May 7, 2003
Tractor class trains teens for farm work
22 students complete Tractor Safety course offered by MSU Extension
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
When your family farms, learning to drive a tractor is just part of growing up.
"They count on us a lot, especially during harvest season," said Ashley Nink, a seventh-grade student at Traverse City West Junior High of her family's cherry farm.
Nink was one of 22 students who completed a Tractor Safety course Saturday offered by the Michigan State University Extension of Grand Traverse County. The four-week course covered the basics of safety, mechanics, driving and hitching to a trailer.
The class was held at the TBA parking lot and classrooms, where students practiced on two tractors, one of which was donated for the course by Ginop Sales. Students maneuvered through an obstacle course, backed up to hitch up a trailer and raised and lowered the bucket to smoothly scoop or dump loads.
"The hardest part has been backing up to the trailer," said Coty Memeskal, a ninth-grade student at Glen Lake High School. "My family has a small farm and I want to help with the cherries."
After passing the written test Saturday afternoon, the 14- and 15-year-old students received a certificate that allows them to drive a tractor. This certificate is required by the state until they are 16 and licensed to drive.
Students completed four evening sessions and Saturday's all-day class mixed hands-on practice with written testing. For that final session, half the class headed up to the Leelanau County Horticultural Station while nine students stayed in Traverse City.
The Tractor Safety class drew students with a range of experience: some had been helping to drive since they could reach the pedals while others were just learning.
"There were the kids who had been driving for a while and already knew how to drive pretty much," said Anna Blight, an instructor in the Extension's Agri-Science and Natural Resources Program. "But there were the kids who didn't know how to drive and it tended to be a bit frustrating for them for a while, especially backing up to the trailer. But the nine with us on Saturday passed."
Jordan Willis, a ninth-grade student from Forest Area Schools, said he already knew most of what was covered but still came for the certificate.
"I've lived on a farm most of my life, we raise corn, hay, dairy cows, sheep and horses," Willis said.
Dana Boomer also lives on a cherry farm and took the course as a stepping stone to her dream:
"I want to be driving the cherry shakers, right now that's my dad's job," said the ninth-grade student at Glen Lake Schools.
A tractor is the workhorse of the farm, pulling, plowing and performing chores of all kinds. Knowing how to repair this versatile machine is crucial so the course also included the basics of small engine mechanics.
"A lot of these kids knew more about the actual mechanics than I did," Blight said. "They learned how to check all the oil and fluid levels before they get on."
Cory Metcalf of Kingsley does not live on a farm and had never driven a tractor before. But he took the course as an investment in his future, both short and long term.
"I want to drive a tractor during the summer and work at a farm nearby," said the ninth-grade student at Kingsley Middle School. "I would like to be a farmer, with dairy and beef cattle, someday."