Kansas ATV Rider Safety Program: Join the Team!
September 1, 2026
Submitted by Tawnie Larson
The Kansas ATV Rider Safety program is growing, and we’re looking for passionate extension agents to help lead the way.
Katelyn Barthol, an agriculture and natural resources agent in the Marais des Cygnes District, has been a Certified ATV Safety Instructor for eight years — and she’s still having fun!
For Katelyn, one of the most rewarding parts of the program is watching someone go from “I’ve never even sat on an ATV” to confidently riding as though they’ve been doing it forever. She enjoys watching youth build confidence, overcome their fears, and develop the skills they need to ride safely.
Other extension agents who are currently certified as ATV instructors include:
- Kurt Werth, an ANR and 4-H agent in Gray County.
- DeWayne Craghead, ANR and 4-H agent in Hodgeman County.
- Rachael Brooke, ANR and 4-H agent in the Phillips-Rooks District.
- Katelyn Barthol, ANR agent in the Marais des Cygnes District.
Each of those agents has built a strong foundation as a dedicated team of certified ATV safety instructors. Now, the program is expanding to help bring ATV safety education to communities across Kansas. There is an immediate need for additional certified instructors, particularly in eastern Kansas, to help meet the growing demand for ATV safety education.
The team has seen firsthand why this program matters. Some youth who have personally witnessed an ATV-related incident have taken the course because they wanted the knowledge and skills to make sure something similar never happened to them. Others return year after year because they want to build on the skills they learned previously.
Whether you have a personal reason for wanting to help, enjoy working with youth and adults, love ATVs, or simply enjoy watching people learn something new, we’d love to have you join the team of Kansas ATV Safety Instructors.
“Come help turn nervous riders into confident, knowledgeable riders — and have a little fun along the way!” — Katelyn Barthol
Agents interested in becoming a Certified ATV Rider Safety Instructor are invited to join the next training session: October 5–8 at the Riley County Fairgrounds in Manhattan.
The ATV Safety Institute provides the certification, and the training cost is fully covered. Agents are responsible only for travel and lodging.
Once certified, you’ll collaborate with fellow instructors to bring high-quality ATV safety education to your local communities -- strengthening skills, building confidence and helping keep Kansas riders safe.
Join the team and help make a difference, one rider at a time.
For more details, contact Kurt Werth, 620-855-3821, or kwerth@ksu.edu.
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