by Neil Cates, Livestock Production Agent
This past Saturday, concluded the
2014 session of Hazardous Occupations Training at Carrico Implement in Beloit
hosted by the Post Rock Extension District.
31 youth representing eight counties across north central Kansas
completed the course. In case you missed Part 1 of the Hazardous Occupations Training blog, this course is required for
14 and 15-year-olds, to work on a farm for someone other than their parent or
legal guardian.
We started
the day off Saturday with classroom lectures about: instrument and control
panels, maintenance and safety checks, tractor hitches, PTO’s and hydraulics,
and ATV safety. The kids then were able to get their hands dirty by physically
jump-starting a tractor, hooking up a PTO shaft, and connecting implement
hydraulic hoses.
They then heard from Mike Liggett, Rolling Hills Electric, on how to handle situations they may encounter with
power poles and lines while farming.
Included in his presentation was a demonstration table with “live” power
lines and the effects of objects coming into contact with them.
The afternoon started off with
rotating groups through four stations. The
first station and probably the class favorite, was the tractor operation. Carrico employee’s instructed each individual
on driving a new 4 wheel drive tractor through a course in the implement lot. The Post Rock District’s training is one of
few that still include tractor operation in the curriculum, which I believe is
very important. For many of the
students, it was their first time operating a tractor, so to do so in an
educational environment with professionals is a wonderful opportunity.
The next station was a lesson on
“Equipment Dangers”. This lesson was ran
by Farm Bureau volunteers who walked the kids through the equipment lot
pointing out potential hazards and conveying words of wisdom regarding various
implements that the kids will be operating.
The third station involved education on maintenance. Local farmer, Tom Deneke, instructed the kids
on how to inspect and perform proper maintenance on equipment and why it is
important that these checks are performed.
The final station was lunch, which was sponsored by Agco Corporation in
Beloit.
The day was
wrapped up with a lesson on “Tractor Safety on the Road” which was presented by
one of our local Kansas Highway Patrolman.
Other afternoon lessons consisted of “Tractor Safety on the Farm” and
“Farmstead Safety”.
The 2014
Hazardous Occupations Training was a great success. I cannot thank our great volunteers sponsors;
Carrico Implement, Mitchell County Farm Bureau, Rolling Hills Electric and Agco
Corporation enough for their generosity a nd support.
