The University of Minnesota Extension will offer Drive & Thrive: Confidence with Tractors, Trucks & Trailers, a hands-on educational program designed to build confidence and strengthen machinery operation skills among beginning, emerging, and interested farmers across Minnesota.
The 2026 Drive & Thrive workshop will be held on July 27 from 2:00 to 6:45 p.m. at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center in Crookston, with a potential second session on July 28, based on demand. The training features one-on-one, hands-on driving instruction in a pickup truck towing a trailer and in a tractor pulling an implement. Participants will gain experience in areas such as safely connecting and disconnecting equipment, reversing with attached implements, understanding tractor controls and color‑coding, recognizing hazards, using new technologies, and applying practical farm safety practices.
During the individual one-on-one sessions, the remaining participants will complete group activities focused on farm safety and risk, as well as first-aid basics and experiential learning stations. The fee to attend is $35 per participant, and supper is provided at the conclusion of the event. Registration is limited to 10 participants. Register online at https://z.umn.edu/regCrookston.
“Farm machinery and implements can feel intimidating, especially for farmers who are newer to operating equipment,” said Heather DuFault, Extension educator. “Drive & Thrive provides a supportive, low‑pressure environment where participants can learn, practice, ask questions, and ultimately feel safer and more confident on their farm.”
This program, offered by the University of Minnesota Women in Agriculture Network, is open to people of any gender identity and with any level of farming experience, and is sponsored by Compeer Financial and AgCountry Financial.
More information about farm safety and Extension programs is available at https://extension.umn.edu/.
