Teens 14 or 15 years of age who work on farms, or others who are interested in learning about tractor and farm equipment safety practices, can register for a safety training course offered at seven locations across Nebraska from May 22 through June 8.
The course is sponsored by the University of Nebraska Extension and the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health.
Students will complete the first day of the course by attending a hands-on event at one of two locations or online through the eXtension Foundation Campus website. The hands-on events will occur on May 22 in North Platte and May 30 in Grand Island. After completing the hands-on event or the online course and testing, the required driving test will be offered at seven locations across Nebraska from May 23 through June 8.
Federal law prohibits children under 16 from using specific equipment on a farm unless their parents or legal guardians own the farm. However, certification received through the course grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with specific mechanized equipment.
Aaron Yoder, PhD, associate professor at the UNMC College of Public Health, reports that a common cause of agricultural-related injuries and deaths in Nebraska is overturned tractors and ATVs and equipment entanglements. He emphasized that this course trains students to avoid these incidents and many other hazards on the farm and ranch.
The hands-on event and the online course will cover the required elements of the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program, including quizzes that students must pass to attend the driving portion of the training. Once a student is registered, the coordinators will send instructions, materials, course paperwork and a link to the online course if they do not attend one of the two hands-on events.
The onsite driving training and exam will include a driving test, equipment operation and ATV safety lessons. Students must demonstrate competence in hitching and unhitching equipment and driving a tractor and trailer through a standardized course. Instructors also will offer education on emergency preparedness, personal protective equipment, and safe behaviors and laws for ATVs, utility-task vehicles (UTVs) and other off-road vehicles (ORVs).
Instructors for the course are members of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health: Aaron Yoder, PhD, Ellen Duysen, MPH, Risto Rautiainen, PhD, and graduate student Sarah Tucker; and Nebraska Extension educators Randy Saner, Ron Seymour and John Thomas.
The course costs $35 and includes educational materials and supplies. Participants can pay at the time of registration or before the driving exam. Only checks and cash are accepted.
Hands-on training, driving dates, site locations and site coordinator contact information are below.
Hands-On Safety Days (If not attending a Hands-On Safety Day, online course must be completed).
- May 22 – Lincoln County Extension Office, 348 West State Farm Rd., North Platte, Nebraska
Contacts: Randy Saner (randy.saner@unl.edu) and Vicki Neidhardt (vicki.neidhardt@unl.edu) at 308.532.2683
- May 30 – Raising Nebraska, 501 East Fonner Park Rd., Grand Island
Contacts: Randy Saner (randy.saner@unl.edu) and Vicki Neidhardt (vicki.neidhardt@unl.edu) at 308.532.2683
Tractor Driving Days
- May 23 – Lincoln County Extension Office, 348 West State Farm Rd., North Platte
Contacts: Randy Saner (randy.saner@unl.edu) and Vicki Neidhardt (vicki.neidhardt@unl.edu) at 308.532.2683
- May 31 – Raising Nebraska, 501 East Fonner Park Rd., Grand Island
Contacts: Randy Saner (randy.saner@unl.edu) and Vicki Neidhardt (vicki.neidhardt@unl.edu) at 308.532.2683
- June 1 – Legacy of the Plains Museum, 2930 Old Oregon Trail, Gering
Contacts: John Thomas (jthomas2@unl.edu) or Stacy Brown (sbrown7@unl.edu) at 308.632.1480
- June 2 – AKRS Equipment, 49110 US Hwy 20 in O’Neill
Contact: Debra Walnofer (dwalnofer2@unl.edu) at 402.336.2760
- June 6 – Adams County Extension, 2975 South Baltimore Ave., Hastings
Contact: Ron Seymour (ron.seymour@unl.edu) at 402.461.7209
- June 7 – Cuming County Fairgrounds, W. Washington St., West Point
Contact: Mary Jo Lueckenhoff (mlueckenhoff1@unl.edu) or Melissa Hagemeister (mhagemeister5@unl.edu) at 402.372.6006
- June 8 – Cass County Fairgrounds, 8400 144th St, Weeping Water
Contact: Sandy Prall (sprall2@unl.edu) at 402.267.2205
If you have questions, please contact the administrator listed above at your driving site or contact Ellen Duysen at ellen.duysen@unmc.edu.