Our Upcoming Winter trainings for Ag Mechanics are up and ready to go! With some old favorites (like our chainsaw classes and walk-behind tractor) and some new opportunities like the Hand Tool Maintenance and Upkeep class.As someone that has taken a couple of these classes myself, I find that I am constantly pulling the skills I’ve learned from my bag of tricks to help me in my own farm business, as well as giving met he confidence to take on some projects i might not have otherwise. And of course, it saves me money not having to hire someone.
Give the classes a look over on our website here: https://solidground.extension.uconn.edu/trainings/#agmech or read on below!
Title of class: Hand Tool Maintenance and Upkeep
Date: February 1st, 2025
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Location: Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Rd, Vernon, CT 06066
Max. number of participants: 12
Description of class: Learn how to properly maintain and sharpen your hand tools. Bring in your hand tools: Clippers, hand hoes, harvest knives, shovels, scuffle hoes, and more! We will provide files and clamps to work with and go over regular care to get the most out of your tools.
Date: February 1st, 2025
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Location: Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Rd, Vernon, CT 06066
Max. number of participants: 12
Description of class: Learn how to properly maintain and sharpen your hand tools. Bring in your hand tools: Clippers, hand hoes, harvest knives, shovels, scuffle hoes, and more! We will provide files and clamps to work with and go over regular care to get the most out of your tools.
Link to Registration: s.uconn.edu/handtoolmaintenance
Title of class: 2 Stroke Service and Repair
Date: February 4th, 2025
Time: 4pm-7pm
Location: Middletown High School, 200 La Rosa Ln, Middletown, CT 06457
Max. number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Learn how to troubleshoot and repair the small engines you use on your farm. Gain hands-on experience taking apart a 2-stroke engine to diagnose some of the common problems you may encounter. Bring your own machines and we can troubleshoot any problems you’ve been having or show you how to take the engine apart. We recommend attending this course if you already have some knowledge of how engines work, or if you took our Small Gas Engine Basics Course, since we will dive right into the hands-on training. (Dinner will be provided)
Date: February 4th, 2025
Time: 4pm-7pm
Location: Middletown High School, 200 La Rosa Ln, Middletown, CT 06457
Max. number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Learn how to troubleshoot and repair the small engines you use on your farm. Gain hands-on experience taking apart a 2-stroke engine to diagnose some of the common problems you may encounter. Bring your own machines and we can troubleshoot any problems you’ve been having or show you how to take the engine apart. We recommend attending this course if you already have some knowledge of how engines work, or if you took our Small Gas Engine Basics Course, since we will dive right into the hands-on training. (Dinner will be provided)
Link to Registration: s.uconn.edu/2strokeengine
Title of class: 4 Stroke Service and Repair
Date: February 11th, 2025
Time: 4pm-7pm
Location: Middletown High School, 200 La Rosa Ln, Middletown, CT 06457
Max. number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Gain hands-on experience working on 4-stroke engines; walk behind tillers, log splitters and more. Bring your own engines and we can troubleshoot any problems you’ve been having or walk through how to take the engine apart and maintain your machine. We recommend attending this course if you already have some knowledge of how engines work, or if you took our Small Gas Engine Basics Course, since we will dive right into the hands-on training. (Dinner will be provided)
Date: February 11th, 2025
Time: 4pm-7pm
Location: Middletown High School, 200 La Rosa Ln, Middletown, CT 06457
Max. number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Gain hands-on experience working on 4-stroke engines; walk behind tillers, log splitters and more. Bring your own engines and we can troubleshoot any problems you’ve been having or walk through how to take the engine apart and maintain your machine. We recommend attending this course if you already have some knowledge of how engines work, or if you took our Small Gas Engine Basics Course, since we will dive right into the hands-on training. (Dinner will be provided)
Link to Registration: s.uconn.edu/4strokeengine
Title of class: Chainsaw Safety and Operation for Beginners
Date: March 15th, 2025
Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Mansfield UConn Forests. Exact location TBD
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Intro to safe chainsaw operation. Students will learn about PPE, work area safety, basic saw maintenance, chain sharpening, and how to develop a felling plan. Each student will have a chance to fell their own tree. You may bring your own saw or use one that will be provided by the instructor. (Lunch will be provided)
Date: March 15th, 2025
Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Mansfield UConn Forests. Exact location TBD
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Intro to safe chainsaw operation. Students will learn about PPE, work area safety, basic saw maintenance, chain sharpening, and how to develop a felling plan. Each student will have a chance to fell their own tree. You may bring your own saw or use one that will be provided by the instructor. (Lunch will be provided)
Link to Registration: s.uconn.edu/beginnerchainsaw
Title of class: Tractor Safety, Maintenance, and Operation
Date: March 22nd 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Rd, Vernon, CT 06066
Max. number of participants: 12
Description of class: Buying a new tractor for your farm? Are you trying to get some more experience in your tractor operation and safety skills? In this workshop, we will cover safe tractor operation, regular maintenance needs like oil changes, and changing PTOs. Get on both a tractor and skid steer and practice moving around material. (Lunch will be provided)
Date: March 22nd 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Rd, Vernon, CT 06066
Max. number of participants: 12
Description of class: Buying a new tractor for your farm? Are you trying to get some more experience in your tractor operation and safety skills? In this workshop, we will cover safe tractor operation, regular maintenance needs like oil changes, and changing PTOs. Get on both a tractor and skid steer and practice moving around material. (Lunch will be provided)
Link to Registration: s.uconn.edu/tractorsafety
Title of class: Intermediate Chainsaw Course
Date: March 29th, 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Manfield Center Forests, exact location TBD
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Level up your chainsaw skills with this intermediate class. (Lunch will be provided)
Date: March 29th, 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Manfield Center Forests, exact location TBD
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Level up your chainsaw skills with this intermediate class. (Lunch will be provided)
Link to Registration: s.uconn.edu/intermediatechainsaw
Title of class: Walk-Behind Tractor Safety & Use
Date: April 9th, 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: River Ridge Farm, 12 Payne Blvd, Portland, CT 06480
Max. number of participants: 12
Description of class:
BCS / Walk Behind Tractor Training – Interested in scaling up and incorporating a walk behind tractor into your farming operation? Come learn about both BCS and Grillo walk-behind tractors. We’ll cover how it can be used on the farm, safe operation, and practice attaching different implements. (Lunch will be provided)
Date: April 9th, 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: River Ridge Farm, 12 Payne Blvd, Portland, CT 06480
Max. number of participants: 12
Description of class:
BCS / Walk Behind Tractor Training – Interested in scaling up and incorporating a walk behind tractor into your farming operation? Come learn about both BCS and Grillo walk-behind tractors. We’ll cover how it can be used on the farm, safe operation, and practice attaching different implements. (Lunch will be provided)
Link to Registration: https://s.uconn.edu/sgwalkbehind