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There is hay to haul and manure to spread at the Middle Ridge farm Kaylan Everson lives on.

But until recently, the 14-year-old Bangor High School student hasn’t been able to help.

She’s been stuck on barn duty and other chores because she was lacking the tractor and machinery certification and training that is required for those ages 16 and younger who want to operate tractors and farm machinery for hire — or for their relatives.

That all changed June 24-26 when she and other La Crosse County youth completed the Farm Tractor Safety course offered by the La Crosse County UW-Extension Office at West Salem High School.

Steve Huntzicker, La Crosse County ag agent, said the 24-hour training program has been required since the 1990s and includes classroom lessons, assignments and behind-the-wheel tractor training.

“They are learning how to do things and how to do them safely up front, rather than as they go,” Huntzicker said. “Years ago on the farm, they learned from experience.”

And with the decline in family farms, gaining first-hand experience at a young age isn’t always possible, he said. Many students that enroll in the Farm Tractor Safety course will be going to work for neighbors, grandparents or aunts and uncles rather than their parents.

The class was Everson’s first experience driving a tractor.

She fired-up the green John Deere 5285, released the clutch and began cruising the closed course.

“It was scary backing up,” she said. “I had to turn and everything.”

Twelve-year-old Jacob Steiger has been trapped at his family’s main farm on St. Joseph’s Ridge because of his lack of certification.

“I’m taking the class so I can help around the farm and drive on the road,” said Steiger, who attends West Salem Middle School. “I haven’t been able to help farm at our second farm much.”

The summer training has been enjoyable for Steiger because he gets to drive and the instructors include Huntzicker and local high school ag teachers.

Being able to drive a tractor will allow Katie Pehling, 17, who attends Coulee Region Christian School, to help out more by dragging the arena and mowing the pastures at the farmette she lives on outside of West Salem.

“It’s fun,” she said. “We’re pretty much pros.”