FFA students will test their tractor driving skills at Empire Farm Days Aug. 8. (Photo by Nick Wickham)
(Seneca Falls, NY – June 2013) June 21 is the deadline to register for the New York State FFA Tractor Driving Safety Contest at the 2013 Empire Farm Days at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY. The competition open to students aged 14 to 18 will be held Thursday, August 8 at the Northeast’s largest outdoor agricultural trade show. Contestants must contact contest coordinator Jon Clayson by June 21 with their name and age at JClayson@pioneercsd.org.
Preparing for the annual competition teaches students the importance of learning and using safe farm equipment operating skills. Students complete a written safety exam, a parts identification task, and driving courses with 2- wheel and 4-wheel wagons.
“This competition helps students test how well they have learned safe tractor operation and driving skills. A strong performance at the Empire Farm Days event is something they can add to their resumes in pursuit of an agricultural career,” Clayson said.
The Junior division of the contest is open to 14-16 year olds; the Senior division is for 16-18 year olds. The winner of the Senior Division goes on to compete at the Big E Exposition in Springfield, MA, in September.
Contest sponsors include John Deere, Kubota, H&S Farm Equipment, New Holland Case International, the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, Massey Ferguson and Java Farm Supply.
The competition begins at 9:30am at the Empire Farms Days event that covers 300 acres with 600-plus representatives of agricultural institutions and organizations; farm equipment and ATV test driving opportunities; Dairy Profit Seminars and other educational workshops; demonstrations of live horse round pen training, cattle handing, small livestock care, and agricultural plastics recycling; farm safety and farm family displays; and more: www.empirefarmdays.com.