Cassie Cox
Kevin Cunningham has spent his entire life in Decatur County and around All-Terrain Vehicles.
Cunningham lives with his parents, Gary and Joane, and sister Nicole. He is a senior at South Decatur High School. He plays golf on the school’s team every year. He is also in the Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) program, leaving school after fourth period to go to work. Cunningham works at On Target Polaris Inc. in Sunman. He drives all the way from Westport to Sunman and back nearly each day. This certainly burns a lot of fuel, but his job is what fuels his passion towards All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
Some may think Cunningham is just a mechanic, but he sees it as a lifestyle rather than a job. His father, Gary Cunningham, has a shop called Cunningham Repair Service where Kevin is also employed. At On Target, Kevin services and fixes ATVs, learning new things to take back to his father’s shop south of Greensburg. He got the position at On Target through a friend he’s known his whole life, has raced ATVs with and is a friend of his father.
“I love doing this kind of mechanic work. I race ATVs, so it works out great. I love the atmosphere of it. I have been around this stuff since I was really little. It’s in my blood, really. I learned most of it from my dad, but On Target teaches me even more. Technology has changed and I learn something new everyday. That’s what I like about this job. I always learn new things no matter what,” Cunningham describes the capacity of knowledge he can get from working at On Target Polaris Inc.
The love of riding on all terrain started when Cunningham was about three. Last year, he won championships in two different cross country series. He was seventeenth overall out of roughly 100 people, including professionals. He is looking at attending Polaris for school next year through work. He would be going to school and getting paid to do so. Eventually he wants to join his father’s business or start his own in the future.
“I am a hands-on learner. I like getting out and working on things. Sitting in the classroom and listening to teachers all day is not really for me. This way I can make money doing something I truly like. ICE is a good program and I am glad I chose to do it,” Cunningham says on his wise decision to do ICE as a senior.
He also likes to go hunting or do anything outdoorsy, but ATVs are clearly his favorite way to spend his time. He has had a few bad wrecks, but has never gotten hurt. He jokes maybe he should knock on wood. Perhaps he has good luck with ATVs or his secret is his vast knowledge and experience since he was a toddler.
