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. 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. 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. 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:
Hands-On Safety Days (If not attending a Hands-On Safety Day, online course must be completed).
- May 22 – Lincoln Logan McPherson 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 Logan McPherson 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
Registration form located here: https://go.unl.edu/2023tractorsafety
If you have questions, please contact the administrator listed above at your driving site or contact Ellen Duysen at ellen.duysen@unmc.edu.