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CLAAS apprenticeship program aims to grow pipeline of engineers

An agricultural machinery manufacturer is looking to grow its pipeline of engineers through an apprenticeship program in Omaha, Nebraska.  

John Schofield, with CLAAS tells Brownfield…

“They have a a split role. They’re working at CLAAS, but they’re also working college classes for three years to kind of build up to a guaranteed job with CLAAS.”

The program is based on a similar dual training system at the company’s headquarters in Germany, where Schofield says CLAAS recently hosted a trade delegation led by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.

“They were looking at ag technology, manufacturing partners and of course CLAAS has been manufacturing Lexion combines in Omaha for the last 25 years,” he says.

Head of Sales and Marketing Daryl Theis says the program aims to address ongoing labor shortages.

“They’re really what’s enabled us to bring our solutions to farmers and without them, we wouldn’t be able to produce anything and ultimately that would hurt the farmer,” he says.

Brownfield interviewed Schofield and Theis at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City.

AUDIO: Daryl Theis and John Schofield, CLAAS