Tractor Operation and Maintenance Workshop at the Accokeek Foundation

Saturday, April 14 – Sunday, April 15, 2012– 8:30am to 5:00 pm
This two-day, hands-on workshop demystifies tractors and empowers their users to operate and maintain their machines more safely, and with greater skill and confidence. Day one focuses on the fundamentals of tractor operation; reviewing everything from the historical purpose and use of tractors to the functions and safe use of all of the pedals and levers, the drawbar, power take-off (PTO), and the front-end loader.  We will end the first day with tractor driving practice for the novices in the class.
The second day is a hands-on lesson in do-it-yourself tractor maintenance, performing a variety of routine tractor maintenance chores including oil and filter change, coolant change, hydraulic-transmission fluid and filter change, air filter replacement, fuel filter replacement, belt tension adjustment, battery care, and a range of other do-it-yourself tasks that are typically performed at regularly scheduled intervals. Workshop materials including a tractor user’s resource list will be provided.
There will be one-hour breaks for lunch each day. Participants should bring lunches, snacks, and water bottles each day.
Please note that this workshop is meant to be hands-on, and portions of it will be conducted outside. Participants must wear appropriate clothing and footwear, i.e., clothing that can be dirtied with oil and grease stains, and that is adequate for the forecast weather conditions. Please no sandals or open-toed shoes.
About the Instructor
Shane J. Labrake is an Agricultural Consultant and a trainer/teacher of various agricultural skills. He managed the Accokeek Foundation’s Ecosystem Farm between 1994 and 2007, where he was deeply involved in developing methods and curriculum in new and beginner farmer training. Since 2006, he has presented variations on this two-day workshop over twenty times in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. These workshops have always garnered rave reviews, and Shane is continuously tweaking the workshop material to better serve a new generation of tractor jockeys.
Scholarships available, registration is required please visit www.accokeek.org and visit the events calendar to sign up, and contact Molly Meehan regarding more information and scholarships.