Revamped CYF program provides
unique teaching opportunity
With all of the manufacturer’s stickers still intact,
students in the diesel technology program at Northeastern Junior College knew
they were getting a brand new teaching tool in the shop last week. What’s unique
about this is that students in this program don’t often get to see or interact
with brand new equipment—they are usually working on something older that needs
fixed. This spanking new teaching tool is a 2013 Case IH 315 Magnun tractor,
delivered to the NJC diesel technology shop by Wickham Tractor Company and the
national Case IH company. Students will have the unit in the shop until
mid-October and during this time, they will go through the tractor’s operating
systems and prepare it to go into the field for fall work. The delivery of this
tractor marks the beginning of a new win, win, win program between Case IH, NJC
and the Colorado Young Farmers.
Since 1993 the Colorado Young Farmers have raised money
for an annual scholarship fund through the assistance of Case IH by auctioning
off blocks of use of a new tractor at their state institute. For a number of
years, various Case IH dealers across the state took turns providing the new
tractor. However, as field technology has advanced and tractor prices have
climbed, it has been more and more difficult for many dealers to commit the
availability of a new unit in the heat of the season. There was concern that the
program might go by the wayside.
Then up steps Randy Pauletto, territory sales manager
for Case IH, who decides to help champion the program. He has worked with the
CYF program for several years and wanted badly to help keep the program going
and if possible, expand it. He joined with Howard Wickham of Wickham Tractor
Company in Fort Morgan and Sterling and the two were able to put the pieces
together. Wickham, who understands the value of the program, joined Pauletto to
initiate conversation with the national Case IH company about the possibility of
expanding the program to include more of an education component. In turn,
Wickham Tractor Company would be able to assure the Colorado Young Farmer
organization that a new tractor would be available each fall and again each
spring for this scholarship program.
Beginning this year, the new tractors will be delivered
to the NJC diesel technology program via Wickham, one in the fall and another
one in the spring, where they will be used as teaching tools.. Students will
then be responsible for prepping the unit to go to the field to be used by those
producers who have purchased the blocks of time during the scholarship auction
fundraiser. This unit will go to the Alan Gerk farm for farm tillage work once
it leaves the NJC shop. It will then be taken to Johnston Family Farms in Fort
Morgan and to Brandon Johnston’s operation in Erie. It will be brought back to
the NJC teaching facility after 150 hours of use and students will have an
opportunity to go through it and see how the hours have impacted the condition
of the systems. The process will be repeated in the spring with another new
tractor.
Students in the diesel program will spend three weeks
gaining useful knowledge and experience from a modern farm tractor as they learn
how the latest technology has advanced the service life of farm tractors and how
the Computerized Electronic System Technology (CEST) can be used to help
schedule maintenance. The CEST has the ability to log diagnostics right down to
the date and time that a malfunction might occur. Under the direction of
instructor Harv Rober, students will spend time learning about the hydraulic
systems, electrical systems, heavy duty powertrains and diesel fuel systems.
This type of program is not new to Case IH. The national
company believes strongly in helping with educational, government or non-profit
programs. When given an opportunity to get involved with programs that can
impact the availability of future technicians, Cash IH is pleased to be on
board. “We have a desperate need for technicians just like you,” Howard Wickham
told the students when delivering the tractor. Pauletto told the students that
Case IH has some technology that separates it from other companies. “We want
this to be the best experience possible. We want it to be a win, win, win deal,”
Pauletto said, emphasizing three wins. “Howard understands the value of having
scholarships to award to students and he is a dealership that really wants to
stand behind this program.”
Pauletto and Wickham admit that with this new
arrangement and the redesigning of a program, the curriculum will be created
over time. “We are going to make this teaching tool sustainable year after year
as part of this program,” Wickham said. During the presentation to the
students, one student raised his hand and asked if they would be able to see the
tractor after it has had some hours of use on it. “That’s the exact kind of
feedback we want from the students,” Pauletto noted, telling the students that
they will see the unit back in the shop after 150 hours of use and they will
have it for two weeks before it goes back to the dealership to be sold.
The
Colorado Young Farmers award five scholarships each year to college students who
are freshmen through seniors. The freshman and sophomore scholarships are open
to any student studying agriculture, including diesel technology. The junior and
senior awards are reserved for students completing agriculture education
degrees.
Bryson Miller of Brush, CO, State President for the
Colorado Young Farmers was on hand for the presentation of the tractor. Miller
said he was excited about this new arrangement and what it means for all those
involved. “Education is the forefront of all that’s involved here,” he said.
“The Colorado Young Farmers is education based and by changing this program the
way we have, we’re able to include an even larger education component and that
is exciting, not to mention how valuable the scholarships are to the students.”
Pauletto, assisted by Andrew Zink, manager of field
service operations for Case IH, demonstrated for the students how the computer
electronic service tool in the tractor is used for troubleshooting on the
engine, transmission and hydraulic system. Zink also reviewed all of the systems
available on the new Magnum 315.
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