THOMASVILLE — Southwest Georgia Technical College’s John Deere TECH/Agricultural Technology Program will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, February 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SWGTC’s Ag Tech Program is one of only 17 programs of its kind, and the only one in the Southeastern United States, sponsored by the John Deere Corporation. This partnership between SWGTC and the John Deere Corporation began 17 years ago when they initially developed this program. Ag Tech has been an extremely successful program ever since, and was actually the first associate degree program to be offered at SWGTC. This program draws students from throughout the Southeast interested in acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of the John Deere product line, while becoming fine-tuned agricultural technicians.

Jamar Boykin, graduate of the Ag Tech Program, is now using his training as a field technician at Everglades Farm Equipment in Belle Glades, Fla.

“I was always interested in going back to school and when my supervisors at Everglades encouraged me to enroll in the Ag Tech Program at SWGTC, I did not hesitate,” Boykin said.. “I chose a career in the agriculture industry because I know that industry will always be around and I wanted a stable career for my future. I love my job, and I would encourage any student considering the Ag Tech program to attend the Open House and see what this field is all about.”

This Open House, which is hosted every spring, serves as SWGTC’s way of highlighting and promoting the program.

The instructor Adam Ford, current John Deere TECH students, representatives from John Deere’s corporate office and local John Deere dealers will be available at the event to answer any questions that visitors may have. Ford’s students will be demonstrating techniques they’ve acquired throughout the program, such as how to perform diagnostics on equipment, change fluids, and many other activities.

Along with observing the student demonstrations, visitors will have the opportunity to view the newly finished 2200 square-foot addition to the Program’s facility. This additional space will be used as enclosed storage for tractors, motors and other John Deere training aids, kept on-site for hands-on teaching purposes. The Program also recently received six new John Deere tractors that will allow them to have experience working with the most up-to-date equipment and graduate truly prepared.

SWGTC’s Ag Tech Program, a five-semester program, is designed to advance the technical skills and professionalism of new John Deere service technicians, preparing them to excel in today’s high-tech, fast-paced field of agricultural mechanization. The curriculum, which was designed by both SWGTC and John Deere, addresses the full range of technological advances in agricultural mechanization, focusing on John Deere’s agricultural equipment and turf equipment product lines. Students learn about John Deere’s diesel engine systems, powertrains, hydraulics, machine setup and adjustment, as well as high-tech precision farming systems, electronics, schematics, diagnostic computers, and the computer-assisted resource materials used throughout the John Deere service network, Service ADVISOR. Because the Program emphasizes essential disciplines, such as communication skills and other general education courses, graduates equipped for a successful career in agricultural service.

For more information on Southwest Georgia Technical College’s Agricultural Technology Program or the Open House please contact Adam Ford at 229-227-3239. SWGTC asks that those who plan on attending the event please RSVP to 229-225-5030.

SWGTC offers more than 80 certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Many of these programs provide training for some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields including Nursing, Automotive Technology, Clinical Laboratory Technology, and Criminal Justice Technology. More information may be obtained by calling 229-225-4096 or by logging onto www.southwestgatech.edu.