Officials with the ISU Extension office in Atlantic say the Cass County Extension and Vo-Ag Teachers from Atlantic, CAM and Griswold schools will be teaching a 24-hour tractor and machinery safety certification course for local youth May 28-31 at the Cass County Fairgrounds. The training is required by law for any 14 or 15 year olds who want to safely operate a tractor over 20 HP and other machinery on a farm, acreage or any other business. Any youth who want to work in an operation that requires equipment operation must have this certificate. Youth aged 13 must be turning 14 during the summer of 2014 in order to be eligible for the certificate. 24 hours of training, including both a written and driving test, are required for participants to be certified.

While the certificate is required for 14 and 15-year old’s to be eligible for employment, anyone age 13 or older, including adults, is welcome to register for the class, as a wide variety of tractor, machinery and general farm safety topics will be taught. Participants will get some time “hands-on” driving farm machinery, as well as class time with Extension/Vo-Ag instructors and representatives from other local businesses and organizations.

The class dates are Wednesday, May 28 from Noon to 5 PM; Thursday, May 29 from Noon to 6 PM; Friday, May 30 from Noon to 5 PM and Saturday, May 31 from 8 AM to 4 PM. A $40 registration fee covers all class materials, including lunch for all 4 days of the course. Registration forms can be picked up from the Cass County Extension office or any Cass County Vo-Ag instructor. Forms are also available online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass to print and return. Pre-registration is requested by Tuesday, May 27th,  to ensure enough materials and food are available for course participants. For more information, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu.