Combines Whats your closest call with a piece of farm machineryIJ

Hey this has some good lesson's to be learned on these threads, no matter how old or young we are, I know I was old enough to know better when I "hot rodded" ( Tim the tool man)a bloody ride on lawn mower ( not with a 351) and it tipped me off, ripping a 12 stitch gash across my calf muscle, which put me on crutches for two weeks.Thankfully we have a modern ride on now that is fast enough. BOSS 351

Kidroff, my thoughts exactly, farm kids definetly have more responsibilities and are more grown up than most kids their age. So many city kids don't even know how to work. I dont have a problem with kids driving machinery on the farm as long as they are responsible and mature enough for their actions. I myself have had an incident that involved turning a tractor on its side. Its not that our parents are careless, it's the fact that farming is away of life for people,too. I have had cores and responsibilities nearly all my life and that has helped me succeed in so many ways. I also think that the farm is the only place for a kid to be brought up. I am a young man from southern Indiana, a farm boy that has worked hard for everything that i have.

I'm a freshman in College and was put into the tractor seat when I was 8 years old. When I was that young my dad gave me small easy jobs that I could handle, and then worked me up to harder jobs. I think that like the other posts say that farm kids being more responsible is right on the money. like Kidroff my class mates in high school pi$$ed away their summers, I worked and gained lots of experience that I will use no matter what feild I go in. There is nothing wrong with putting some kids into the tractor seat when they are 8 or 9 years old, if they are mature enough to handle the job. My $.02. Nelson

lets start at the top.Skinneyfarmer and Kidroff,I know for a fact that you are both exceptionally good operators of machinery and very careful.How do I know this you askIJ Because 25yrs ago I was the same age as you are now (I guess that you are around 18-20yrs)and also thought that Iwas the best operator.In 25yrs time you may or may not look back and think the same. I have no problems with that age operating machinery,90% are capable at that age of driving any where with machinery.But you have missed the point of my first post. I stated then that children as young as 13-14 should not be driving large machinery on the open road,and I still stand by that statment.I used to come home from school just like the rest of you and drive the tractor if need be,but driving the plow around the paddock is a bit different to driving down the road at 15 mph.I am a 4th gen farmer( for those of you who think I should try it)and I have 2 kids of my own. My kids are 9-13 and they can both drive any thing on our farm,but I still supervise them when they do.I would NEVER let them take machinery on the road.There are 2 reasons for this. If heaven forbid there was a accident how do you think I would feel,knowing that I let my children drive that equipment on the road,and even worse, what if there was a death.Where I come from the legal age to drive on the road is 17yrs,so you can imagine the legal consequence. Now if this makes me a lesser parent for not exposing my kids to "the dangers of life" then so be it,cause thats the way it is here. Useing your theory then an airline pilots child could fly a light charter plane at say 8-9yrs old and take a 747, with 400 people on board ,to Europe at 14,of course this is not practical,but the theory is the same. This has been a great subject,although it seems that most of the replies have come from the younger group.I would have thought that I might have had more support here from the older group. I'm not picking on the younger farmer at all,we need them all. If being a somewhat careful parent makes me an island,I'll live with that. I rest my case and await further replies.Thank you.

I have been reading the posts below about driving machinery from a early age.I started out on tractors from about 7 years of age and Dad kept a good eye on me and yes some people are good operaters at 12 and 13 but there is a huge difference to drive down a public road at this age. You might be good but what about the person heading to-wards you and if you did get hit i would say the insurance companies would just love it NOT!. I know your road rules are generally easier on shifting farm gear in Nth. America than Australia but i didn't think they were that easy. John

Hey 4020Deereman where do you live in southern IN. I also live in southern IN.SCOTT CO..

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I have no problems with anyone under the age of 21 that hold a CDl. I do however, have a problem with a person in college studying Ag Engineering that can't spell Commercial.

Well,kinetic, you have my sincere apology. I forgot that as a college student I am no longer allowed to make mistakes. Perhaps I should take spelling and typing lessons from you so that I might deserve the title of "college student". Would you be more comfortable with thatIJ Proto

Hey kinetic These young ones get a bit touchy at times, eh.