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Riding a tractor Back in 1971, none of the tractors that we used on our family farm had cabs or rollover protection on them. It was common for farm children to ride on the fender of a tractor or to sit in the lap of its driver. That danger turned into tragedy for my family. My little brother went on the tractor with a farm worker to disc a field. The worker came to the house screaming for help. My sister tried CPR, and I called the rescue squad. Our brother was killed when he fell off the tractor and the wheel crushed his body. Now my husband and I farm. Our son works with us. We have volunteered in the Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Camps for Kids programs for the past 10 years. This is where farm kids learn safety. They teach lessons about fire safety, electricity, ATVs and lawnmowers, livestock and chemicals, and inclement weather. Hundreds of kids across North Carolina have the safety skills they need to live safely on the farm thanks to this program. There is a reason that lawnmower and tractor manuals state “no riders.” That reason is the life of your child or grandchild. Lillian Harden |
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