<p> Agriculture and Life Tel: 518-272-4210 Sciences Building Fax: 518-272-1648 61 State Street E-mail: [email protected] Troy, NY 12180-3497 www.cce.cornell.edu/rensselaer</p><p>FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE</p><p>Date: January 9, 2009</p><p>From: Bernadine Wiesen Extension Educator</p><p>HOSTA - Tractor Safety Certification </p><p>There are many employment opportunities found in businesses within the agricultural/horticultural industry through out the capital district. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County will be providing HOSTA (Hazardous Occupations Safety Training in Agriculture) to interested residents in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties who are 14 years of age by March 1st or older. This will be a six week course starting on Wednesday, February 25th and concluding tentatively on April 15th. During this time frame, classes will be held on Wednesday nights starting at 7 PM and day sessions will be scheduled on weekends in March and April. The focus of the curriculum will be safe operation and maintenance of large equipment, personal protection, chemical, mechanical and electrical hazards as well as livestock handling. Employers and parents should be aware that youth aged 14 and 15 years who are not working directly for their parents must have a tractor operators certificate to legally operate large equipment according to OSHA. HOSTA will prepare participants and qualify them to earn a tractor operators certificate if students attend all classes, pass a written and operators exam. In addition to the safety aspects of the course, instruction on completing job applications and preparing a resume will be included. Most of the Wednesday night classes will be held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County ‘s office in Troy located at 61 State Street. Weekend sessions will be held in different locations at area agricultural businesses. You must call the CCE office to pre-register at 272-4210. Cost of the program will be $15 payable the first night of class. There must be a minimum of 5 registered to hold the class. For information about this and other Cornell Cooperative Extension Programs, contact your respective county’s Cornell Cooperative Extension office. CCE is an EOE and adheres to the ADA. If any participant has special needs to attend class please indicate what they would be when you pre-register.</p><p>Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities</p><p>Cornell Cooperative Extension in Rensselaer County provides equal program and employment opportunities.</p>