Auston Henke grew up in Beloit, Kansas, with access to a bulldozer long before most kids even thought about driving. After high school, he chose a nine-month heavy equipment operations program at NCK Tech instead of a four-year degree. Just weeks after graduating, Auston bought his own excavator and started digging basements, ponds, and more. Today, he’s building his own business and encouraging others to explore technical training as a practical, hands-on path into the construction industry.
For Auston Henke, growing up in Beloit, Kansas, meant growing up around heavy equipment. “As soon as I could reach the pedals, I was playing with the bulldozer,” he recalls. That early exposure sparked a passion that eventually became a career.
When it came time to decide on his future, Auston knew a traditional four-year college wasn’t the right fit. “I just didn’t think it mapped out right in my head,” he says. Instead, he enrolled in the Heavy Equipment Operations program at NCK Tech, a nine-month program that gave him hands-on skills and the confidence to start working right away.
Even before he graduated, Auston took a leap: he bought his own excavator. Within a week of finishing the program, he was already digging basements for clients in his hometown. From there, his business began to grow steadily, fueled by hard work and a love for variety. “One day you could be digging a basement, the next day a pond. You meet a lot of people and make connections—it makes the job really enjoyable.”
Auston also sees the practical benefits of choosing a technical path. Tuition was a fraction of what a four-year school would cost, and the job opportunities were immediate. For young people unsure of their next step, he offers simple advice: keep your options open and try it. “If you don’t like sitting in a classroom all day, you’re probably not going to like sitting in an office all day. Hands-on skills can take you a long way.”
