There is a growing amount of misinformation being spread about atv safety in an effort to attempt to close down this quickly growing off-road recreational activity. I keep reading (and now hearing on local news radio) about how dangerous ATVs have become, and how we need to prevent children from riding them, and how we need to close all public land to them, blah blah ef'n blah.

Here's a quick bit of information that will help change that. The National 4-H Council and the Ohio State University Extension have got together to teach Master Volunteers and educators from the University to become ATV Instructors to train 4-H youths and other individuals about ATV safety. Personally, I think it's a great idea. Education is key to safety, and this whole one-size fits all mentality about ATVs from both opponents and from parents letting their kids ride ATVs that are too big for them is getting out of hand.

For more information on the OSU Extension statewide grant and training programs, contact Randall Reeder at (614) 292-6648 or reeder.1@osu.edu. For more information on the ATV safety programs in Scioto and Greene counties, contact Regina Kuhn, Scioto County Extension educator in 4-H youth development, at (740) 354-7879, or Dail Gracy, Greene County Extension educator in 4-H youth development, at (937) 372-9971.