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Area youth, ages 12-16 years old (youth must turn 12 years old by the end of the course), are invited to participate in a Tractor and Machinery Safety Certification course, co-sponsored in part by the UW-Extension-Green County, Green County Agricultural Education Instructors (Albany, Argyle, Belleville, Brodhead, Juda, Monroe, Monticello and New Glarus), Blackhawk Technical College, Juda Fire Department, Monroe Fire Department, New Glarus Area EMS, Juda Community Center, Green County Farm Bureau, Green County Fairgrounds, Green and Lafayette County Sheriff’s Departments, Carter & Gruenewald, Landmark Coop, Eastside Implement, Hennessey Implement, Sloan Implement and UWEX Center for Agricultural Safety and Health.

Wisconsin law states that “No person may direct or permit a child under age 16 years to operate a farm tractor/self-propelled implement of husbandry on the highway unless the child has been certified as successfully completing a tractor and machinery operation safety course.”

The Federal Child Labor Regulations state that ”it is unlawful to hire or even permit without pay any youth under age 16 to participate in any work activities listed as hazardous, unless: 1.) The youth is working on a farm owned and operated by a youth’s parent or 2.) The youth has a training certificate which provides an exemption from certain hazardous work activities.”

The cost is $35.00 for Green County youth, or $45.00 for out of county youth. Please make checks payable to Green County UWEX. Fees cover cost of manual, equipment use and insurance. Class size is limited to 20 participants. First priority will be given to residents in Green County, ages 14 and up. Registrations will be taken on a first paid, first served basis.

Session dates, times and locations are as follows: Monday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Hennessey Implement and the Green County Justice Center; Tuesday, March 14, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Albany High School; Saturday, March 18, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Argyle High School; Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., New Glarus High School; Monday, April 3, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MERIT Center, Monroe; Saturday, April 8, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Juda Community Center; Tuesday, April 18, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Green County Fairgrounds, Monroe; Wednesday, April 19, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Green County Fairgrounds, Monroe; Thursday, April 20, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Green County Fairgrounds, Monroe – Final Drive.

This is a 24-hour state and federal course. Participation in all 24 hours is required. A parent/guardian is required to attend the first session with the child. Some sessions will be held outdoors, please dress accordingly.

Individuals can receive more information by calling the UW-Extension Green County office at (608) 328-9440, emailing Ellen Andrews, 4-H Youth Development Educator, at ellen.andrews@ces.uwex.edu or retrieving the information off of the UW-Extension Green County Website at http://green.uwex.edu.

University of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating. UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA.