The University of Wisconsin-Extension of Marinette and Oconto counties will sponsor a tractor and machinery safety certification course for youth interested in working on their family farms or for hire on other farms. Four days of instruction gives students the mandated 24 hours of training.
Classes are from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 23 and 30, and Friday, July 25 and Aug. 1, at the Pound Town Hall, W. 8484 County Road B, on the east edge of Coleman. If participants miss a day, a make-up day will be scheduled. All participants must attend the Aug. 1 session.
The course fee is $35, and participants should bring a lunch.
The training will include emergency response basic training, machinery maintenance and in-seat machinery management.
Successful completion of the course and the driving and multiple-choice written tests allow 12- and 13-year-olds to work on their parents’ and grandparents’ farms and operate machinery over public roads between the farm and fields. Successful completion allows 14- and 15-year-olds to do the same for their family farms and also for other farms.
The course will allow for both skill and knowledge development, with assistance from local emergency response personnel, local farms and others. Participants will analyze machinery for safety, learn to conduct on-farm safety assessments and do other activities.
To register or for more information, contact Scott Reuss at the Marinette County UW-Extension office, 877-884-4408, 715-732-7510 or scott.reuss@ces.uwex.edu. Registration information is available at marinette.uwex.edu.
Preregistration is required; deadline is July 22.
Although anyone is welcome to take part in the course, participants must be 12 by Aug. 1 to take the tests. Farms employing young people are encouraged to make sure that anyone not having a driver’s license be certified. The course can be considered a valid safety training program for workers and a way to introduce new farm families to the intricacies of farm safety.
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