Ohio Farmer

Trimble brings technology to OSU students with new labs

The gift provides hands-on experience with the latest technologies in agriculture and construction.

Jennifer Kiel, Editor, Michigan Farmer and Ohio Farmer

December 8, 2023

4 Min Read
Ohio State students working in a computer lab
TRIMBLE TECHNOLOGY LABS: Based on Ohio State’s campus in Columbus (pictured) and Ohio State ATI at the CFAES Wooster campus in Ohio, the labs are the first Trimble Technology Labs to include Trimble agriculture solutions. The centerpieces of the labs are customized training workstations that simulate the use of Trimble agriculture hardware and software in the classroom, including machine guidance and control, assisted steering, field leveling, and water management systems. Photos courtesy of Trimble

Imagine having everything that might be in the cab of today’s high-tech tractors at an indoor workstation with several students gathered around participating in hands-on learning.

That’s what is happening at Ohio State University with the recent establishment of two Trimble Technology Labs within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

In May 2023, OSU announced Trimble’s gift of hardware and software to be used at several customized training workstations, which include machine guidance control and steering, as well as field leveling and water management systems.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 6 celebrated the labs — one at the Columbus campus and the other at Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute, Wooster campus.

These multidisciplinary labs aim to enhance hands-on learning, teaching, research, and outreach activities in food and agricultural engineering, as well as construction management, using technologies used today by professionals in the industry.

Trimble is an American software, hardware and services technology company. It supports global industries in building and construction, agriculture and others. Trimble also does hardware development of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, scanners, laser range finders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), inertial navigation systems and software processing tools.

The investment is to broaden the reach for students and to familiarize and access jobs in the agriculture industry.

“In recent years, farming and construction industries have faced crucial labor shortages and skilled labor gaps,” says Jim Chambers, vice president, agriculture, Trimble. “With the added technology in these labs, we’re looking to not only attract the next generation of agriculture and construction professionals, but we hope to attract a whole new subset of students looking for technology careers that may not have realized a career in agriculture or construction could be for them.”

According to the university, it is the largest philanthropic gift-in-kind investment to support teaching, research and outreach in the history of CFAES.

Engaging students

In its inaugural year, more than 1,000 students will have access to the labs for courses dedicated to the next generation of agriculture and construction careers.

“We do a lot of hands-on learning here, but this expands that ability,” says Jon Witter, an associate professor in the Agricultural and Engineering Technologies Division at Ohio State ATI.

“We do a lot of project-based learning here on campus — we're doing things that they're doing in industry and developing marketable skills. I think that's incredibly valuable helping young people figure out what career paths they want to go.”

The workstations are designed to replicate what happens in the field.

“I think we do a good job in the classroom,” Witter says. “But what you're seeing in the class has got to translate to a useful skill in the real world. We’ve worked with Trimble for years — about six years with water management training — but this is really going to change the way we do things.”

By starting in the workstation lab setting, moving to technology-equipped ATV's and then to full-sized agricultural and construction equipment, learners have more opportunities to master the skill sets needed to excel in precision farming and construction management, he says.

Two men stand next to a tractor inside of an empty room with a blue and white mural on the back wall

The Wooster campus, one of four regional Ohio State campuses, has repurposed a former 4,000-square-foot gymnasium to serve 12-18 students at a time in the new lab. The Wooster campus primarily serves undergraduates in obtaining associate degrees. “There’s an incredible demand for students with associate degrees, and this hands-on learning only adds value,” Witter adds.

While one workstation may have everything found in the tractor cab, such as GPS and autosteer, another station will have everything that goes on the implement, like various applicators, sensors and meters.

“It’s really an exciting opportunity, not only for our traditional students, but also for others who want to come back and learn more about technology or perhaps learn to do something rather than paying an agronomist to do it,” Witters says.

Ohio State University Extension will help support training programs to equip farmers and agricultural professionals with technologies. The labs will not only be used for workforce development opportunities, but also for faculty research purposes, local youth agriculture groups such as Ohio 4-H youth development, FFA and local field days.

The labs will also offer opportunities for worker training outside of the usual university, for-credit courses by offering targeted workshops for certifications — appealing to current farmworkers, local dealers or businesses in the industry.

In recognition of Trimble’s contribution, it was presented with the Corporate Partner of the Year Award from the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association, a national philanthropic association for agricultural education institutions. To learn more, visit trimble.com.

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About the Author

Jennifer Kiel

Editor, Michigan Farmer and Ohio Farmer

Jennifer was hired as editor of Michigan Farmer in 2003, and in 2015, she began serving a dual role as editor of Michigan Farmer and Ohio Farmer. Both those publications are now online only, while the print version is American Agriculturist, which covers Michigan, Ohio, the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic. She is the co-editor with Chris Torres.

Prior to joining Farm Progress, she served three years as the manager of communications and development for the American Farmland Trust Central Great Lakes Regional Office in Michigan, and as director of communications with the Michigan Agri-Business Association. Previously, she was the communications manager at Michigan Farm Bureau's state headquarters. She also lists 10 years of experience at six different daily and weekly Michigan newspapers on her resume.

She has been a member of American Agricultural Editors’ Association (now Agricultural Communicators Network) since 2003. She has won numerous writing and photography awards through that organization, which named her a Master Writer in 2006 and Writer of Merit in 2017.

She is a board member for the Michigan 4-H Foundation, Clinton County Conservation District and Barn Believers.

Jennifer and her husband, Chris, live in St. Johns, Mich., and collectively have five grown children and four grandchildren.

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