If there is one thing that Logan Yocham knows, it’s hard work. Over the last year, the Iola High School senior has balanced a busy schedule of school and part-time work at PrairieLand Partners.
“We are really proud and happy to have him here,” said Dale Lalman, PrairieLand store manager.
Yocham has been selected to participate in the PrairieLand Partners’ Technician Scholarship Program and has hit the ground running. The program will pay for his education in exchange for him working in Iola’s PrairieLand Partners facility. To enroll in the program, students must have a sponsor dealership.
For his hard work, Yocham will receive a two-year scholarship to Fort Scott Community College’s campus of Agricultural Technology where he will be in the John Deere Tech Program. He will have the opportunity to pursue a certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree in Agriculture Technology-John Deere. The certificate program can be completed in three semesters and the associate degree requires one more semester of general education courses.
The collaboration between John Deere and community colleges dates back to the 1990s. The program at Fort Scott Community College began in 2002.
YOCHAM’S time on campus will blend with work at Iola’s PrairieLand facility where he will gain real-world experience as a paid intern. He will rotate through all areas of the store, learning how to service, repair and rebuild John Deere equipment.
Upon finishing the program, Yocham will continue to work as a service technician at Iola’s PrairieLand location for three years.
“Service is the hub of everything we do here,” said Lalman. “We are thankful for this opportunity to sign Logan and get him into this program. He’s a good, hard- working young man and I think he’s got a bright future here.”
