By STACY CAMPBELL
Cottonwood Extension District
Did you know that approximately 666,500 youth up to 20 years old annually work on farms operated by persons other than their guardians? That 22,600 farm injuries occur to these youth each year, more than in any profession employing youth? And that 100 youth die each year in farming-related incidents.
In an effort to mitigate agricultural injuries and fatalities to young workers in agriculture. Several K-State Research & Extension Districts will be offering a Hazardous Occupation Safety Training in Agriculture (HOSTA) or Tractor and Farm Safety Course for youth on Saturday, April 27th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will be held at Hoxie Implement, 933 Oak Ave. Hoxie, Kansas. Many thanks to Outdoor Bank for providing the lunch and refreshments and to Thunder Linner Memorial Fund for helping sponsor the training manuals.
In a collaboration with businesses, state and county agencies. K-State Research & Extension Agents will teach this course covering farm and machinery safety, including proper tractor operation and maintenance, grain safety, implement use safety, livestock safety and more. The United States Department of Labor requires youth 14 – 15 years of age attend this safety training in order to work on a farm for someone other than their parents, and in some instances even when working on the family farm.
Participants must complete some assignments before attending the training on the 27th. To obtain this information and to pay the $10 registration fee by Friday, April 19th. You will need to visit one of the following K-State Research & Extension Offices – Twin Creeks 785-421-3411, Golden Prairie 785-673-4805, Phillips-Rooks 785-425-6851 and Cottonwood District 785-628-9430.
Some Extension Offices may provide transportation to the training, don’t delay and register by Friday, April 19th for the Tractor & Farm Machinery Safety Course for youth 14 - 15 years of age to be held in Hoxie on Saturday, April 27th.
Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 785-628-9430.