4-H Annual Tractor Safety Certification Course

What is the Tractor Safety Certification Program?

Each year, Chautauqua County 4-H holds the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program. This is a national program that upon successful completion allows youth aged 14 years and older that are hired by a farm to operate a tractor over 20 horsepower and other specific farm machinery as described by the US Department of Labor. See NYS Department of Labor and Penn State Extension for more information. 

What to Expect:

This program covers general farm safety, on-farm hazards, tractor driving and operation, and implement operation including units with powered take off (PTO). Each youth will receive a National Safe Tractor Machinery Operation Program Student Manual that cover all topics of the program to use for any homework assigned prior to and during the course, as well as for future reference. In order to become certified, youth must complete 24 hours of instruction on the core content areas, pass a written exam with a score of 70% or higher, and pass a Pre-operation/Driving and Operating Skills Test within 15 minutes. After successful completion, youth will receive a USDOL Certificate of Training, one for their records and one for their employer, and Certificate of Completion wallet card. 

Instruction, hands-on learning, and testing is done in partnership with local area equipment dealers. Thanks to their generosity and support, youth are able to have equipment for hands-on learning, instruction from experienced dealers, and opportunities to practice and test with a variety of tractors and implements.

Thank you to all of our outstanding equipment dealers that partner with us!

• Larry Romance and Son, Inc.- Sheridan, NY
• LandPro Equipment-Clymer, NY and Falconer, NY
• Westfield Ag and Turf- Westfield, NY
• John Wiggers and Son, Inc.- North Clymer, NY

2025 4-H Tractor Safety Certification Course Details: 

April 14-19th, 2025

See schedule below or view the full flyer Here 

April 14th: 9am-3pm, JCC Carnahan Center

April 15th: 9am-3pm, JCC Carnahan Center

April 16th: Falconer LandPro, 4:30-7:30pm

April 17th: Westfield Ag and Turf, 1-5pm

April 18th: no class

April 19th: Driving Test Day, Location and time TBD after start of class

Registration Link: Event Registration

Last updated February 5, 2025