Sask. Polytechnic’s high school curriculum includes online theory, practical work at a dealership and a boot camp
Many of the 55 high school students came a long way to attend the agriculture equipment technician boot camp held Nov. 29-30 at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon.
“I guess what was really kind of impressive for all of us was the distance that these kids have travelled,” said Chris Thomson, head of Sask Polytech’s agricultural equipment technician program.
The two-day event was one of three components of the new courses being offered through Sun West School Division’s high school distance learning curriculum launched last spring.
The two new courses include 50 hours of online theory, 40 hours of practical work study at a local agricultural dealership and the 10-hour boot camp at Sask Polytech.
The Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Sun West School Division and the Western Equipment Dealers Association teamed up to introduce Grade 11 and 12 students to agriculture-related careers.
It’s all part of a long-term effort to attract more service and parts people and ultimately more licensed agricultural equipment technicians (AET), who increasingly are in demand at dealerships throughout Western Canada.
The boot camp explored a day in the life of an agricultural equipment technician, which included a campus tour, shop tour and hands-on learning with hydraulics, engines and electrical components.
Thomson said they were originally projecting about 20 to 30 applicants for the high school courses, but were surprised when 118 students enrolled in the start-up program.
“I’m thrilled that the uptake has been like that because the whole premise was to try to take some kind of technical training out to small communities and clearly kids are interested in it. It’s working, they seem to be interested in the program,” he said.
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Several representatives from ag dealerships were also on hand, including Rob Riess of Pattison Agriculture, which is mentoring a high school student at each of its 19 locations.
“Very impressed,” said Riess, manager of training and development at Pattison Agriculture in Yorkton.
“From what I’m seeing, they are very well engaged and listening very attentively. I was sitting in when we talked about two-stroke and four-stroke engines, turbo chargers and that. The students engaged with a lot of different questions, talking about how to increase the peak horsepower and that. Whether they’re thinking about the farm truck at home or not, I don’t know. But it’s been engaging.”
Brayden Mears, 17, travelled from Marengo, Sask., and is enrolled at Westcliffe Composite School.
The Grade 12 student said he’s finding the AET course to be helpful because of the information he’s learning and can apply on his family’s mixed farm.
His 40-hour work placement is at Moody’s Equipment in Kindersley, Sask., which he is enjoying but would like to have more time at the dealership.
“Yesterday I was taking apart a combine — took the sieves out of the combine, the belly pan out of the motor and took the top pan off the head of the engine. So just working on stuff, fixing stuff, getting it ready for fall next year,” he said.
“That’s the best way I learn is hands-on.”
Skylar Coderre, in grade 12 at Weyburn Comprehensive School, said she’s always been interested in the mechanical side of the farm.
“Some people would say it just kind of comes naturally,” said Coderre, who was one of three females participating at the boot camp.
On her own initiative, she approached Young’s Equipment in Weyburn looking for a summer job.
“I went in with my resume and explained to them that this is what I want to do for a career. Maybe a week later I got a call saying come in,” she said.
She started at the front desk answering phones, which led to working on the shop floor where she learned about swathers, combines and GPS.
She said the boot camp was a good idea, but she was somewhat apprehensive about being one of the few females attending.
“I was scared that I would just get judged from them (male students) that you’re not strong enough, you can’t do this, this isn’t a job for a girl. But coming to the boot camp it just makes it easier for when I eventually do go full-time,” she said.
However, Coderre has her own thoughts about any naysayers, including encouragement for female mechanics.
“Even though people say like for girls that you can’t do it or whatever, don’t shy down from it because girls actually can do things like this and if you put your mind to it, you can even come out better than some of the guys.”
