Formal Training?

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I took a year of “Farm Implements and Equipment” in Junior High. I was living in semi rural Oregon, and the state had a ”Farm Implements” license you could get at 14, if you had formal training in how to operate equipments and implements safely. You could work the family farm without it. But, to go run equipment for anyone else you had to have the license. Thus the Junior and Senior High schools had classes. And, the teacher signed off on your training. I took it so I could start driving tractors and counting flats, on the berry farms, instead of picking fruit.

Out of curiosity how many folks have had any kind of formal training on their equipment and attachments?

 

[Avenger]

We never had anything like that. Though I think it should be mandatory, especially in city schools where people dont know where their food comes from. Rant aside, I did get my "farmers permit" when I was young, but it wasnt for farming or run equipment for someone else, it was for driving on county roads underage without a drivers license. I was able to drive our farm trucks tractors, etc, before I was 16, on the roads.

I dont think anyone would have stopped me, or cared enough to even ask, if I had formal training and thus a permit to bale the neighbors hay. But times are changing.

 

[Rdrcr]

Aside from a little instruction from my neighbor (professional operator for 30 years) and hours of seat time, that’s all the training this city boy received.
I’ve done a couple stupid things on my tractors but, I’m getting better with every hour and the neighbor is happy with my work, skill and safety.

Had the opportunity existed in my area, I wouldn’t have turned down tractor operated training and would have been happy to pay for the service.

Mike

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

I took a year of “Farm Implements and Equipment” in Junior High. I was living in semi rural Oregon, and the state had a ”Farm Implements” license you could get at 14, if you had formal training in how to operate equipments and implements safely. You could work the family farm without it. But, to go run equipment for anyone else you had to have the license. Thus the Junior and Senior High schools had classes. And, the teacher signed off on your training. I took it so I could start driving tractors and counting flats, on the berry farms, instead of picking fruit.

Out of curiosity how many folks have had any kind of formal training on their equipment and attachments?

You are probably referring to the National FFA program: Future Farmers of America FFA.org | National FFA Organization

They had/have school programes where you do projects and get experience.

 

[Richard]

Nothing for me, what I know is self taught or watching others. Pretty cool that you could do that!

 

[grsthegreat]

Nothing in high school besides basic shop classes.But took college level classes at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Ran dozers, backhoes, farm and row crop tractors, learned basic maintenance, engine work, etc. Also took upper level classes which included tearing into motors, lathes and mills, stuff like that. Sure better than accounting 101.

 

[dodge man]

You mean to actually teach kids a useful life skill? Not likely anymore.

I had some useful classes in high school but nothing like you describe. I’m self taught with a few mistakes in the process.

 

[bill9068]

I ran heavy equipment in the service.

 

[rScotty]

Sure, we had all those "real world" classes. FFA, shop, driving, home economics, sewing, and typing. Some of the shop classes - like the wood lathe - were scary - and probably impossible by today's standards.
And of course everyone who didn't have to go work played some sort of sport after school.
It was a nice time, but very busy.

The school my young friends talk about is much different now. They seem more socially skilled. My old generation suffered socially and still is.
But today's kids have to learn how to do a lot of things on their own. Some do, but end up with large knowledge gaps that they aren't even aware of in things like materials, basic leverage, plumbing, electricity - all stuff that school could have taught them as it did for us.

 

[/pine]

Our secondary schools had access to an "ag farm" where most all aspects of farming were taught...

Question for the OP...who signed off on the teacher's training ??

 

[ericm979]

Social skills are important! There's not many jobs where you don't need them.

My jr high had a killer shop. High school had an auto shop, a photography lab, electronics lab, and even aeronautics courses. And a computer lab, in the '70s using teletypes and paper tape. I took all of that except auto shop. But we have cut funding for education so much that those things are gone except in some wealthy districts.

What really sets people up for life is teaching them to learn on their own. I didn't really get that until college but I have been using it ever since. It enabled me to switch careers when my first one didn't pan out and keep learning stuff in my field.

 

[TerryR]

My "training" was gained on the farm, when I was around 12. I walked up as my Dad was spraying the roadside with a hand wand and had gotten to the end of the hose. He told me to get on the tractor and move it up for him. End of training. :-/

 

[kenmbz]

We had our neighbors dad's old IH. Drove it around the field with all of us hanging off of it.
None of us got squished, all good to go.

 

[MossRoad]

I took a year of “Farm Implements and Equipment” in Junior High. I was living in semi rural Oregon, and the state had a ”Farm Implements” license you could get at 14, if you had formal training in how to operate equipments and implements safely. You could work the family farm without it. But, to go run equipment for anyone else you had to have the license. Thus the Junior and Senior High schools had classes. And, the teacher signed off on your training. I took it so I could start driving tractors and counting flats, on the berry farms, instead of picking fruit.

Out of curiosity how many folks have had any kind of formal training on their equipment and attachments?

They still offer it at some of the more rural schools around here.

Personally, I had forklift training. I had to show the instructor how to start the forklift.

 

[Williy]

I got a fort lift license because I had a
drivers license. Driving a fort lift is kinda
like driving a tractor. The 40 ton fork lifts
I didn't like I don't think they put enough air
in the tires way too much rock and roll. Also
driving a fork lift on a moving combat cargo
ship is another story! One time I worked at
wally world and to operate a pallet jack they
would not let me operate one said I needed
training and a license I told them what I did
in the service but that didn't count!

willy

 

[IndyJay]

...but today's kids have to learn how to do a lot of things on their own. Some do, but end up with large knowledge gaps that they aren't even aware of in things like materials, basic leverage, plumbing, electricity - all stuff that school could have taught them as it did for us.

How things have changed. A lot of these things kids learned by following their Dad's around, asking endless questions.

 

[MossRoad]

The only other elective I had in HS was typing. I've used that skill throughout my business career.

I took 2 semesters of typing in HS.

Two reasons:
1- I was 1 of 2 males in the class.
2- Typing teacher had a white 67 Malibu and I was trying to get her to sell it to me.

End result - no girls and no car. But I did get a skill I have used for 43+ years so far. That's fair, I guess.

 

[jaxs]

Just last month my daughter,sil and me had a conversation about the need for vocational training in public school. Today's society turn their nose up at the suggestion their kid might need a trade. In typical fashion they completly overlook the value of work ethic learned at an early age. When they were in school vocational was a 3 hour elective,1 hour classroom and 2 hours working for wages. The class wasn't broken down into specialties,classroom was checkbook management,creating resume,job seeking skills (boy there's one a bunch of people could use) managing time between education,hobbies and family. Other 2 hours could be ANY JOB where employer was willing to perticipate. SIL worked at an auto parts house,daughter at a custom bakery and a pharmacy who eventually hired their son while he was in high school. While working part time and attending college,one of the pharmacists approached him about going to work for a start up business. Today at 32 years old he is full partner in a growing multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company.
Getting back closer to what OP is talking about, this kind of education is healthy for the community and tax payers should push for them. This is far above my pay grade but many of you qualify as adjunct professors. Point being that a bookkeepers and a host of other occupations could occasionally teach classes which save's institution money making classes affordable when compared to full time staff with benefits.