Lawn and Garden Tractor Safety and Operator Skills

Description: The 4-H lawn and garden tractor and equipment program develops principles of engine operation, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, safe operation skills.

State Fair Entries: 4 educational exhibits per county; one per level, 3 junior and 3 senior driving contestants will qualify at the county level to compete at the area level contest.  3 junior and 3 senior driving contestants will qualify at the area level to compete at the state contest.

Exhibit Guidelines:

All posters, notebooks, and display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. This reference list should/might include web site links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc. It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as part of the display visible to the public. A judge is not to discredit an exhibit for the way references are listed. Posters are to be 22”x28” and displayed horizontally and placed in a clear plastic sleeve or covered with clear plastic to protect contents. Display boards should be designed to sit on a table using no more than 36” of tabletop space. Space should be left in the lower right hand corner to place an exhibit tag provided by Purdue Extension staff. Youth may exhibit in the operator skills option, educational exhibit option or both. Youth choosing to exhibit in the lawn and garden tractor, tractor, or zero-turn mower operator skills driving option must select one, but may be enrolled in all three projects. Judges evaluating exhibits should recognize individual differences and creativity, therefore using information in this document as a guide rather than a requirement.

 Exhibit Class Guidelines:

 Educational Exhibit Option

Level A (grades 3-4 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any lawn and garden tractor safety, maintenance, operating system or operation topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate.

Level B (grades 5-6 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any lawn and garden tractor safety, maintenance, operating system or operation topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate.

 Level C (grades 7-9 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any lawn and garden tractor safety, maintenance, operating system or operation topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate.

Level D (grades 10-12 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any lawn and garden tractor safety, maintenance, operating system or operation topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Youth can also design and complete an independent study activity.

Operator Skills Option

The operator skills component is an educational and training activity conducted by adult 4-H volunteers. A parent or guardian is encouraged to be present when their child is operating a lawn and garden tractor. The adult 4-H volunteer has the authority to deny a child the opportunity to participate in the operator skills option when it is deemed a child is unable to safely operated a lawn and garden tractor due to size, weight, or any other reason that could place the child and/or others in harm.

Junior (grades 3-7 suggested)

Youth will demonstrate their operation skills by driving a lawn and garden tractor through an obstacle course as outlined in 4-H 84, Conducting 4-H Operator Safety Contests.

Senior (grades 8-12 suggested)

Youth will demonstrate their operation skills by driving a lawn and garden tractor through an obstacle course as outlined in 4-H 84, Conducting 4-H Operator Safety Contests.