According to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Safety and Health, young workers were 7.8 times more likely to be fatally injured in agriculture when compared to all other industries combined in 2016. Tractors and all-terrain vehicles are the leading sources of fatal events. When it comes to youth fatalities on the farm, 47% involved transportation, which includes tractors, 20% involved contact with machinery and 13% involved violent contact with animals on a farm. In 2021, the annual cost of childhood agriculture-related deaths was $605 million, with nonfatal agriculture-related injuries at $1.4 billion.

“These sobering statistics highlight the need for more training and education when it comes to having youth work on farms,” says Angie Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension farm and ranch safety specialist. “NDSU Extension provides youth farm worker certification training that meets the U.S. Department of Labor Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture (HOOA) requirements for 14-to-15-year-olds to be able to legally work on a farm other than their own family’s operation.”

Youth will be able to learn about safe farm and ranch practices and earn their certifications at three statewide farm safety camps hosted by NDSU Extension in 2026.

Camp dates and locations are the following:

• May 27-29, Lake Region State College, Devils Lake
• June 2-4, Dickinson State University, Dickinson
• June 23-25, Bismarck State College and Joann Hetzel Memorial 4-H Building, Bismarck

The three-day, two-night camps cover the basics of safe tractor and machinery operation, general farm hazards, livestock handling, use of personal protective equipment, and basic first aid and first-response procedures.

“These camps help teens become familiar with the most serious hazards associated with operating tractors, skid steers, ATVs and agricultural machinery, along with the fundamentals of safe operation and maintenance,” says Johnson, who is collaborating with NDSU Extension agents to conduct the camps.

Participants will receive hands-on experience and learning opportunities:

• Safe tractor operation, including a tractor-driving obstacle course
• Livestock handling
• All-terrain vehicle safety, including ATV certification
• Skid steer operation
• Roadway safety using rules of the road
• Farm first aid and emergency preparedness
• Laws related to youth working in agriculture
• Equipment operation and maintenance
• Farm stress management skills
• Farm hazard identification

Youth will have opportunities for hands-on learning, including utilizing farm equipment on obstacle courses to simulate actual farm situations. Livestock handling sessions will allow participants to interact with animals and learn more about animal behaviors and safety when working with animals. ATV certification and Stop the Bleed certification are also included.

Federal law under the HOOA requires that youth under the age of 16 receive certification of training before employment on farms operated by anyone other than a parent or guardian. The program is for youth between the ages of 14 and 15. Youth who are 13 can participate, and the certification they receive will become valid when they turn 14.

By successfully passing this program, which includes a final exam, participants will receive official certification to operate tractors over 20 horsepower and some pieces of farm machinery when working for a farmer or rancher outside of their family’s operation.

“While this certification is not required for youth to work on their own family farm, we encourage all teens who plan to work on a farm to participate in this program,” says Johnson. “These camps are designed to strengthen communication skills between parents, employers and teen workers on the farm. Farm safety training prepares the next generation of the workforce with the safety skills needed to prevent injuries and fatalities on the job.”

Camps are open to youth from all counties in North Dakota. Youth do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to participate.

Registration opens March 2, and the deadline to register is April 7. The cost of each camp is $300. Registration for all three camps is available online at ndsu.ag/safefarmyouth26.

Sponsorships from businesses and organizations provide personal protective equipment and farm safety supplies for camp participants. Contact Johnson at angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu to learn more about current sponsorship opportunities.

For more information regarding farm safety camp, contact a local NDSU Extension agent.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Feb. 27, 2026

Source: Angie Johnson, 701-231-1873, angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu