Kurt Corscadden has been employed at Young’s Equipment in Windthorst for many, many years. Throughout those years, he has seen many changes and gone through a few himself.
Corscadden grew up on the farm, helping out whenever he could. He was running some of the equipment (tractors) when he was 10 years old. Driving the combines came later. And yes, some of that equipment did break down and had to be fixed.
“I always liked fixing things on the farm and helping Dad whenever I could,” states Corscadden, not knowing at that time that he would make a career out of fixing things.
“When I was 13 I started working during my summers at Windthorst Sales and Service – the Case IH dealership,” says Corscadden. “I started out washing tractors and cleaning.”
“It started out that I wanted get into small motors like snowmobiles and such,” explains Corscadden.
Shortly after graduating in 1997, he started as an apprentice with Windthorst Sales and Service (known as Young’s Equipment today).
“Once I started working here I enjoyed it,” says Corscadden, as he chose his career as a heavy duty mechanic.
“I love tearing stuff apart,” explains Corscadden, “and putting it back together and it just escalated from there.”
He took a couple years break from Young’s in 2006 to go farming and work on the drilling rigs but returned in 2009.
Corscadden has seen some big differences in the machinery over the years.
“The technology…technology is huge! It’s all electronic now,” he explains.
“Back in the day we were changing cables that ran functions and now everything is electronic…from one end to the other.”
“Some things can be tough to figure out but usually the error codes and whatever is going wrong with them, you can put it into the computer and it sends you the message on where to check,” explains Corscadden on the new ways of equipment.
“It tells what wires to go to and where to check.”
But is it always easier to fix because of that?
“If it’s an easy job yes, although some jobs it can send you there and you can hunt through the wiring all day. For instance, combine harnesses or tractor harnesses, they’re huge now with lots of wires in them end to end. It can be a nightmare.”
Thankfully the five mechanics at Young’s Equipment are constantly updating their training.
Even with all the changes to the equipment, some things still remain the same.
“The heart of the machine is essentially still the same,” explains Corscadden. “The engine, transmission, etc., doesn’t give us near as much problems as it used to. The odd one comes through but for the most part all that has remained the same.”
Corscadden transitioned from a full-time mechanic to the service manager three years ago. As a person ages the mechanic work tends to take its toll on the body – standing on the cement floors all day long and all the lifting gets more difficult as the years pass by.
Corscadden was asked if there was anything that he missed about working on the equipment now that he spends the majority of his time in an office.
“Absolutely! I spent a lot of time on the road. I miss working with customers,” comments Corscadden. “I enjoyed that part the most.”
Being stuck in an office is quite a change for Corscadden. He does get a chance to see the customers but he deals with much of the paperwork now which takes up 90 per cent of his day.
He sees himself at Young’s for a long time to come.
