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YORKTON – Employees of Pattison Agriculture from the Yorkton and Swift Current branches were at the Yorkton Regional High School Wednesday morning to talk with students about the benefits of working in Ag-based trades.

"I guess we just want to provide some awareness to the career opportunites that are available with Pattison Agriculture, and talk to the students about their opportunity to explore a career at Pattison Agriculture," said Bryan Braun, Human Capital Manager at Pattison Agriculture in Swift Current.

"We see a shortage in the trades- our service techs and our parts techs- we have a huge need there," said Braun.

Braun said that the company is finding it difficult to fill spots in rural locations.

"Agriculture is a fairly significant industry in Saskatchewan," said Braun, adding,"we're just trying to get the word out about the great opportunities at Pattison Ag."

"I'd recommend trades to anybody," said Kristina Quinn, Parts Department Manager at Pattison Agriculture in Yorkton.

Quinn earned her Red Seal Journey-person in Alberta before moving to Yorkton to manage the Pattison Ag parts department and spoke to the students about the overall benefits of working for Pattison Ag.

The company is currently offering to pay educational tuition for the Red Seal parts trade for people who take the program while employed with the company.  A Red Seal trade entitles the person who holds the distinction to work in their trade throughout Canada.  "The Red Seal is proof that a tradesperson has met the national standard in their trade," according to Canada.ca.  

As well as employees of Pattison Ag, a work experience student was there to talk fellow classmates about his time working at the company.

"To get the full course you have to work a hundred hours," said Arne Geerdts, a grade 12 student at the YRHS, adding, "for every 100 hours you work, you get one credit."

Geerdts, now in his 300th hour of work experience,  said he is moving towards his Red Seal journey-persons in mechanics.  

As well as gaining school credits and furthering his education,  he is also being paid for his efforts with the company.  

"It's great," said Geerdts.  

During the presentation, Braun spoke of the traditional jobs within the industry, which included heavy duty mechanics, parts people and intelligence solutions consultants.

"[ICS] helps optimize technology for the farmers," said Braun.

Technology has become a huge part of the ag industry.  In January of 2022, John Deere announced their autonomous tractor.  "To use the autonomous tractor, farmers only need to transport the machine to a field and configure it for autonomous operation. Using John Deere Operations Center Mobile, they can swipe from left to right to start the machine. While the machine is working the farmer can leave the field to focus on other tasks, while monitoring the machine's status from their mobile device," according to a news release on John Deere's .

With the new technology will come new jobs.

"You'll see an autonomous tractor before you see an autonomous car," said Braun.