From John Deere to future careers
Over the last two years, members of the Utah State University Ag Tech Club have scavenged for parts, painted, torn down and rebuilt a 1952 John Deere Model A. Proud of their project, they’re also pulled to the shop by a determination to fill the gaps they see in their university curriculum.
“We don’t sit in a classroom and talk,” said Maysen Poulsen, president of the club. “For about 10 minutes at the beginning of club, we lay out what our goals are for the day, and then we just get out there and we work — get our hands dirty, get stuff done, clean it up.”
Poulsen said he wants members of the club to take ownership of their work and recognize that “this is their project” — something he thinks students don’t get enough of in the classroom.
Many of the club’s agriculture students expressed a desire for more in-depth hands-on learning in the classroom, but for now, they’re determined to learn as much as they can in the club.
Social media representative Kaysen Johnson grew up on a farm where he had experience with simple maintenance.
“Coming to school is letting me dive deeper into engines and transmissions and more of that stuff that I probably won’t be able to see out on the farm without a shop,” Johnson said.
Parker Levanger, former club president, is also determined to take advantage of his time at the university. Levanger explained that being an agriculture student today can be discouraging, but his time in the club has made his education worth it, giving him confidence and practical skills he can apply to his future career.
“You can only learn so much before you have to go out and do it,” Levanger said. “We’re making decisions of our own on these projects. We’re learning how to manage the budgets, decide what parts to buy, which projects we should take on and the ones we shouldn’t, so it’s everything from the actual mechanic skills to project management.”
Levanger said he believes agriculture schools should focus on teaching their students to be adaptable.
“Agriculture is changing very fast,” he said. “The farmers that make it are the ones that can adapt to the changing environment, so I think that’s a big thing — keeping up with what’s new and what’s going to be coming, and we also need to be tech savvy.”
The lessons members learn in the club range from the big picture to the practical.
“I think the perfect way to learn any skill is to come and do it,” Poulsen said. “Even if you’re not going to be working on tractors the rest of your life, it’s the same. You want to learn how to change oil so you can change your car’s own oil? Come here. I’ll show you how an engine works and then show you how to change the oil on it. Or if you want to learn how to change tires or repaint things — these are skills that can save you money in the long run. These are skills that you can teach to your kids down the road. Maybe I’m biased, but I think the value is endless.”
Members of the USU Ag Tech Club attend a club meeting on Sept. 3.
Whether returning to the family farm or going to law school, hands-on work gives club members skills they’ll use after graduation, according to Mitchell Redd, club vice president. Redd said his time in the club has given him confidence solving problems.
“Google is great, but Google is not sitting with you walking through the problem,” he said.
Members of the club tackle a variety of unfamiliar issues every time they step into the shop.
“You have no idea what’s going on because you were born in the 2000s, not in 1907, right?” Redd said while pointing to a vintage McCormick H-4 tractor. “Ag Tech Club has helped me to look at a problem like that and say, ‘I think if we take a few minutes, we can figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.’”
The club fixes tractors for clients in the area, charging a small fee for parts and labor. The club also receives donations that allow them to fund new projects and trips to farm shows across the United States. Over the last two years, members of the club visited the World Ag Expo in California and the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The club is currently working on four tractors: a 1953 Farmall Super C, a Ford 8N, a McCormick H-4 and a Case SC.
According to Poulsen, the club helps students make connections in the agricultural industry, setting them up for future internships and careers.
“I’m here to help them learn as much as I can and then help them meet the people who can teach them more,” Poulsen said on his role as president of the club.
Many of the club members have worked together for years.
“I love what I’ve learned, but mostly, I love the people,” Poulsen said. “When I came to Utah State, I had no friends — didn’t know anybody. I came to the Ag Tech Club on the recommendation of one of the recruiters, and these are the best friends I’ve ever made.”
The club will showcase their projects during QANR Week in the Tractor Parade on Sept. 26.
Ag Tech Club meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Building, located off 1400 N. in Logan.