Kersbergen discusses tractor safety with BDN 

Rick Kersbergen, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator and professor, spoke with the Bangor Daily News for the article, “When it comes to kids and tractors, it’s safety first.” Kersbergen runs a series of farm machinery safety certification workshops around the state. “People think it’s this really pastoral scene with a tractor operator driving along with a kid or grandkid riding along on his lap or sitting on a fender,” he said. “That is not the way [for kids] to learn how to drive tractors, and it is dangerous.” In a tractor safety course, Kersbergen said, operators learn how to safely maneuver and drive a farm tractor. Courses like the ones offered in Maine are appealing to youth and adult newcomers to farming all over the country, he said. “We really recommend taking one of these classes if you are new to tractors,” Kersbergen said. “It’s important to learn safety around and with tractors [because] there are just so many ways to get hurt.”