completed independently) and two days of in-person instruction, according to Norman/Polk County Extension Educator Heather Dufault.
The in-person field day trainings, which will be held at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Fertile, will cover a number of safety topics and provides hands on training with the machinery they will be using on the farm.
Dufault adds these trainings are important because no matter how much technology makes farming easier, there will always be dangerous, life-threatening hazards to be aware of around the farm.
The deadline to register for the Youth Tractor and Farm Safety Certification is May 13th. There is no fee this year thanks to a generous donation. Visit z.umn.edu/tractorsafety to register or for more information.