The Fendt Technician Academy will launch at UTI’s Lisle, Illinois campus, outside of Chicago, in Fall 2021.

“It’s extremely exciting to launch UTI’s first-ever agricultural manufacturing training program at our Lisle campus with an impressive manufacturer like AGCO. Since many of our Diesel program graduates go to work in the agriculture industry, we saw the true value to our students in offering manufacturer-specific advanced training and credentials in agricultural equipment. It has been an honor to work with AGCO to develop an innovative program to meet the growing demand for trained tractor technicians.”

said Sherrell Smith, Executive Vice President of Campus Operations.

This 12-week advanced program trains students to work with Fendt’s exclusive technology to gain in-depth knowledge about the brand’s engines, powertrains, hydraulics, electronics, and Fuse technology. Classes will be limited to 12-15 students and will be taught by Fendt-certified program instructors who will bring their real-world industry experience to the program. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be associate, expert, and Fendt Technical Theory certified.

“AGCO’s premium Fendt brand has experienced tremendous growth and expansion across North America in recent years, and that’s led to increased demand from farmers and dealers for qualified technicians to support Fendt’s industry-leading equipment. The caliber of students graduating from UTI’s core Diesel Technology program is tremendous, and we are excited to launch the Fendt Technician Academy to train and certify more Fendt technicians to meet industry demands and create excellent jobs that serve America’s agriculture industry.”

said Ed Barry, director, after-sales & customer support training North America.

Despite record numbers of Americans filing unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand has risen for skilled technicians across the transportation and agriculture industries. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has deemed many of these jobs essential to supporting the nation’s infrastructure during the health crisis, and UTI employer participants, including AGCO, continue to report a need for trained technicians.

Source: AGCO

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However, through her work as coordinator of the Harper County Transition to Career Program and its partnership with local AEM member company Harper Industries, Hedlund recognizes it takes the right combination of engaged stakeholders, hard work and good fortune to build a strong workforce pipeline capable of sustaining itself over time.

“We started with – quite literally – nothing,”

said Hedlund.

The challenge at hand

To understand just how impactful the Harper County Transition to Career Program is – and has the potential to be – one must consider just how challenging it’s been for local businesses in and around Harper County to find, train (and eventually retain) workers in the skilled trades. Located in south-central Kansas and just a few miles north of the Oklahoma border, Harper County boasts a population of fewer than 6,000 people, while the Town of Harper itself is comprised of just 1,500 citizens.

“And unfortunately, we’ve found ourselves in a scenario where the workforce available is quite limited, and finding skilled workers has been a challenge for us for a long time”

said Luke Thornton, vice president of operations at Harper Industries, a manufacturer of bale beds, hydraulics, and turf and landscape equipment based in Harper.

“In the past, we’ve tried partnering with our local schools in an effort to start creating a workforce pipeline, but the trouble was, every time we started making some progress and establishing some relationships, an instructor would end up leaving the community, and we’d have to start all over again,”

Thornton added.

Now, however, there’s the reason for hope and optimism – and it’s largely due to the efforts of the Harper County Transition to Career Program and its successful ability to expose young people to careers in the skilled trades, develop their skills and provide access to meaningful work experiences.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to individualize their education, help them establish goals and set them up for post-secondary success,”

Hedlund said.

Building a positive perception of the skilled trades

Spreading awareness of good-paying employment opportunities available locally is crucial to the health of any community, but it’s a task often easier said than done. Such has been the case for businesses and area organizations in Harper County. However, in working together, Hedlund, Thornton – along with other stakeholders within the community – have been able to offer job-shadowing opportunities, internships, education, training and more to local students in two area school districts.

And thanks in large part to a budding partnership with Harper Industries – one which led to the successful development of a welding program for students in Harper County – efforts to engage young people in Harper County regarding the value of building a career in the skilled trades have never been more successful.

“We’re very lucky to have some fantastic local instructors who are plugged into our community,” explained Thornton. “Many are from the area originally, and a lot had different careers before moving into education because of their passion for education.”

An Ongoing effort

As she worked to get the Harper County Transition to Career Program off the ground, Hedlund knew it needed support from the community and – perhaps more importantly – the manufacturing industry it sought to serve. So, when she came across AEM’s Next-Gen grant program two years ago, which planned to award five non-profit organizations $10,000 each to assist in the efforts to support the future of the manufacturing and trades workforces, Hedlund jumped at the opportunity to try and secure some much-needed funding for the welding program being developed in collaboration with Harper Industries.

“If there’s one thing that’s needed in our area and across our state, it’s welders. Our schools just don’t have the money right now to invest in a welding program that would allow young people to gain certification through the American Welding Society. So, when I saw the grant, I applied for it and received it, and it allowed us to get started on buying the necessary equipment.”

said Hedlund

Hedlund also pointed the workforce development efforts of AEM member company Vermeer Corporation, which she learned of by attending a conference a few years ago, as a blueprint of sorts for her in developing the Harper County Transition to Career Program. After contacting company officials in the weeks following the conference, Hedlund was able to travel to Vermeer’s headquarters in Pella, Iowa and learn more about how Vermeer is tackling the skills gap and providing opportunities for professional development in its own community.

“I was then able to take what I learned, bring it back to Harper County, and scale it down for Harper Industries,”

she added.

Hedlund also went to work trying to find students for the program, which eventually led to a collaborative partnership between three school districts in Harper County and Wichita, Kansas-based community college WSU Tech. Now, Harper County boasts a welding program with a morning class for 10 students, and plans are in place for it to grow into a two-year program with morning and afternoon class sessions later this year. In addition, efforts are underway to ensure an intern can start at Harper Industries this coming semester to provide additional work-based learning opportunities.

In addition to offering chances to gain real-world experience and obtain certifications necessary for securing full-time employment, the welding program offers students the chance to secure 10 hours of college credit for their first year, and as many as 10 for their second year.

“That’s a really good start for a college degree, if that’s the path they want to take. And without AEM, we could never have gotten started on this program.”

Hedlund continued. According to Thornton, the successful launch of the welding program is largely due to a few key factors: the right timing, a little bit of luck and a whole lot of hard work and collaboration.

“We wouldn’t have had ability to do something like this on our own. The right people driving this makes all the difference,” said Thornton,

he said. Who noted the students from several districts now have access to college-level courses because the welding program instructor has the proper certifications.

“If we didn’t have the instructors we have now – along with the work being done by (Britt Hedlund), I’d be sitting here today still wondering how we could go about making something like this happen. So, having these talented driven people – and having them work together – has been key.”

The proof, however, is in the results. According to Thornton, a Harper Industries intern is poised to graduate from the program in May and seek full-time employment at the company shortly thereafter.

A bright future ahead

“And that’s just the beginning of it. Moving forward, we can expect a greater number of students who are ready to get to work when they get out of high school and, more importantly, have the skills they need to enter the workforce. And to know our students can be part of the work that Harper Industries is doing, and be a part of our community, is just so amazing.”

explained Hedlund.

Manufacturing will continue to evolve with time, and the needs of the companies in the industry will change with it. As a result, it is critical for organizations to be able to connect with the workforce of tomorrow, inspire them to strongly consider a career as a skilled worker, and – hopefully – develop them into qualified employees. It’s a tall task, and it’s one that requires people to come together to develop practical solutions for tackling the skills gap at the community level.

“The goal, overall, is to try to create a manufacturing pathway for students. The partnerships are so important for a smaller community, and we’re trying to work together to develop our workforce and help the students in the process,”

said Thornton.

“Pulling together multiple manufacturers and multiple schools, trying to work together for the good of the community and the good of the students, I think that’s been the key,”

he continued.

“We had been failing, over and over again, because we didn’t have the right people. Now that we have the right people in the right roles, we’re really starting to make a difference.”

Source: AEM

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Mark Cuban has some good advice for all the business people dealing with the coronavirus pandemic:

“Make use of whatever down-time you might have to brush up on the skills that might impress your future employer. Every interviewer from now on is going to ask you what skills did you add during the pandemic of 2020.”

He also suggests we use this time to become great at the work you want to do and add new skills to your repertoire.

This is excellent advice, but sometimes it’s hard to find educational opportunities for those of us in the water conservation business. Thanks to Jain Irrigation, this is changing. Recently Jain started providing regular irrigation training a couple of times a week for free to anyone wanting to improve their skills in irrigation, water management, and sustainability. The Jain Irrigation training sessions are inspiring water managers of all levels and in multiple water management fields.  This is your chance to join experts and enthusiasts to discover and share new techniques, smart tips, and new technology.

The webinars cover various subjects and many cover subjects that do not include information about Jain products. They cover topics like System Management In Controlled Environment Agriculture, Harvest Recommendations, Budgets, and Best Practices For Marketing Hemp, Critical Success Factors For Landscape Contractors, and many more. There are some specific to Jain Products, unique product offers, and discount pricing for Jain products offered during the instruction. However, the instructors and guests are very aware this is a learning experience and provide a positive learning experience for those who attend.

Future webinars are posted on Jain’s website. If you scroll down on that page, you will also see the previous webinars, and you can watch all these for no charge. Jain provides these at no cost as part of their conservation and sustainability message and helps fulfill their mission to leave this world better than you found it.

For all the runners, walkers, and water managers who like to listen on the go, the training is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and Google podcasts. Just search Jain Irrigation training on the channels, and you will find all the episodes. If your favorite podcasts are on Stitcher or TuneIn, you can find them there too.

The instructors come from all over the irrigation industry. They include Landscape Architect, Lance Sweeney, Ag Irrigation Designer Perry Continente, The Hawthorne Gardening customer support team, Jim Kauth from Aqua Trac System in Arizona, and Ken Olson from Olson Business Solutions, to name a few. Also, President of Jain Irrigation, Aric Olson, discusses the future of Ag Technology and covers a three-part series on nitrogen and fertilizer for agriculture. You will also find several of the subject matter experts on products for Jain Irrigation presenting as well. It is a well-rounded group covering different but specific subjects each week.

A big thanks to Mark Cuban for helping us put this crisis in perspective and motivating us in a positive direction. Jain training is valuable now and in the future. There is so much to learn about water management, conservation, and sustainability and I look forward to many years of training from Jain.

Source: Jain

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Roger Simonsson, Aquajet managing director, said:

“Aquajet is committed to providing the best equipment and customer support in the industry. That’s why we continually work to improve our products and solutions. Recent expansions to our equipment, parts and service facilities allow us to up our game and provide even better service and support for our North American customers.”

Shared with Brokk Inc., the recently expanded Stanhope, New Jersey, equipment distribution and service facility offers the company more space for increased equipment inventory. Additionally, the added space allows the Stanhope team to offer demonstrations onsite, providing an ideal setting for customers to experience Aquajet’s versatile and innovative Hydrodemolition robots and choose models and attachments best suited to their needs. The Stanhope facility also offers select equipment servicing by appointment.

In addition, recent upgrades to the parts warehouse in Monroe, Washington, enhance parts availability for Aquajet Hydrodemolition robots and accessories. An ample inventory of parts ensures fast delivery – often overnight under normal circumstances. In addition to swift delivery, Aquajet provides experienced technicians available by phone at 1-800-621-7856 to help customers quickly identify issues, recommend required parts and process the order over the phone. This direct service significantly reduces downtime.

The demonstration and service center in St. Joseph, Missouri, houses a complete service complex with a wash bay, workshop and welding station. A staff of full-time technicians provides the best possible solutions, reducing lead times on services from troubleshooting and routine maintenance to repairs and refurbishment. The process starts with a thorough inspection and analysis of all critical machine components. From there, technicians and owners can walk through the various options to match machine capabilities to operation needs. The service team welcomes customer mechanics to assist in repair or refurbishment of their equipment, allowing them the opportunity to learn more about the care and maintenance of their machines. Replacement parts are backed by a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects. The facility also offers space for equipment demonstrations and training opportunities.

Aquajet representatives are located throughout the U.S. and Canada and can quickly travel to a work facility or jobsite for training, which is included with the sale of each machine. Trainers guide the whole team through safety practices, operation and service of the equipment. Upon successful completion of training, operators receive an operator license. Aquajet representatives also travel to jobsites for troubleshooting assistance.

Simonsson said:

“We understand that unscheduled downtime means lost revenue. Our service team makes sure our customers not only have the necessary training to properly operate the equipment, but have quick access to parts inventory, equipment evaluations, and repair and refurbishment services to keep their operations up and running.”

The post Aquajet Offers Increased Aftersales Services for North American Customers appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

• Developing materials that are accurate, teacher-tested and scientifically sound to enhance the educational experience of K-12 students.
• Providing programs, inspiration and training opportunities for educators.
• Partnering with like-minded organizations to create awareness about the significance of agriculture in our everyday lives.
• Recognizing teachers and students for their achievements in agricultural literacy.
• Supporting the pursuit of agricultural careers and continuing education.

Fact sheets are one of their most popular resources and are designed to be easily printed and copied for teachers to use in their classrooms. The back of the Fact Sheet includes lessons that meet California State Content Standards and activities that teachers can bring to life simply by reviewing the front page and sharing the lesson with their students.

Source: CCGGA – California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association

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As it has every year, the competition began with a written exam in early June with more than 1000 test taken by technicians from Freightliner and Western Star dealerships and Detroit distributors in the U.S. and Canada. The 28 top-scoring vehicle and engine technicians will then compete in a “virtual” hands-on competition August 11-12. Unlike in previous years, when technicians traveled to DTNA headquarters in Portland to compete, the finalists this year will be tested at their dealership. Using computers and video, the judges will walk the technicians through different stations where they’ll be evaluated on how quickly they can troubleshoot problems. The best vehicle and engine technicians will be awarded on August 13 in a virtual ceremony.

“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made us more aware than ever of the importance and indispensability of our technicians and service network. As our vehicles become increasingly complex, it is critical that we support the development and innovation of our technicians so that they can be on the cutting edge. Technicians truly drive the Uptime Revolution for our customers, and they are a big part of why DTNA leads the industry.”

said Admir Kreso, general manager for Dealer Service with DTNA.

With a service network spanning the U.S. and Canada, DTNA and its affiliated service locations invest more than $20 million in technician training and development annually. Some programs and initiatives include:

• Get Ahead Program is a partnership between DTNA, technical schools, and DTNA service network locations that provides students free access to web-based training materials, service literature, and diagnostic link licenses.
• Finish First is a 12-week, hands-on training program offered at select Universal Technical Institute campuses. Students earn certifications for Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Detroit engines. Students can also apply for scholarships to the Finish First program through DTNA’s TechForce Foundation. More than 1,300 students have graduated from the program since it was founded in 2008.
• MasterTech Recognition Program recognizes and rewards technicians who go above and beyond in the pursuit of providing an unsurpassed customer experience.
• Be Pro Be Proud is a Freightliner-sponsored initiative in Arkansas which interests students, parents and educators in technical professionals in the manufacturing, trucking and construction industries.

Source: Daimler

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