As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Woods Equipment is making financial contributions to agriculture programs at universities and local organizations across the Midwest. Among the universities is UW-Madison.
“For 80 years, our equipment has worked alongside farmers and the next generation of land stewards,” said Jillian Love, Marketing Manager at Woods Equipment. “These partnerships are our way of giving back and making sure there is a next generation ready to carry that work forward.”
The timing of the 80th milestone aligns with a looming talent crisis for U.S. agriculture, which is what inspired Woods to dedicate its anniversary contributions to support future farmers and land stewards across the country. Experts project that agriculture-trained graduates will fill only about 48 percent of food and agriculture job openings expected each year through 2030—a gap that threatens the future of American farming.
To help close the gap, Woods has pursued opportunities to make investments in 2026 that will help raise the next generation of the industry.
“Programs like student-run farms, apprenticeship tracks and youth organizations give students real-world experience they can’t get from a textbook alone,” said Derek Paulsen, Vice President and General Manager of Woods Equipment. “By supporting these efforts and organizations in our own community, we’re helping students build skills that will sustain farms, municipalities and rural communities for decades to come.”
- University of Wisconsin–Madison: Woods will participate in UW–Madison’s Turfgrass Association Field Day in August, offering hands-on equipment experience for students, faculty and industry partners. They will also provide tuition support for students enrolled in the Turfgrass Apprenticeship Program (TAP) and deliver a guest lecture led by Woods subject matter experts this fall.
