Any 4-H or FFA Leaders Out There?

The Antique Engine & Tractor Association I belong to started a Under 21 Club last year, Response was great, nearly 20 kids. Now the guy that started it wants out, and I'm thinking about offering to take it over. Looking for ideas to involve young people. Any ideas? Does 4-H still do the tractor driving safety courses from back in the 60&70's? Farm safety, simple care and maintenence, fire safety. Anyone got any ideas, if I do this, need something to keep them involved and active other that sh-t jobs at the annual show. I like kids, and think I am more patient than most, but you can trip my trigger if you try hard enough. Would like to make it something they would look forward to the activites. Oh, there are a couple of girls in the club also. Thanks in advance. Chris

Chris there is a strong group called Farm Safety
4 Just Kids.

Get in touch with them. They have all kinds of materials you can use.

Also a tractor rodeo may be a fun Sunday afternoon event for them.

Gary

Chris, 4h does have projects such as tractor safety, tractor maintenace, it goes over the pre-use check over, and safe use of tractors and equipment.I am not a leader, but I judge all the small engine/lawn mowe/tractor safety are for our local 4H clubs.
Jim

I am a Leader and have been for 6 years (my son is in it) and I went through Junior Leaders. JimN

I run a 4-H antique tractor restoration club in Ontario Canada. This the third year for us. We have 12 members in our club and we restore a tractor each year. The first year was a Ferguson TEA 20 which we still have have and use as a mascot for fairs and fundraisers. The second ,was a Farmall H which we raffled off and donated $4,000.00 to a local hospital. This year tractor is a W-4 not finished yet but close.We go over safety on tractors and tools and shop behaviour. It is a total hands on club,I supervise and give short lessons during the meetings.We have some great outside support from companies for supplies and some parts.We have had guest speakers come in and help out from electrical shops, paint shops, tire shops.This project is taking some extra time for the large restore. The 4-H should have some books on tractor maintence and safety they can give you.I know the 4-H is strong in different parts of the country. Our area increased 30 members last year. My own daughter is in 4-H thats why I started the club to help give back a little.We try to work in groups of 3-4 and they diagnois the part,clean it estimate parts and repair and then install back on the tractor(if all goes well) and do a report on what they did in the club for they year end acheivement .It can hartd sometimes when you have them all looking for something to do at once.We always give out a certificate and asmall keepsake from the club. Tis year our senior members decided that they wanted to give out some awards,so I left it up to them. The awards were biggest tool(top member)award,broken wrench award (who broke the most stuff), and gearhead award (most improved member).the members voted for award. WE made trophies from the old engine parts Piston with rod upside down with a large wrendh on top,one with a broken wrench on top and one with a gear on top.I will try to post some picture when I can find them If yopu need some help I can try and lend a hand.
Ron

I am an FFA advisor in Montana. Currently there is a scholarship/award contest sponsored through Cenex (If I remember right) for tractor restoration. Go to the National FFA website and look there for details www.ffa.org.
Incorporation of some ag history/agriculture (emphasis on the culture part) in your show can be a great thing for the kids. We're working on starting a demonstration day with our local museum.
There is a curriculum available for tractor driving and tractor safety that some programs use and there is a tractor driving contest out there in some states as well.
Lots of opportunities out there. Another element I would suggest is just the time spent working with the kids.
I see a lot of boys with 2 or 3 dads due to the state of our society. An overlooked down side of this is most of those boys end up with no relationship to a "grandpa" figure. Something to think about.
Contact your local extension office or ag program and I'm sure you'll find someond with ideas.

Check to see if there is a FFA Alumni Assc. in your area. FFA Alumni are put of the national FFA organization. Check out the FFA national website for more information.

How about having the kids design, plan and hold a tractor rodeo? Safety first, though.

They would need to figure out how to class the tractors, then come up with "events" for the competition.

They could also do demos on tractor safety, history, etc.

Perhaps even a "grand entry" on tractors.

we just recently had an atv rodeo went over pretty good

I think some of these guys hit in on the head with ideas of tractor rodeos and opportunities to help with working on projects. Some of these kids probably haven"t grown up around tractors, and it will be really exciting to them to get the opportunity. Think it out how you can safely get them a little time in the seat with thorough safety and instruction.
When it comes to the girls in the club they"ll want to get right in there. Trust me, as an older brother I"ve seen my sister helping my grandpa in the shop when she was younger and really enjoy it. I think that"d be a really rewarding position, if you put your all into it. Just remember to be very patient and don"t expect perfection.

For a tractor event have the kids back up a tractor and wagon through a course.