Education and outreach is the name of the game. The Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA) is actively engaged in educating parents, educators, and prospective employees about career opportunities in the equipment industry.
Here is a recap of a few of the ways we have been working to reach the next generation of equipment dealer employees about career opportunities in the equipment industry.
Nebraska SkillsUSA Competition
On Friday, April 8, the Nebraska Chapter of SkillsUSA held an off-road diesel technology competition at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. SkillsUSA is a national membership association serving university, high school, and middle school students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations, including the equipment industry.
The event is focused on testing students in three areas of competency including technical skills grounded in academics, workplace skills, and personal skills. Approximately 20 community college and high school students participated in this year’s competition.
Event Chairman Elliot Grosshans of Grosshans Inc. spearheaded the effort by developing the various testing stages of the competition, building and organizing testing equipment, recruiting judges, and promoting the event to local community colleges and high schools.
INEDA would also like to recognize Grosshans Inc., LandMark Implement, and KanEquip for their generous support in donating prize money awarded to students who placed in the top five of the competition. Students also received a participation award from INEDA. Thank you to all of the dealers that helped with providing judges and equipment for the event.
Build My Future Event
On Wednesday, April 16, the Iowa Homebuilders Association hosted a career exploration event for high school students at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event focused on career opportunities in the skilled trades and featured hands-on experiences operating equipment and simulators. Over 5,500 high school students and educators from across Iowa participated in the event and toured over 100 exhibiting associations and organizations.
Students that visited the INEDA booth learned more about careers in the equipment industry, received information about the Andrew Goodman Scholarship Program, and operated an electric mini-excavator and tractor simulator.
Thank you to Vetter Equipment and Star Equipment for organizing the hands-on experience for the event.
Tour of Dealerships with FFA Students
On Tuesday, April 19, INEDA organized a tour of equipment dealerships in Northwest Iowa for 26 students from the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community (MMCRU) School District as part of a career education event.
MMCRU FFA Instructor Samantha Schroeder led the students on a tour of three equipment dealerships, where students learned about working in the dealership, including service and repair, parts and inventory, and sales.
Thank you to AgriVision Equipment, Town and Country Implement, and O’Brien County Implement for hosting the students and providing access to facilities.
Plattsmouth High School Career Presentation
On Tuesday, February 10, a representative from INEDA presented to over 100 students from Plattsmouth High School in Nebraska about career opportunities in the equipment industry. Students received information regarding the various career paths available in a dealership. Students from the same program had previously visited Pankonin’s Inc. in Louisville.
Plattsmouth High School offers dual-credit courses to students in over 130 courses through the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Southeast Community College. It also offers specialized education through two unique academies within the school focusing on Business Education and Diesel Mechanics.