At Bane-Welker, we know that the backbone of our business is service, and service starts with our people. The agriculture industry is changing faster than ever with new technology and increasingly complex equipment. To keep up, we need to invest in the next generation of talented, skilled technicians.
That's why we've created a strategic pathway for career development, focusing on two key programs: internships and apprenticeships. This isn't just about filling a role; it's about building a sustainable talent pipeline and a culture of continuous learning.
From Intern to Journeyman: A Clear Career Path
We’ve modeled our program on a proven approach: an internship leads to an apprenticeship, which leads to a journeyman. This is what it looks like for a future technician with us:
- Tech Interns: This is where the journey begins. We work with high school students who have a budding interest and some foundational skills. As an intern, they focus on shadowing experienced technicians and learning the fundamentals of our equipment. It's an opportunity to get hands-on experience and see what a career in ag technology is really like.
- Apprentices: After graduating high school, our interns can transition into a three-year paid apprenticeship. This program is an alternative to the traditional four-year college path, designed for those who learn best by doing. Apprentices spend about 75% of their time on the job applying their skills in real-world scenarios, and the other 25% in technical classroom instruction, either in-person or online.
We teach them foundational knowledge in areas like electrical systems, hydraulics, and engines. The goal is to balance what they learn in the classroom with what they see and do every day in the shop. They become full-time employees from day one, eligible for benefits, and, most importantly, they get paid to learn. We cover the cost of uniforms, learning resources, and classroom materials.
- Mentorship: A critical part of the apprenticeship program is our strong focus on mentorship. Apprentices are paired with an experienced technician who provides regular guidance and support. Beyond this one-on-one relationship, the entire shop works as a collective—sharing knowledge, troubleshooting challenges, and helping each other grow. Our long-term goal is for our journeymen to become the next generation of mentors, creating a cycle of knowledge transfer and support that strengthens our entire team.
Investing in the Community
Our commitment to the future of agriculture goes beyond our own doors. We are proud partners of both the Indiana FFA Chapter’s Agriculture Technology & Mechanical Systems Event and the Ohio FFA Chapter’s Ag Power & Diagnostic Career Development Event. We've invested our time and expertise into these contests, creating real-world scenarios that challenge students and help them develop the skills needed for a career in ag equipment. Our team members volunteer as judges and mentors, facilitating skill development, and giving students a taste of what a technician's role involves.
Beyond the People: Investing in Our Infrastructure
While people are our greatest asset, we also understand the importance of providing our technicians with the best tools and facilities to do their jobs. We've made significant investments in our infrastructure to better serve our customers and support our team:
- Service and Crane Trucks: We're systematically replacing our aging fleet with new service and crane trucks to ensure our technicians have reliable transportation to get to customer sites and avoid breakdowns.
- New Facilities: We've built state-of-the-art facilities in Remington and Winamac, Indiana, and Circleville, Ohio, designed with future growth and larger equipment in mind. We’ve also expanded our locations in Terre Haute and Lebanon, Indiana.
- Service Tracking Platform: We developed our own internal platform, EquipX Service, to streamline service operations. It provides managers with an automated workflow that simplifies work orders and reduces administrative work. Technicians benefit from less paperwork and the ability to complete tasks without needing VPN access. This efficiency leads to faster turnaround times, proactive communication, and greater transparency for customers, allowing us to deliver consistent, high-quality support year-round.
- Training and Certifications: We've partnered with our vendors, including CNH Industrial, to provide ongoing, hands-on and online certification training for a variety of proprietary platforms such as Field Ops, AccuGuide, and Site Control. This ensures our technicians stays ahead of the curve as technology rapidly evolves.
- Expanded Equipment Offerings: We've enhanced our ability to meet the diverse needs of our customers by expanding our range to include New Holland Light Construction Equipment in all 13 locations and acquiring the Case IH Commercial Application Equipment Sales & Service Rights for Ohio from Kale Marketing, which allows us to sell, service, and provide parts support to commercial application customers throughout Ohio.
Our dedication to building a strong foundation—from our people to our facilities—allows us to grow a generational business with our customers. This isn't a "one and done" kind of business; it’s about long-term partnerships built on a foundation of trust and exceptional service.