-Submitted photo
C & B Operations hired Levi Streed in May of 2022 with the intention of guiding him as he made his way into a career. Streed became accustomed to C & B's work environment, starting off in lot maintenance, moving to mower repair, and then taking opportunities to work on larger equipment with more seasoned techs. From left to right is Brian Streed and Amy Streed, Levi's parents; Levi Streed, Adam Lansink, service manager; and Casey Cameron, store manager. Streed is sponsored by C & B as he begins taking courses at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar.

IDA GROVE — Melissa Butcher, Iowa regional human resource director for C & B Implement, knows about paving a road to success for her company, their agricultural customers, and the employees that serve both.

“We’re on the road quite a bit recruiting students,” said Butcher. “We connect with students at the high school and college level, and sometimes when they are out of college. We like to get to know those who have a great work ethic.”

C & B’s recruiting program is literally called “Road to Success.” Per their corporate website, the training offers internship opportunities to students interested in applying what they learn during school to real-world experiences. Interns work side-by-side with industry professionals to gain experience, and it’s a potential first step to a long-term career with C & B Operations.

Internships are available in the service tech, sales, and precision ag areas.

Levi Streed, 18, of Arthur, is currently participating in a service tech internship at C & B’s Ida Grove location.

“I grew up working on tractors at our farm,” said Streed, “so I knew going in that I would enjoy working on combines, tractors, lawnmowers, really anything that needed worked on. This started off as just a summer job and then I found that I really liked working with the service guys. I heard about the Calmar thing where we could commit to each other.”

Streed is referring to his signed letter of intent to attend Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). C & B has agreed to be his John Deere dealership sponsor as he works his way through the service technician program. For two years, Streed will take classes in three-month intervals at NICC in Calmar, coming back to Ida Grove to work at C & B on the off-school months. C & B’s letter-of-intent signing is reminiscent of signing students who commit to athletics; Streed’s parents Brian and Amy Streed as well as C & B’s Ida Grove service manager Adam Lansink and store manager Casey Cameron were present for the announcement and photo opportunity.

“Athletes always get the recognition,” said Lansink who has been with C & B for 10 years. “These guys who take up trades, like mechanics in the ag field, deserve a little bit of the spotlight to recognize their accomplishments.”

Brianna Butcher, office administrator at Ida Grove, was also instrumental in seeing that Streed got his due.

“Levi has already demonstrated a commitment to this career avenue,” said Butcher. “His work and commitment should be celebrated as much as any athlete who has put in their time to make it to the next level. Levi has worked for us over a year, demonstrating strong work ethic.”

Streed started as a summer intern performing lot maintenance, mowing, mower maintenance, and has been given the opportunity — due to his drive — to work on projects with some of the more seasoned C & B service techs.

After working his first summer, Streed took part in a school-to-career program through Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove (OABCIG), which allowed him to continue working at the company in the afternoons.

“This allowed him to dig deeper into what it means to be a service tech,” said service manager Lansink. “He was doing oil changes and learning what it meant to work on heavy equipment.”

Streed, who has grown up on a farm, is now an OABCIG graduate working full-time for C & B while heading to NICC this fall for formal training.

“I decided to try tractor pulling when I was 14,” said Streed. “I began learning a lot about mechanics while pulling. We would tear into our tractors every winter, and I would get my hands dirty working on the tractors. I’ve worked for a neighbor who had a 4020 that I would help him work on.

“I prefer to work on tractors, but if I’m needed to work on combines, sprayers, or other equipment, I’ll do what I’m told — it’s all part of the job.”

Streed finds electronics to be the most challenging part of service tech work and is looking forward to having college help him with that aspect. To that point, C & B will reward his shop and school efforts.

“This is Levi’s journey,” said Butcher. “We have helped him; he has helped us. He started at the bottom with lot maintenance and mowing, and now look at him; he’s servicing his own customer’s mowers at a spot in the shop that’s his.

“Because of his commitment, we are going to pay for his school upon successful completion. We believe in this kid. We want to support him. We want to celebrate his achievement. We want him to come back to work for us.”