Blue Ridge Community College is developing a new training program aimed at addressing a growing need for skilled agricultural equipment technicians in western North Carolina.
The college plans to launch its Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment Technology program in August 2027. It will be the first short-term workforce development program of its kind in North Carolina designed to prepare students to enter the agricultural equipment repair field quickly.
Dr. Monica Carpenter, vice president of Economic and Workforce Development at Blue Ridge Community College, said the program was developed after conversations with local employers and agribusiness partners highlighted a need for more workers with specialized repair skills.
"We know that agriculture is such a huge part of the industry here in North Carolina and especially in western North Carolina," Carpenter said. "Through some conversations with local employers and agribusiness partners, we identified a real need for skilled technicians to be able to diagnose and repair equipment."
The program will be offered through the college’s workforce development division and is expected to take 16 to 18 weeks or less to complete. Students will receive hands-on training in several areas, including welding, small engine repair, diesel systems and diagnostics.
Carpenter said the goal is to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in equipment repair, where they can diagnose mechanical problems, perform preventative maintenance and help keep agricultural equipment running.
The skills could benefit a range of industries and businesses, including farms and landscaping operations that depend on specialized machinery.
College officials say the program is designed to respond to the needs of the region’s agricultural industry and local economy.
“In Henderson and Transylvania County alone, we have over 650 farms,” Carpenter said. “It is just vital that we are providing that skilled workforce.”
She said the college identified a gap in the number of technicians equipped to repair machinery and perform preventative maintenance.
While traditional agricultural mechanics degree programs are available in North Carolina, Carpenter said Blue Ridge Community College’s program is designed to provide a faster path into the workforce.
The program was made possible through a $250,000 High-Cost Workforce Start-Up Grant to help cover start-up expenses.
According to Carpenter, the funding will support purchasing equipment needed for hands-on instruction, including a tractor, diagnostic equipment and engines. It will also help provide faculty support for the program. The initiative is part of a broader effort to develop training opportunities that meet employers’ needs and support the regional economy.
Carpenter said the program could also provide an opportunity for people who want to work in agriculture without becoming farmers themselves.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS.
