Tech in training

Apprenticeships, kids’ camps bring awareness to forgotten trades

Janelle Atyeo
Apr 23, 2024
Apr 23, 2024

Training programs 8 Ziegler.jpg — Technicians work on farm equipment at a Ziegler shop in Mankato, Minn. A new apprenticeship program is helping the company fill vacancies in shops across its territory.
Submitted photo

When Chris Schmidt heard from his friends about a program for machinery technicians that paid trainees to learn the trade and bought them a full set of tools, he was intrigued.

A technician works on farm equipment at a Ziegler shop in Mankato, Minn. A new apprenticeship program is helping the company fill vacancies in shops across its territory.
Submitted photo

Center Pt Camp-1.jpg — Kids participate in a Diesel Days camp last year at Titan Machinery in Center Point, Iowa. The program’s popularity prompted the company to plan twice as many camps for this summer.
Submitted photo

Diesel Camp Collection-44.jpg — Titan Diesel Camp participants get instruction at the Lake Area Technical College shop in Watertown, S.D.
Submitted photo

k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\724E E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\=67E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\@?6\E9:C5Qmk9cmx7 *@F v@k^9cmkA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8mkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6jQm%:E2? |249:?6CJ s:6D6= r2>ADk^DA2?mk^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmk6>mu:?5 @FE >@C6 2?5 C68:DE6C 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E:E2?>249:?6CJ]4@>^E:E2?\42C66CD^42C66CD^42C66C\56G6=@A>6?EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE:E2?>249:?6CJ]4@>k^2m F?56C E96 r2C66C s6G6=@A>6?E E23] $A@ED 2C6 =:>:E65 E@ b_ DEF56?ED[ F?=6DD @E96CH:D6 ?@E65]k^6>mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8m|2J agk^DEC@?8m 2E {2<6 pC62 %649?:42= r@==686 kDEC@?8m:? (2E6CE@H?[ $]s]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 b\ck^DEC@?8m 2E r6?EC2= r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 kDEC@?8m:? w2DE:?8D[ }63]k^DEC@?8m Wd_ DA@ED 7@C DEF56?EDXk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 ``\`ak^DEC@?8m 2E z:C<H@@5 r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 kDEC@?8m:? r652C #2A:5D[ x@H2k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 `e\`hk^DEC@?8m 2E }@CE962DE6C? yF?:@C r@==686 kDEC@?8m:? $E6C=:?8[ r@=@]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 ad\aek^DEC@?8m 2E #:586H2E6C r@==686 kDEC@?8m:? (:==>2C[ |:??]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF=J g\`_k^DEC@?8m 2E x529@ $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ kDEC@?8m:? !@42E6==@[ x529@k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF=J `c\`ek^DEC@?8m 2E }@CE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 r@==686 @7 $4:6?46 kDEC@?8m:? (29A6E@?[ }]s]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF=J ``\`ak^DEC@?8m !C64:D:@? r2>A 2E $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ kDEC@?8m:? qC@@<:?8D[ $]s]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6jQmkDEC@?8m%:E2? s:6D6= s2JDk^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmk6>m$9@CE6C 52J 42>AD 2C6 @776C65 2E 46CE2:? %:E2? |249:?6CJ =@42E:@?D 7@C DEF56?ED :? 6:89E E9C@F89 `aE9 8C256D]k^6>mk^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 `` –k^DEC@?8m }@CE9H@@5[ }]s]k^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 `c –k^DEC@?8m wFC@?[ $]s]k^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF?6 `h –k^DEC@?8m s6D |@:?6D[ x@H2k^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF=J `e –k^DEC@?8m ~C5] }63]k^Am kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8myF=J `h –k^DEC@?8m r@=@C25@ $AC:?8D[ r@=@]k^Amk^2D:56m

Janelle Atyeo is a small town South Dakota girl enjoying her work as regional editor of the Midwest Messenger and Tri-State Neighbor while raising kids and no-till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net.