Case IH donated tractors to three technical schools: Parkland Community College in Champaign, Illinois; North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota; and Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, South Dakota. Each received one donated tractor.

The tractors will be used as training aids for diesel technology programs to benefit students’ education. Each school that received a donated tractor is partnered with a local Case IH dealer and has a program to train students to repair agriculture equipment. The tractor models that were donated — a Puma 170, Optum 270, and Optum 300 — have a retail value of more than $500,000 in total.

J.E. Cadle, Case IH marketing manager for Maxxum, Puma, and Optum tractors, said:

“Programs and partnerships like these are instrumental in helping our dealer network hire excellent technicians. There is always a demand for technicians, and we are excited to take this opportunity to supply future generations with important firsthand learning opportunities and experience.”

Darrel Woolery, the agriculture department supervisor at Lake Area Technical Institute, said the Optum 300 tractor they received will be used to teach across multiple programs, and it will serve as a learning tool both in the classroom and in the field.

Woolery said:

“A donation like this is huge for our program. Our students are excited about it, and it serves as a great recruitment tool. Because new equipment is changing rapidly, the more familiar they are with new technology, the better prepared they are.”

Case IH dealerships across the country look to valuable partnerships with technical schools to help develop and recruit knowledgeable and reliable technicians.

“Programs like these provide a solid foundation and teach valuable professional skills such as how to work with a team. On the dealership side, we’re able to provide experiences to help students apply their skills and learnings in a real-world setting.”

said Sarah Kenz, talent acquisition specialist at Titan Machinery in West Fargo, North Dakota.

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