Blog: Why On-the-Job Training Matters: Learning Beyond the Classroom

The classroom is where future diesel technicians build their knowledge. On-the-job training is where that knowledge comes to life.

Every Farm Equipment & Diesel Technology student at Iowa Lakes Community College completes an on-the-job training (OJT) experience with an industry partner, working alongside experienced technicians while applying the skills they’ve learned in the classroom. This experience not only strengthens technical abilities, it builds confidence, professionalism, and a clearer understanding of what a career in the industry looks like.

For Farm Equipment & Diesel Technology Program Coordinator Phil Zabka, finding the right placement is one of the most important parts of the process.

“We look for a business where students will learn something meaningful while experiencing the expectations of a real work environment,” Zabka said.

While classroom instruction provides the technical foundation, OJT allows students to experience the pace, problem-solving, and teamwork that can’t be fully replicated in a lab.

“OJT gives them a real-life education,” Zabka said. “They gain experiences on the job that give them a head start when they return for their second year.”

Following each placement, employers evaluate students’ performance. Zabka meet individually with each student to discuss the feedback and identify opportunities for continued growth.

Beginning next year, the program will transition from two four-week placements to one continuous eight-week OJT experience, allowing students to become more integrated into the workplace, build stronger relationships with employers, and take on increasingly complex responsibilities.

Learning Through Experience

For Dayton Peters of Everly, Iowa, every day at Titan Machinery in Lake Park brought something different.

“I worked on a little bit of everything,” Peters said. “I worked on skid loaders, some of the bigger tractors, hydraulic lines, transmission rebuilds, and electrical work.”

The variety reinforced what he had learned at Iowa Lakes while exposing him to real-world troubleshooting.

“From our classes at Iowa Lakes, I gained a better understanding of how the engine and transmission work, which helped me diagnose issues that were happening on customers’ equipment.”

Braden Vick of Humboldt, Iowa, completed his OJT at Hubbell Truck & Ag Services, where he worked primarily on semis. Much of his time focused on diagnosing and repairing air conditioning systems, giving him the opportunity to build confidence while developing specialized technical skills.

At KC Nielsen in West Bend, Iowa, Michael Edge of Eagle Lake, Minnesota, gained experience tackling major repair projects. One of his most memorable assignments included replacing a water pump and performing a valve clearance adjustment on an 8370 tractor. He also completed additional engine repairs and assisted with installing a transmission in a John Deere Gator, an experience that provided valuable insight into the daily work of professional diesel technicians.

 

Building Career-Ready Graduates

On-the-job training is more than a graduation requirement; it’s an opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with real-world experience while building relationships with potential employers.

Students return to campus with stronger technical skills, greater confidence, and a deeper understanding of the profession they are preparing to enter. By graduation, they’ve not only learned the theory behind the work, but they’ve also already experienced what it takes to succeed in the field.

That combination of classroom instruction and hands-on industry experience continues to prepare Iowa Lakes graduates to enter the workforce ready to contribute from day one.