News Release: JAG-K in Coffeyville Celebrates Eight Years of Partnership with John Deere

The Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) program at Field Kindley Memorial High School in Coffeyville recently visited a local John Deere unit which annually donates $36,000 to help fund the program.

Over the past eight years, the Field Kindley JAG-K program has benefitted from a local partnership with John Deere Coffeyville Works. (JDCW). The manufacturing plant has made donations, through the John Deere Foundation, each of the past eight years to help fund the in-school workforce-development program.

JAG-K offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. One of the important features of JAG-K is employer engagement. Students are regularly introduced to a wide range of jobs and careers through field trips, job shadows, internships and summer or part-time employment.

Going beyond making an annual donation, JDCW is making an impact on students by hosting JAG-K Manufacturing Day, for the purpose of introducing area JAG-K participants to career opportunities and sharing tips on how to be successful.

In celebration of Manufacturing Day, 24 students from the JAG-K programs at Field Kindley, Parsons and Independence high school JAG-K programs toured the JDCW plant and met employees of the company.

In one of the activities, the students simulated assembly line production using Legos to reinforce the importance of teamwork and communication to maximize productivity. The students also learned how robotics help JDCW employees accomplish their work. They met with administrative staff about the variety of positions at JDCW including information technology, human resources, maintenance, custodial, etc.

“My experience at John Deere was amazing, building John Deere machines with Legos, getting a personal tour, and job shadowing experienced employees who have my future dream career,” said Melanie Rodriguez, a senior at Field Kindley High School.

“I really enjoyed the tour of the plant,” added Aryah Archuletta, a senior at Parsons High School. “Everyone there was friendly and very proud of their work.”

JDCW took the opportunity of Manufacturing Day to tell students about additional training opportunities, including training programs at Coffeyville Community College and Independence Community College.

The grant provided by JDCW pays the Field Kindley JAG-K program’s fees, administrative costs, and a portion of the salary of Career Specialists Shayla Reliford. The Field Kindley JAG-K program visited JDCW on National Manufacturing Day for the third consecutive year.

“Every year, the staff goes the extra mile to make sure my students experience the best of what they have to offer for employment, from entry level to professional careers,” Reliford said. “JDCW is a valuable partner in ensuring that all JAG-K students feel empowered and informed of their opportunities for success in the workplace. They make everyone feel special because they take the time to teach and show what John Deere is about.” 

“The JAG-K program is committed to developing foundational skills in our local youth that align closely to John Deere’s core values, and JDCW looks for those same foundational skills when recruiting future talent,” said Mike Marquart, Labor Relations Manager at JDCW. “While JDCW is excited to know we can find that talent locally, equally important is the positive impact the Field Kindley JAG-K Program has on our local community.”

JDCW employs about 140 people at the Coffeyville location, assembling drive train components and producing parts for power systems for John Deere factories that make agriculture, construction, and forestry equipment. Initially founded as Funk Manufacturing in 1941, the corporation was purchased by John Deere in 1989.

Kansas’ 114 JAG-K programs serve approximately 6,200 students in 48 school districts across the state. JAG-K Career Specialists help students graduate and learn career, leadership, and life skills by executing a nationally-accredited, evidence-based model. Participants must meet criteria to be selected for the program and have potential to overcome various barriers to post-secondary success. Last year, JAG-K had 805 high school graduates.

The 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization is a state affiliate of the national JAG program network which operates in 36 different states and territories. It is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include ADM, AT&T, EagleU, Goldstein Charitable Trust, the JB and Anne Hodgdon Foundation, Honeywell, John Deere, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Gas Service, the Kansas Insurance Department, the Office of the Kansas State Bank Commissioner, United Way of Kaw Valley, United Way of the Plains, U.S. Bank and Walmart.

To learn more about JAG-K, visit  www.jagkansas.org , or ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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