For Cody Hadley, his recent trip to Kansas City was a heart-pounding experience. Hadley, a May 2010 John Deere TECH graduate from Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senotobia, MS, worked his way to a third place finish in Power Equipment Technology at the SkillsUSA national competition June 21-29 in Kansas City, MO. Hadley, of Looxahoma, MS, is currently a service technician at Tractors and Equipment in Hernando, MS. “SkillsUSA helps prepare students for real-world work experience, says Hadley. “The competition is set up like a job site and allows you to take what you learn in school and apply it outside of the classroom.” Hadley qualified for nationals after winning first place in the state competition April 14-15 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. During the event, Hadley competed against other state winners from across the country. His event consisted of a written test, component identification, repairs, special tool usage, troubleshooting and diagnostics. His winnings included an Irwin tool bag with various tools, $500 Carhartt gift certificate, nearly $3,000 worth of Snap-On tools and a national competency certificate in his field of study. “I told Cody before he ever competed at state level ‘you're going to win those Snap-On tools at the national competition,’” says Jeremy Massey, John&nbspDeere TECH instructor at NWMCC. “Cody was an exceptional student in class. He always studied hard, made excellent grades and never backed down from any assigned task. I expect great things from him as a John&nbspDeere service technician.” SkillsUSA aims to develop progressive leadership in the fields of trade, industrial and health occupations education that is competent, aggressive, self-reliant and cooperative. Membership is open to all career and technical students.