The John Deere Agricultural Technology program at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) recently held a ceremony to recognize new graduates from the program. The event was held in the Energy and Transportation Center on the SGTC campus in Americus.
After brief remarks from SGTC Academic Dean Dr. David Finley and Agricultural Technology instructors Matthew Burks and Wayne Peck, the sixteen graduates were presented personalized plaques acknowledging their completion of the program.
Recognized in the program were; Aaron Rogers of Cochran; Cason Taunton of Shiloh; Charles Parker of Blakely; Coleman Blommel of Dade City, FL; Colton Stone of Tifton; Gralin Latham of Summerville, SC; Joshua Breasette of Albany; Justin Scott of Lakeland, FL; Logan Dickens of Sparks; Nash Douglas of Waycross; Noah Siets of Tallahassee, FL; Robert Parker of Ozark, AL; Samuel Smith of Rochelle; Thomas Martin of Dalton; Ty Landry of Cochran; and William Middleton of Perry.
SGTC and John Deere have partnered together since 2014 to provide potential John Deere technicians with specialized training. Following completion of the program, the students have the opportunity to move directly into employment with their sponsoring dealership.
The agricultural technology curriculum addresses the full range of technological advances in agricultural mechanization, focusing on both John Deere’s Agricultural and Turf Equipment product lines. Students learn about diesel engine systems, powertrains, hydraulics, machine setup and adjustment, as well as high-tech AMS electronics, schematics and diagnostics computers. Students also gain practical experience and expertise working with the computer-assisted resource materials used throughout the John Deere service network, such as Service ADVISOR. The program also emphasizes communication skills and other non-core disciplines essential to a successful career in ag service.
Students attend classes at South Georgia Tech for eight weeks each semester and then serve an eight-week internship at their sponsoring dealer each semester for approximately two years. During that time, students utilize John Deere equipment, training components, and computer diagnostic tools to understand what makes equipment run. This program provides students with the instructional knowledge needed as well as the hands-on knowledge and skills to be successful in this career.
The John Deere Tech program is a special admission program. For more information on the partnership between John Deere and South Georgia Technical College, contact Matthew Burks at 229-931-2401 or by email at mburks@southgatech.edu.