Wes: From ICC Graduate to John Deere Technician of the Year

The most important advice Wes could give young adults is to enjoy whatever career path they choose. He has certainly taken his own advice, as he has been with his employer, Prairie State Tractor, for over 20 years and is still enjoying every aspect of his career.

In 2022, Wes was selected as an inaugural recipient of the John Deere Technician of the Year award. He said this would not have been possible without the training he received from the highly skilled instructors at ICC.

I have and continue to recommend ICC to young students when we talk about college. If anybody is like me and not 100% sure which direction they want to go after high school, ICC has many programs and sports to get into until you can decide what you want to do.

Wes, ICC Student

Now, armed with the knowledge he has gained through more than two decades of experience, Wes is ready to give back. He plans to transition into management at Prairie State Tractor where he will play a crucial role in training the next generation of John Deere technicians.

Wes has been involved with agricultural equipment for as long as he can remember, having grown up in the country and helping neighbors on their farm. His father was a John Deere service manager at the local dealer, so Wes developed an interest at a very young age.

When he started thinking about college, he wasn’t sure which path was best for him. As a talented golfer, he knew there would be scholarship opportunities at a four-year university, but ultimately, he chose to stick with his passion and enrolled in the Diesel Powered Equipment Technology (DPET) program at ICC.

He says, “My first semester at ICC was a little daunting and nerve-wracking for me as a small-town country boy. I was nervous at first, but once I got to know my fellow students and instructors, it all fell into place, and my time at ICC went smoothly from there.”

Wes’s time at ICC was not just about learning technical skills. He also grew personally, learning responsibility and accountability, which continue to serve him well. Many customers ask for him by name and wait until he is available rather than let anyone else work on their equipment.

This is a testament to the trust and respect he has earned, thanks to the holistic education he received at ICC. Wes is deeply grateful for his time at ICC.