Opinion on a tractor education

Ok so here I am in my freshman year of college, having gone to an ag school for high school dealing with old iron for most of my days. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do i picked landscaping, turf management actually. Well as most kids do I don’t feel that this is right for me I always loved getting my hands dirty and often dove into projects at school that no one like to touch, such as the farmall super C we had.

I have now decided that I’m going to transfer into a program for agricultural equipment technology so I can be around the Things that I like to play with the most- Tractors. I was thinking that I can work for a number of years being a technician and maybe one day I can move more out west and open my own business where I could offer friendly service which seems to be lacking in our world today. What do you guys and girls think of a carrier in this field. Do you think it’s a wise thing to do even though the money is not as great as I would like it to be, but I will be happy doing it?

I think it's very important to do something you love. When you do that, it's not work. On the flip side of that coin, if you aren't making enough to support a decent life for family (assuming you have one, or will have one) then that won't be good. However, "a decent life" is a definition you have to determine. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so to speak.

I joined the Navy and have made it my career because I love it. My wife doesn't work so she can take care of our 3 children because that is what is important to both of us. We struggle financially because of it, and sometimes it is a burden. However, I don't regret the decisions, and I am very happy with our life.

Looking into the future, you can only speculate. Deal with the here and now. Right now you aren't happy in the field you are in. If another field makes you happy, and you have the opportunity to chase it, then BAM! There you go.
The money will come. And if it doesn't, you'll make due. And if you don't want to, then you can find another path. Freedom is options. That is the American Dream.

We are talking in the 45,000 Range starting off working 10 hour days and 12 months a year. I wouldn’t say that I couldn’t get by with this much money which I definitely could. it would just mean putting of retirement a couple more years and extending that mortgage.

And im not talking only 1 income also as i would also Love to have a family one day

Thanks mike, sometimes its the best thing to hear other people say that you need to go after what makes you happy. Thanks and have the best day -Pat

I'm with Mike. Do what makes you happy. I'm a machinist. The pay kinda stinks right now, but I enjoy doing it and I'm surrounded by good people.

I also enjoy farming, but I can't support a family on it. I go home instead o help out my parents when I can and then I can enjoy it without some of the stresses Dad has to take on, although we still have more of a partnership than me just working for him.

Some time I'm thinking about maybe starting up an orchard to compliment my brother's pumpkin business. I would also have some ground to crop as well and play with my tractors to keep my sanity.

Donovan from Wisconsin

- have to admit- If I couldn't go home and hop on a tractor once in a while, I'd have a lot more stress in my life.

I spent 4 years at college at a computer science major, but my true love was always tractors. I spent two summers at Dickey-John where I got to actually take this love to heart, but alas now I am looking for a cubicle programming job.

Something else to consider, if you really enjoy getting your hands dirty on old iron as a hobby, will you still enjoy your hobby when it is also your full time job? You might find that you burn out on the thing that is fun, to the point that you don't enjoy it anymore.

This is actually happening to my brother in law. He's a service tech at a car dealership. He has always loved working on cars, went to college for it, got a good job, and makes decent money for a 24 year old. But his hands are always raw from working on rusted metal and is sick of working on cars by the time the weekend comes around.

Just something to keep in mind. Good luck.

I makes a huge difference in all areas of your life if you like what you do for a living.

If nothing else, earn a degree in something that pays well enough you can do what you really enjoy as a hobby.

Our tractor mechanic in Mt. Pleasant just took on a partner. It is a man he knew from the local JD dealership. Mr. Nixon had plenty of business before, but with the clients Robin brought with him, along with two other repair technicians, they have more business than they know what to do with.

Being happy in your job really does make a difference in your entire life.

If you pick a career you love you will never work a day in your life, it really is that simple. Follow your dreams and never look back.
bill

Hi Pat, Yes, definitely the transfer into ag equip. technology is the right move. Follow your gut instincts and don't get all hung up about making enough money, health insurance, and other future phobias. If your happy what your doing, everything else will fall into place. You'll be happier and consequently may not even need health insurance, as much anyway.

I was in pharmacy school for almost 3 years until I realized I was just following my father's profession. I couldn't stand it. Almost left school but a dean of students asked me what I enjoyed most in life (while I was making out my withdrawal papers).

I said being outdoors. He suggested I give the resource development curriculum a try first. I did and never looked back. Spent the next 25 years having a blast working for NYS ENCON Dept.

Never made much.....but didn't need much. I was where I wanted to be.

Like my favorite bumper sticker says " I'd Rather be Here Now"

I have thought of this. Its kind of odd actually every tractor show i go to or even when i was in high school I was the first one there when something broke. sometimes spending time just fixing things for no money at all. i figure if i can fix things and make a little money, why not haha

Thanks everyone for the positive comments! i really do appreciate them and can always expect to post up here and get good advice!

Thanks again and have a good one -Pat

Do it for the love of it!!
Who says you won't make reasonable money. There are four ingredients in the path to successful mechanical repair/service.
1} Do very good diagnostics. This makes the expendeture as low as possible for the customer, and speeds the process through the shop. (maximizes your profit by charging fairly for real repair)
2} Do the bookwork on service orders and billing with both fairness, and as rapidly as possible within and after the performance of the service.
3} Arrange for appropriate parts (and availability/shipping time) before beginning repairs. Disassembled equipment will loose parts, take up space, and loose the memory of what went where. Customers hate to see their machines scattered on the floor.
4) Charge appropriately: for parts, 120 to 150% of your price. Charge (with notice in advance to the customer) for troublesome rusted broken components. Flat rate repair on machines more than 30 years out of warranty is usually a loosing proposition. Always inform the customer when diagnosis and inspection turn up deeper issues and far more cost than your estimate. Do not go on without signed agreed upon changes in the work order.

These four topics will serve you well if implemented. Diving into a machine W/O a service order is a sure way to loose your shirt, and your customer.
Janicholson X service manager for Nissan, IH light trucks, and Honda Motorcycles.

Pat-CT
Do what makes you happy and you neaver will regret it. I workes for years at jobs I didn't like. Metal-Inspector seven years, Truck driver 13 years, finely ended up as a over the road service Tech. worked OH, WV, KY, VA & TN. Last 17 years loved it money wasn't that great . Was my own boss just met with owner of Company once a month after that was on my own. Money Isn't everthing but it sure helps.

An option. Get an engineering degree and go work for caterpillar or similar company. Retire at 55 and start your 2nd career job.
Making your hobby your job can have drawbacks. Works for some fails miserably for others.

I took a similar path in high school, spend half of my senior year in a vocational program for Ag mechanics. What I found is that I enjoyed it, but that I do burn out and quickly.

So, instead I went to school for mechanical engineering. I'm not a quality manager at a machine shop. It has given me access to custom fabrication equipment and allowed me the funds to keep working on tractors (my own this time). I work on them when I want to.

Good luck. As long as you are happy, you made the right choice.

Should say 'now' a quality manager. Can't type today...

I spent quite a few years working on everything from small lawn tractors to 25 tom truck cranes. What I enjoyed the best was when they brought in a vehicle that no one could find out what was wrong with it. I love to trace down electrical or hydraulic problems. Some time brakes with little quirks can give one a headache. A good shop should pay $20 or above an hour for a good mechanic, The cheaper shops are not worth working for all they want is workers who will work for low pay.
Walt

Boy, I agree with doing something you like or love to do, but it just seems that it can be a difficult thing to have it pay the bills and provide a reasonable quality of life. I've worked a lot of jobs I did not like, that paid well but was just too many hours, too much stress and or not enough resources or help to take some of the heavy workload. High salary, at a job that is long hours and loaded with stress, often times will burn a person out, and cause other problems, some are better tolerating it than others, some to support a family and a life they want, not always a walk in the park though.

I think it's highly imperative that a person finds something as close to or equal to something they like doing, because sooner or later you will change that occupation, quit, get fired or frustrated with it, and it can be hard to stick out jobs you don't like. Most of us get put in the position where you can't walk away because you need a paycheck. Seems to be how it works, but I think it's important to never lose sight of what may work for someone in a career, so you sacrifice, work hard in the right direction, good chance things will work more favorably for a person if they have a goal to achieve, say like operating a business they like or a career that is actually satisfying, and like many successful people will say, don't lose sight of your dreams and aspirations for what you want. Things may not work out precisely as one wants, but you can be darned close or close enough to be away from going to a job working for the man that you hate, I don't think it gets much worse than going to a job you do not like or hate.

Money is one thing but happiness and satisfaction is another, I don't make squat compare to what I've done before, helping a friend long time friend, but even the worst of tasks, handling small square bales, some pain in the @ss equipment repairs, getting filthy dirty, soaked in sweat, dust and all the rest, don't seem to bother me in the least, it is good to be outside doing physical work, it will keep you in shape, and toughen a person up, actually while in construction I liked a little of both, office time, as well as time in the field, the latter more so. Best of luck to ya !!!

Mathias NY, I currently just started my freshmen year of college (a little late since I am 23 now). But to make a long story short, I was laid off from my-"got a decent job out of high school"-employer in June, so I figured if I am going to start my life over, I'd better get back in school. I am still young, so what the heck. I decided to go into mechanical engineering as well. Figured I enjoy problem solving, machines, and the like. Just wondering-because sometimes I have a little trouble with math. Any pointers for a guy just starting into something like this? Practice practice practice is all I can think of!

Thanks Again for all the responses. I am planning on moving out west To pursue This career also where I can obtain land cheaper. There is no way I could live here with this job because of demand and just the cost of everything Up here you can buy a house with 1 acre for 125,000 at least where I can move out west and buy 60 acres + for a lot less.

The way I have it planned out as long as I can afford My house, Heat and water. That’s as much as I can hope for right now. After the house is paid off and such I can peruse hobbies. plus my tractors I have now will automatically come with me. Then after the house is paid off I can build my own shop and live happily ever after. At least that is the plan right? haha

Owning your own business isn;t all that its cracked up to be. at least for me. I own a auto repair shop and theirs pros and cons. Before I was here always though people that own businesses had lots of $$$. I'd have more $$ if I worked at McDonalds. But I'm only 28 so hopfully when I get older it wont be so bad. Wish I could farm crops fully time, but a business takes up most of my time with some farming after hours.

well Im only going to open a small shop in later years. like maintance not huge reapirs. Or maybe i can restore tractors seing as how shops aorund here seem to charge 3000 per tractor haha. o man if that would only work ha

Hello Pat-CT,
Go for your dream, if you love what you do, you will get very good at it. The money will come to you , when like WaltDavis said, you fix what no other has been able to fix.
I used to tell by boss (HE HATED IT) that if i didn't need the money, I would be doing my job for nothing!
Guido.

(quoted from post at 15:31:05 09/30/09) Hello Pat-CT,
Go for your dream, if you love what you do, you will get very good at it. The money will come to you , when like WaltDavis said, you fix what no other has been able to fix.
I used to tell by boss (HE HATED IT) that if i didn't need the money, I would be doing my job for nothing!
Guido.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Im going to go for it and go visit a university in Ohio and NY

PAT,

give a look at suny cobleskill they have a pretty good ag eng. program there. as for uconn there is one class that is offred that you may be intrested in let me know if you are i can give you the specs on it.

email is open

Andrew

I'll second SUNNY Cobleskill for their Ag Eng program. They have an excellent reputation.

Nice location too, it's rural but not as isolated as SUNNY Morrisville (where I went).

Im going to visit SUNNY Haloween day. Thats one of my two choices Ill send you an email though!