After two days of intense training, 29 youth are ready and eager to hop on a tractor and help out in the fields.
Tractor Safety Training was held at Deer Trail Monday and Thursday evenings this week. The training was geared toward 14 and 15-year-olds, but younger kids were allowed to come too. Only 14-year-olds and up could gain an actual certification by law, said Mike Holder, Chase County Extension agent and one of the presenters.
Holder said the training involved students from Lyon, Chase, Morris and Coffey Counties. There was no cost to the students or their parents because of sponsorship. The training was sponsored by local Farm Bureaus in each of the four counties; Extension Offices; Flint Hills Antique Tractor Association; and Deer Trail Implement.
“The whole emphasis is on safety,” Holder said. “We’re trying to make them aware of safety concerns and what all enters into being a safe tractor (operator).”
Following the class, each 14 and 15-year-old seeking certification, by law, had to take two tests, Holder said.
“The law says if you’re 14 or 15, you have to take this training,” Holder added. “If you’re younger than 14 or 15, then you’re not supposed to operate a tractor for anybody but your parents.”
Heather Schultz, 16, of Waverly, attended the training. Schultz said her grandmother is going to have surgery and she will need to help on the farm.
“My mom figured I needed to know what I was doing,” Schultz said.
Schultz said she had the opportunity to look at different tractors and learn the basics on how to operate one and she found the course helpful.
“Just the fact that the instructor gets involved in everything,” she said. “And being able to see the tractors and learn.”
Allie Blythe, 13, of White City, also was at the training.
“I am here to learn more about tractors,” Blythe said. “And have to be safe. I’m going to farm for my mom this summer. I’ve learned how to be safe about it.”
Joshua Pretzer, 13, of Elmdale, also took the training because he is going to help his dad on the farm this summer.
“I like the class,” Pretzer said. “Most of it is just basic stuff but a lot of it is useful. I took the course to be up to speed on safety.”
Several adults also sat in on the class while their children or grandchildren were in the training.
Jack and Kathy Ables, of Lebo, had two daughters in the training: Ivy, 13 and Abby, 11.
“We have a utility tractor and a Bobcat and we figured this would be a good thing for them to learn safety,” Jack Ables said. “We live in the country and this is a good safety course. It’s nice for the Farm Bureau, Deer Trail and 4-H to put this on.”
Kermit Grother, who lives north of Americus, brought his two grandsons Ethan, 15, and Davey, 14, to the training. Grother said his grandsons will be helping out on the farm this summer and operating farm equipment.
“I brought my two grandsons here so they can learn everything they should know so they can operate everything safely,” Grother said. “To me it’s the most important thing.”
Grother said the course was extensive.
“It looks like the book they are going through is thorough,” he said. “It’s very informative. They cover a lot of stuff and they get something to eat. That always draws kids!”