Daughter on tractor = trust test

[Thomas]

Giving up some seat time can be good cause,and that's a great cause right there. :thumbsup:

 

[Ed of all trades]

I started driving the Jubilee when I was 5 or 6 and was cutting, raking, bailing hay, bush hogging, ect by the time I was 10. Today I guess people would say my dad was wrong to do that but 50 years ago things were different. On the farm it was expected. Ed

 

[meos1]

My youngest is the one I can count on she is 12. I keep her off the hills, and I will stand on the lift arms behind her to provide instruction on new tasks. Here is a snap of her running the MMM. She gets a good bit done with the machine. Its definitely a skill you learn with time.

 

[GreenYellow]

Thanks for all the positive comments guys.

There's something very gratifying about watching her operate it with skill and enthusiasm. Plus, she mowed about an acre for me, so that's a plus.

 

[mecan]

Mine might be a little young....on the other hand she's enthusiastic about tractors

 

[Soundguy]

Would you trust your 12 year old daughter on your rig? I do.
Everybody loves a country girl who can drive a tractor. We have to chase all the boys off...

times have of course changed.. and what used to be normal, now is criminal with respect to kids and safety.

But I recall me and my cousins piling up on the old farm tractor and driving the dirt road to a convienience store for candy.. kids on running boards. one or 2 in the seat one on each fender, and usually one or 2 standing on rear axles holding onto seat.

we couldn't even touch pedals, so whoever was on the running board got pedal duty.

 

[Dalmatian90]

Always got a chuckle -- friend's oldest daughter started was using their riding mower by the time she was 10.

She was sort of miffed because her younger brother wasn't mature enough to take over that chore until he was 13

 

[fordmantpw]

My oldest one at 12. My youngest one, still not comfortable at 17. Funny how two kids from the same parents can be so different. I don't mean opposites, I just mean different.

I agree with you 100%!

I would trust my 12 year old daughter, though she's likely not heavy enough to keep the safety switch on the seat engaged.

However, my 10 year old son likely won't be touching my tractor even when he is 16! My oldest daughter has amazing responsibility, follows rules, and is very trustworthy. My son lives in the moment, doesn't care what he has been told, and thinks rules are meant to be broken. I dread the day he starts driving...

 

[PHPaul]

Older grandson was driving while I was picking rocks when he was 7. Low gear, low range and just off idle, so he was getting passed up by snails and turtles , but he was paying attention and doing a great job. That was a LOT of years ago, he's a married Marine Corporal with 2 kids of his own now.

His "little" brother (6-2, 200#) just isn't interested. He didn't even get his driver's license until he was nearly 18.

 

[gsganzer]

My 11 YO operates our BX2200 to pull a drag harrow around the pasture as "poop patrol". I also have her driving the L3800 when we pick rocks and work on fencing. I don't have her using any of the rotary attachments yet (MMM or brush hog).

When operating either tractor, she's under my direct supervision and within eyesight. I'm probably going to let her run the MMM next year.