Students Gain Work Experience at Castongia Tractor

Your first summer job can be a lot of things, but for a handful of students in Northwest Indiana, it was a job at their John Deere dealership, Castongia Tractor. Working at an ag equipment dealership is a great way to get your feet wet in the agricultural industry, whether you’re interested in working on equipment, selling it, learning the parts, or understanding the business side of the daily tasks. We’re grateful to witness the next generation of managers, business owners, salespeople, parts personnel, and technicians get their start here. 

Working in the Shop

Most of our summer employees work in the shop, gaining hands-on experience alongside seasoned technicians. They’re often responsible for maintaining the lot, assisting technicians if they need an extra set of hands, and any other shop tasks that come up as they work. This experience introduces them to the workload of an Ag Service Technician or if they’d be interested in fixing lawn equipment or compact construction equipment. It can set them on the path to becoming a certified John Deere technician, whether that’s through a John Deere technician program at a nearby university or through in-house training and experience.

Working in the Parts Warehouse

Another possibility for students is to assist with stocking and organizing parts. Keeping displays filled, putting away parts deliveries, and interacting with customers and coworkers are a few of the responsibilities these students may have. These responsibilities can lead to a path as a parts counter person at a dealership; gaining knowledge of equipment parts, understanding inventory accuracy, and different parts ordering processes.

Working in the Office

There are also office roles, and some students may be more interested in learning more about the business and administrative side of an equipment dealership. While these roles may be less available as full-time positions, it’s a great opportunity for students to explore different administrative options in the ag industry. From customer data management to billing, various tasks can introduce students to different roles. 

It takes a lot of moving parts to keep an ag equipment dealership running and summer workers and student support can be a big help. We thank the students who show an interest and dedication to working at the dealership and can’t wait to see where their futures take them.