Capital Tractor’s service manager John Mattison understands the importance of finding and training young service technicians. He currently serves on the Ag Engineering Consulting Committee at State University of New York (SUNY) Cobleskill as well as the Ag Advisory Board with the Greenwich High School.

Both the schools and the New Holland dealership have benefited from Mattison’s work with the institutions. “Over the years I’ve been able to find a lot of employees who have come through the Ag Engineering program at Cobleskill. That’s been really key for us,” he says. “We also offer a lot of internships through the high school and tech school. It’s so important to always keep young blood coming in.”

Capital Tractor has a sponsorship program set up with the SUNY Cobleskill. Candidates for the program have to have worked with Mattison for a summer first. This gives the dealership an opportunity to evaluate the individual. “If they are a successful candidate, we will sponsor them and pay for tuition at SUNY Cobleskill. As part of the program they have to work for us on their breaks and over the summer. They have to perform up to our standards and there is a contract that we sign,” Mattison says.

Currently, Capital Tractor has one student in the program. He comes home each weekend and works at the dealership on Saturdays and then also puts in hours during holiday breaks and over the summer.

Mattison says it’s been a very good program for the dealership and has helped them build a strong team in the service department.