Seventeen area young people completed Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County's 4-H Farm and Tractor Safety Course this spring. They attended five evening sessions featuring talks, films, and demonstrations of all aspects of staying safe and healthy while working with tractors and other farm equipment. Proper maintenance, alertness, and thinking ahead to avoid dangerous situations were emphasized. An outstanding group of volunteer leaders held the classes at several cooperating area equipment dealers.

After the evening sessions, the students completed final written and tractor parts identification and service tests, plus a tractor driving test to earn their Farm Safety Training Certificates. These are awarded to them after their 14th birthdays, allowing them to operate equipment on farms other than their parents' if they are not yet 16.

The top five scorers in all aspects of the course received prizes, plus the opportunity to participate in the Tractor Operator Contest at the New York State Fair this summer. They were: 1st, Kris Engelbert (Nichols), 2nd Tim Tuetken (Bershire), 3rd Chris Kunte (Nichols), and tie for 4th, Hanna Robinson (Candor) and Bryan Stocks (Owego).

Others who completed the course were Cyrus Nelson (Erin), Nicholas Miner (Newfield), Dan Purdom (Richford), Waylon Partridge (Richford), Cindy Robinson (Owego), Heather Howland (Candor), Jud Robinson (Owego), Ryan Frisbee (Spencer), Rob Ervan (Spencer), Pat Erway (Spencer), Josh Ryant (Spencer), and Amanda Edwards (Owego).

Jeremy Rapp (Nicho!s), William Pelto (Spencer), and Joe Engelbert (Nichols) attended the course but are too young to receive their certificates this year. Sharon Purdom, mother of Dan Purdom, also completed the course as a refresher.

Congratulations all!