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May 13, 2000 YOUTH FARM MACHINERY SAFETY WORKSHOP A workshop will be held May 27, 29, 30, and 31 that teaches young people to operate farm equipment safely. Youngsters currently in sixth grade or older are eligible to attend the free training. The course will run three week-day evenings and all day on Saturday. "This is the eighth year we've held the workshop, and each year the attendance goes up," said Dyvon Havens, WSU/Skagit County Extension Agent. "Kids are telling us that employers are starting to give preference to those who have had the training, because they realize how important safety is." Also, federal law requires those driving tractors for hire to be at least 16 years old. An exception is if they are 14 or 15 years old and have completed a safety course like this one or if a student is enrolled as a vocational agriculture student. Approximately 300 children in the United States are killed each year in farm accidents, according to Havens. "Many of these accidents could have been prevented if youths had received adequate safety education." The workshop is sponsored by WSU/Skagit County Cooperative Extension; Mount Vernon High School VoAg/FFA; and Barnett Implement Co. Pre-registration is required by May 20. Call WSU/Skagit County Cooperative Extension at 428-4270. Space is limited.
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