In DeWitt, Nebraska, small engines are getting a second chance thanks to one student’s determination. Parker Person, from the Tri County FFA Chapter, started Parker’s Repair as a way to combine his love for mechanics with real-world experience. What began as a single four-wheeler found online has grown into a side business that’s teaching Parker how to fix engines and run a business.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and figuring out how things work,” Parker says. “I used to hang around the shop with my dad, watching him tinker with engines. Eventually, I wanted to do it myself.”
Parker’s SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) through FFA focuses on agricultural mechanics repair and maintenance. He purchases broken-down equipment, such as ATVs and garden tillers, repairs them, and sells them for a profit. In just a couple of years, he’s sold a few four-wheelers and a side-by-side.
With growing experience came growing expenses, which is why Parker applied for the Nebraska FFA Foundation SAE Grant. The funding allowed him to purchase essential parts for a four-wheeler repair and helped pay off some of the debt he had taken on to support his projects.
“The grant made it possible to keep going without putting more financial pressure on my family,” he explains.
His long-term goal? To expand into larger, more complex equipment such as side-by-sides and lawn mowers and eventually become financially independent.
“There’s a lot of potential out there,” Parker says. “People in the community have reached out with new projects, and I’d love to be the one they call when something breaks down.”
Beyond the shop, Parker has built skills in organization, budgeting, time management, and customer service. He’s learned what it takes to diagnose engine problems quickly, communicate clearly with customers, and manage the day-to-day logistics of running a service business. He credits FFA with giving him the structure and support to grow.
“My favorite part about being in FFA is meeting new people and learning new skills,” he says. “It’s helped me step outside my comfort zone and think bigger about what I’m capable of.”
At the time of this writing, Parker hadn’t yet finalized his post-graduation plans, but careers in mechanics, engineering, or the skilled trades were definitely on his short list. Whatever path he takes, the lessons from Parker’s Repair will follow.
“The experience has prepared me for whatever comes next,” he says. “It’s not just about fixing engines; it’s about building something for myself.”
With a solid work ethic, growing business skills, and a drive to keep learning, Parker Person has proven how meaningful, real-world experience can start right in a high school shop, and how practical skills can have a lasting impact in any community.
