Investment from Woods Equipment supports student scholarships at the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology
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EmailFinancial support from Woods Equipment is providing scholarships to six MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology students pursuing an Agricultural Operations certificate at St. Clair County Community College.
Woods Equipment, a leading manufacturer of high-quality tractor attachments, is celebrating its 80th anniversary by supporting student scholarships at the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT).
Inspired by a critical need to address the looming workforce shortage threatening American agriculture and food production, Woods announced financial commitments to agriculture programs at six universities and three local organizations across the Midwest, including IAT.
As part of this initiative, six current IAT students pursuing Agricultural Operations certificates at St. Clair County Community College are benefitting from scholarships provided by Woods.
“We are profoundly grateful for the investment and partnership with Woods Equipment as we work together to train the agriculture and natural resources workforce of the future,” said IAT Director Jennifer “Jeno” Rivera, Ph.D. “These scholarships are unlocking opportunities for our talented students while activating a talent pipeline for Michigan’s agricultural industry.”
“Woods is proud to support students at MSU pursuing agriculture operations, learning not only how to grow their crops, but how to grow their business,” said Derek Paulsen, Vice President and General Manager of Woods Equipment and a 1993 MSU alumnus. “Programs like this help develop the skills and experience to keep agriculture moving forward.”
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IAT originated as the Michigan Agricultural College short course in 1894. Since then, it has grown into a multidisciplinary academic program that prepares students for careers in Michigan’s agriculture, food and natural resources industries.
Programs are available on MSU’s East Lansing campus and through partnerships with 14 institutions across the state of Michigan, giving students flexible access to MSU’s curriculum close to home.
In February 2026, the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and IAT announced a new partnership with St. Clair County Community College (SC4) to offer the Agricultural Operations certificate program beginning this fall. The collaboration marked a significant expansion of MSU IAT's community college network, bringing world-class MSU agricultural programming to students in the greater Port Huron region.
Addison Smith, a first year student in the IAT Agricultural Operations certificate program, is one of the six students now benefitting from IAT’s new partnership with SC4 and the Woods scholarship. Smith said she was attracted to the program by the opportunities to blend connections in the agricultural industry with her interest in pursuing a career in business.
The Woods scholarship is helping reduce Smith’s tuition costs, while the convenience of completing her course work closer to home at the SC4 campus has made housing more affordable.
“The scholarship has helped me be able to afford the Ag Operations program because without it I would have to pay more out of pocket costs towards my MSU classes,” she said. “Having the scholarship has allowed me to continue in the program and helps me to work towards my career goal of working in ag business."
Maya Ondrus, another first year in the IAT Agricultural Operations certificate program at SC4, said the financial support provided by the Woods scholarship has given her the flexibility to discover pathways to a career in the agriculture industry. "The scholarship I received from Woods has helped me greatly, making this program more affordable and giving me the opportunity to explore where I want to take my future in agriculture.”
In addition to supporting IAT, the Woods 80th anniversary campaign also benefited land-grant institutions across the Midwest, creating new scholarships, strengthening student-led farms and expanding impactful agricultural programming.
“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.”
You can learn more about MSU IAT here.
About CANR: As MSU’s founding college, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has a storied history tackling the world’s biggest problems related to food, health and the environment. From classrooms and labs to farm fields and forests, CANR Spartans are crafting solutions in Michigan that have a global impact.
About Woods Equipment: For 80 years, Woods has been manufacturing innovative, high-quality precision cutting and agricultural tractor attachments that give users an edge in tackling outdoor challenges. Founded in 1946, Woods pioneered the first tractor-mounted rotary cutter and has continuously improved and rigorously tested its equipment to ensure ideal performance under the toughest conditions. Today, Woods delivers innovative solutions for agriculture and grounds maintenance, serving farmers, contractors, and landowners with products that help them work smarter and more efficiently. Woods Equipment is available in North America through a network of agricultural and landscape dealers. Woods, a brand of Oregon Tool’s Farm, Ranch and Agriculture Division, is headquartered in Oregon, Illinois. Learn more here.
For more information about corporate partnerships or opportunities to make an impact at CANR, contact Kyle Cutler, Director of Corporate Relations & Development
