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Tractor safety classes planned
Alicia Boor
Alicia Boor

This summer, thousands of Kansas teenagers will begin their first job working for a farmer or rancher. For those that are ages 14 or 15, they must complete a tractor safety course in order to be legally employed. A 13-year-old may enroll in the training if turning 14 before the next year’s class is offered, but the certificate will not be issued until their 14th birthday. 

To help prepare some of those youth for the upcoming work season, the Midway and Cottonwood Extension Districts, will be hosting an in-person tractor safety class on April 22nd starting at 8:15 a.m. at the Russell 4-H building 702 Fairway Dr., Russell. 

This course will meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture (HOOA). The HOOA regulations state that youth 14 and 15 years of age who wish to work as a hired employee for someone other than a parent or legal guardian and operate a farm tractor that is 20 HP or greater must successfully pass a tractor safety training program. 

The course will be held on Saturday, April 22nd, starting at 8:15 a.m. The cost of the program is $15 to cover the cost of materials for the course. Those wanting to enroll should visit and complete the “Tractor Safety Registration Form”(at https://bit.ly/2023TractorSafety Enrollment) is due by Friday, April 14, for the Russell location. 

Other tractor safety courses will be held: 

• April 29, Beloit, at Carrico Implement 

• May 25, Salina, at Great Plains Manufacturing 

Prospective students can check availability and ask questions prior to registering by calling or emailing: Russell, Craig Dinkel, cadinkel@ksu.edu; Clinton Laflin, cllaflin@ksu.edu, phone at 785-472-4442; Alicia Boor, aboor@ksu.edu, phone 620-793-1910; Beloit, Blair Todd, blairet@ksu.edu, phone 785-738-3597; Kaitlyn Hildebrand,  khildebrand@ksu.edu, phone 785-243-8185; Salina, Justine Henderson, jwh04@ksu.edu, phone 785-392-2147; or Jay Wisbey, jwisbey@ksu.edu, phone 785-309-5850. 


Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.