LE SILLON

A John Deere Publication

Fall 2024

True Calling

Diesel technician program fuels bright futures.

6 MIN READ

On a cold, damp November day, a service truck winds its way toward a logging site near Winona, Mississippi. Another early start. Another long day full of purpose and rewarding work.

On a typical day, Tyler Giles, field technician, Stribling Equipment, leaves home at 5:00 a.m. before working 10- to 12- hour days. "I'd work every day if they would let me," he says without irony. "When I get up, I'm looking around for something to work on. I don't like to sit around. I love that every day is different."

The distant chatter of a feller buncher lets Giles know he is getting close to his target: a skidder with a faulty hydraulic valve. He checks JDLink™ for its exact location as it appears around the next bend close to the landing. He hops out of the truck and goes to work.

Giles has been with Stribling for seven years. He grew up on a cattle farm, so he's worked on machines ever since he can remember: "We always had something to work on and didn't want to wait around, so we learned to do the repairs ourselves."

The same is true today. There are always machines that need fixing.

Later that same day in Jackson, Field Technician Malik Smith pulls up to a wheel loader. The setting sun casts a reddish glow over the construction site, signaling to workers that it's time to call it a day.

Smith climbs aboard the cab, plugs in his laptop, and runs a series of diagnostics. Being a technician in the 21^st century isn't only about getting your hands dirty. "It's not just levers, hydraulic lines, pumps, and motors anymore," he says.

Not that either Giles or Smith shy away from turning a wrench. Before starting at Stribling six years ago, Smith ran a skidder for his grandfather's logging operation and was no stranger to handling repairs.

Smith shares Giles' enthusiasm for the work. "It's awesome," he says. "I get to see different customers, scenery, and machines every day. And I like being my own boss, for the most part. Someone at the office has the final say, but I get to set my own schedule and choose how I want to work."

The ultimate satisfaction, though, comes from being of service. "I help blue-collar people just like me who work hard every day. They can't afford to lose much time without their machines."

FAST TRACK

Smith completed the two-year Diesel Equipment Technology associate degree program at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. Recently Hinds began offering a 14-month John Deere Construction and Forestry Training certification program for diesel technicians. Students also work part-time at Stribling Equipment.

Like many states, Mississippi faces a shortage of diesel technicians. "We partnered with Stribling Equipment to find creative ways to address the issue and came up with the Hinds Diesel Technology Academy," says Lee Douglas, director of the Academy. "It's a fast-track program to get students quickly trained on what they need and into the workforce."

"It's great that Stribling offers this program," says Smith. "Stribling is setting students up to be successful."

Caleb Carver is one of those students. Like Giles and Smith, Carver was born to be a technician. "As a kid, my parents always said I could fix anything. I always liked working on my stuff or my buddies' stuff. So I thought, 'Why not make a career out of this?'"

The Diesel Equipment Technology program is a 50/50 mix of classrooms and working on machines in Hinds' shop, which includes John Deere equipment.

"Anything I learn in the classroom, I'm doing hands-on in the shop," says Carver. And putting it into practice at work. "Between that and working with experienced technicians at Stribling — it's unreal what I've picked up. It would take me hours to explain everything I'm learning."

WALKING TALL

Carver heard about the program when he applied for a job at Stribling. He was referred to Donna Lawrence, navigator, Hinds Diesel Technology Academy. Lawrence's title is appropriate. She helps students ease the transition and navigate through the program and into the workforce. Students think of her simply as the program's mom.

"I love to watch them as they mature and succeed," says Lawrence. "I see the smiles on their faces and how they walk with a newfound air of confidence."

Carver talks of raising a family and how his career will provide a means to support it. He graduated from the program in May.

"It's a great field to get into," he says. "It's very satisfying to repair a machine so it can go back out there and make money. I'm grateful to Stribling for giving me the opportunity to become a John Deere technician. I'm proud and honored to have gone through this program."

PATH TO PROSPERITY

The program is growing, but getting the word out will be key to its future success. That's often a tough sell in a world where many young people want to be the next influencer to make their fortune on social media.

"We start creating awareness as early as elementary school," says Douglas. "Today we were at a high school. We let them know the jobs are there if they are willing to work hard and train."

The career provides many paths to prosperity and advancement. "It's a phenomenal program," says Erin Brewer, product support manager at Stribling's Winona office. "The sky's the limit."

"I can't wait to finish this program," says student Griffin Berch. "There are a lot of opportunities, from being a shop or field technician to becoming a shop foreman or supervisor."

Shop Supervisor Chris Bates and Service Manager Joshua Thomas were both promoted up the ranks at the Stribling store in Jackson. "It helps people get a foot in the door, learning the basics they need to build a lifelong career," says Bates, who graduated from the Hinds diesel program in 2013. "What we've seen is that students who come through the program advance much faster than people who walk straight in the door."

"There's nothing easy about this job," says Thomas. "It's mentally and physically challenging. But with the right mindset, you can succeed. Most people want a challenge. I always tell them, just keep your mind open. Don't prevent yourself from chasing your dreams."

Douglas surveys the John Deere machines in the Hinds Diesel Technology Academy's shop, a place where those dreams often begin. "I've talked with a few high school students who may not come from the best circumstances," he says. "They come to the diesel school, start making money, and realize, 'I can do this, and I like what I do for a living.' They're making competitive wages and are able to support their families by being a diesel technician. We see them turn their lives around."

When he was in middle school, Thomas rebuilt a 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne with the help of his father. He was on his way. In 2014 he began interning with Stribling while in a training program sponsored by John Deere. He started out working on the wash rack, and a decade later he's a supervisor. Bates loves his current role: "My favorite part of my position is being able to help the technicians grow and succeed."

MOVING FUTURES FORWARD

Bates and Thomas recently spoke to local high school students on career day. "Many have the opinion that 'If you're a mechanic, you're going to be getting greasy and dirty all day,'" says Bates. "But often the hardest part of the day is troubleshooting a machine with a laptop and figuring out what this code means or whether that component is actually working."