Students' Self-Styled Industrial Tour Delivers 'Break' From Tradition

In a more focused midterm getaway than enjoyed by some collegiate counterparts, students from the School of Natural Resources Management toured a series of career-related sites during their recent Spring Break. The group, which coordinated its own itinerary, visited four locations in as many days: the Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Ill., manufacturer of the CAT D9 and D10 bulldozers (and the world's only maker of the D11); Fair Oaks (Ind.) Farm, the nation's second-largest dairy farm; CAT's Mapleton (Ill.) Foundry, manufacturer of engine blocks; and the John Deere Harvest Factory Tour in East Moline, Ill. Pictured, from left, are Daniel J. Hickel (who provided the photo), Nathan P. Heinly, Benjamin J. Patton and Benjamin M. Weber, all students in Penn College's heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis major; and Adam W. Borek, majoring in heavy construction equipment technology: Caterpillar equipment emphasis. "It was a great experience to visit the only plant in the world that manufactures the D11 'dozers," Hickel said. "Overall, to see the progression of machines being built from scrap metal to final products, which we saw at both the CAT and John Deere facilities, was truly amazing," Patton added.