Eddy feels there are several ways equipment dealers can help make these connections. “Get involved with ag education, your local school district and FFA chapters,” said Eddy. “Reach out to these local programs and ask them what you can do to help.” He also suggests that dealers:
Visit a Classroom
Speak to ag education classrooms or FFA chapters about the equipment industry and share what career opportunities are available at your dealership. Bring out a piece of equipment for them to see and touch. Share what scholarship or tuition assistance programs your dealership offers. Talk about seasonal job opportunities.
Offer Job Shadowing Invite your local FFA advisor and/or ag teacher to spend a day at your dealership in the summer to job shadow in each department and learn what careers are available at an equipment dealership. “Any time I can go out into the industry and bring that experience back to students is awesome,” exclaimed Eddy.
Loan Equipment
“Equipment today has become so technologically advanced,” said Eddy. “Most people don’t realize this and still think of the 1970s tractor as a reference model.” Last year, a dealership loaned Eddy a new trac- tor to use for the Homecoming parade. He turned this opportunity into a teaching moment. “I brought all of my classes out for a chance to sit in the tractor so they could see all of the computers and technology on the tractor. This helped me demonstrate how far ag technology has come and show potential careers in agriculture that they didn’t even know existed.”
Partner with a School
Eddy is currently working on a curriculum project with John Deere to help more kids understand what tech- nology is being used on farm equipment today and to help open pathways and pipelines to potential career opportunities for his students. As a result of this connection, one of Eddy’s students is currently working on an internship at a local John Deere dealership.
12 | The Retailer Magazine | July/Aug
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