MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) is expanding its agricultural education offerings with the launch of a new John Deere Technician Program, created through a partnership with PrairieLand Partners and AgriVision Equipment.
The program, the second in Kansas, will allow students to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree while receiving specialized training to become certified John Deere service technicians.
“This has been a project in the works for several years,” said Sheldon Stewart, department co-chair of the Agriculture, Business, Computers & Technology Department at HutchCC. “When students complete the two-year program, they’ll graduate with both a degree and John Deere certification, ready to step into the workforce.”
The program is designed to go beyond the college’s existing one-year diesel program. During the first year, students will complete HutchCC’s traditional curriculum. In the second year, they will transition to John Deere-specific training, working directly on equipment and technology at PrairieLand Partners’ dealership near the U.S. 50/K-61 junction. The dealership is expanding its facilities to accommodate the program.
Students will gain hands-on experience alongside certified technicians both in the shop and in the field. Each student must be sponsored by a John Deere dealership, which commits to hiring the student for at least two years after graduation.
“This is truly a hands-on, career-driven program,” Stewart said. “Students come out with little to no debt, a high-demand certification, and a good-paying career that can last a lifetime.”
Industry leaders say the program addresses a critical workforce shortage. PrairieLand Partners and AgriVision, which operate dealerships across Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, are seeking to expand their technician workforce by as much as 25 percent.
Stewart noted that the program also helps strengthen ties between HutchCC and the agricultural community. “Farmers rely on this technology to keep producing, and our students will be trained to keep that equipment running,” he said. “Agriculture isn’t going away, and this program ensures our graduates are prepared for the future—whether that’s with autonomous tractors, electric-powered combines, or other emerging technology.”
The first class of John Deere Technician students began on Wednesday at HutchCC’s South Campus near Yoder, with specialized training taking place at PrairieLand Partners' expanded Hutchinson facility.