If having the right tools for the job is critical to success, Alec Schilde is well on his way.

Taking top place at this year’s Western Equipment Ag Tech Open Invitational, the Dover High School senior brought home more hardware to add to last year’s second-place winnings.

On Jan. 14, Schilde traveled to Plainview, Texas, to compete against other high school juniors and seniors for a variety of prizes and scholarships.

Along with the first place trophy, Schilde received a $20,000 scholarship, 72-inch toolbox complete with tools and another 30-inch triangle toolbox.

That’s in addition to the $15,000 scholarship and toolbox full of tools Schilde received at last year’s contest.

The son of Adam and Kelli Schilde, he says he began to learn mechanical skills at an early age while maintaining the vehicles he enjoyed driving on the family farm near Dover.

“Probably from the time I was 10 years old, if I broke something, my dad told me, ‘If you want to ride it again, you’ve got to fix it,’” Schilde said.

Pursuing his interest in mechanics, Schilde enrolled in the automotive program at Chisholm Trail Technology Center his junior year, bolstering his knowledge and experience in the field. Reflecting on his decision to enter the competition the past two years, Schilde said, “It’s been a good experience and definitely a good deal for me.”

At this year’s competition,128 students from 50 different schools in four states competed for $60,000 in scholarships and $30,000 in prizes, Western Equipment Director of Marketing James Boone said.

The contest is designed to allow students to showcase their skills in mechanization as well as help them pinpoint their undiscovered abilities and interests, Boone added.

During the competition, students are able to apply mechanical knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills while hearing from and interacting with industry professionals, he said.

Scholarships are applied toward Western Equipment’s Ag Tech two-year program which provides students with hands-on experience, veteran mentorship and a college associate degree laying the foundation for a career working on John Deere equipment, Boone added.

Entering last year’s competition “just to see what it was all about,” Schilde said he was more familiar with what to expect at this year’s contest and thought he had placed in the top-20 before the winners were announced.

The contest consists of five sections, including complex thinking, parts identification, tool identification, an electrical section and a written exam, Schilde said.

The top-five individuals of each section are announced prior to the overall five top winners, he added.

After discovering he was a top-five contender in three of the sections, Schilde said he felt fairly confident he would make the top-five overall.

As officials began to announce the winners and his name had not been called leading up to first place, Schilde said he began to question his previous thoughts.

Then as officials announced first place, Schilde said, he excitedly hopped up to shake the officials’ hand and claim the first place trophy.

“It was a really exciting deal when they announced my name,” Schilde said.

Unable to attend last year, Kelli didn’t miss the opportunity to cheer her son on this year, along with his 14-year-old brother, Tyler.

Encouraging his brother to tag along, Schilde said, “I wanted him to see what it’s all about, because there’s a lot more going on beyond the contest, including a trade show as well as other things.

“He’s beginning to gain interest in mechanics and it opened his eyes to the possibilities.”

Active in the Dover FFA Chapter, Schilde competes in meat judging, is vice president and previously served as sentinel.