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Webinar: Too Young to Plow Alone: Keeping Youth Safe on the Farm with AYWG & HAYWG
Last updated on September 24th, 2025 at 03:10 pm
Summary: This webinar will focus on practical strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of youth working on farms, using the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (AYWG) and the Hired Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (HAYWG). This will underscore the importance of aligning job tasks with a child’s developmental abilities, rather than age alone, to prevent injury and promote a safe working environment.
Through real-life examples, current data, and evidence-based guidelines, this session will help participants evaluate tasks, implement safer work practices, and understand federal and state labor laws related to youth in agriculture. Special attention is given to preventing injuries involving tractors, machinery, and hazardous work that young children may not be developmentally ready to perform
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to…
Recognize the Risks: Identify the leading causes of youth injury and fatality on farms, especially related to age-inappropriate tasks.
Understand the Guidelines: Gain familiarity with the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (AYWG) and the Hired Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (HAYWG) tools for matching farm tasks with a youth’s age and developmental stage.
Apply Development-Based Safety Practices: Use evidence-based resources to determine whether a young person is physically, cognitively, and emotionally prepared to safely perform specific agricultural tasks.
Comply with Labor Laws: Understand how to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and any relevant state laws regarding youth employment in agriculture.
Implement Practical Safety Steps: Learn actionable strategies to reduce risks on the farm, such as supervision protocols, training, safety checklists, and equipment restrictions for young workers.
Promote a Culture of Safety: Encourage a mindset that prioritizes youth safety and supports long-term injury prevention and responsible mentorship on farms.
Intended Audience: Farm parents and agricultural employers who hire youth workers.
Meet the Presenter: Melissa Ploeckelman Brown, Outreach Specialist, National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (NCCRAHS)
To register for this training, you must have a free account in the AgriSafe Learning Lab. If you do not have an account, please create one here.
