Although Oklahoma State University touts “America’s Brightest Orange,” a second bright color shares the stage in the OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering — the green of John Deere.

“P&K Equipment and John Deere have a longstanding relationship with OSU and the Ferguson College of Agriculture in particular,” said Scott Eisenhauer, P&K Equipment general manager. “The John Deere Classroom is one example of that partnership.”

P&K Equipment took the lead in funding the 2020 renovations to the classroom, said Craig Trible, BAE systems administrator. Additional donors were Jay and Cathy Albright, Jo Lyn Becton, Charles and Verna Gause, Greg and Kristen Hart, Larry Herriman, Brad Kosanke, Ken and Jody Long of Long’s John Deere, Todd Love, Don and Kim Yarbrough, and Yancy and Christina Wright.

Initially designed in 1994, the John Deere Classroom in Room 225 Agricultural Hall has had multiple upgrades during the years.

“The age of the current equipment made it necessary to upgrade the room in 2020,” Trible said. “The BAE department worked with the OSU Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence to design an updated classroom.”

The classroom is used heavily by undergraduate and graduate students, so all technology in it must be kept up to date and functional, Trible said.

The most recent updates included improving lighting conditions, installing an HDMI source, and adding two 85-inch flat panel TVs.

“Now, all of the lights in the room can be on and the displays are still easy to see and read from the back of the room,” Trible said. “The instructor also can display different information on each screen because of the updates.”

In addition, the classroom’s technology now allows for wired connections as well as wireless screen sharing from laptops, tablets or cellphones to the video/sound system.

Eisenhauer said the renovations brought the classroom, program and students into a new era of opportunity.

With the changes happening within the Ferguson College as well as the specific technology upgrades in this classroom, students will have experiences beyond what anyone thought possible just a short time ago, Eisenhauer said.

John Veenstra, retired head of the BAE department, said he is a strong believer in giving students the best equipment and technology to use while earning their degrees and developing the necessary skillsets to have successful careers.

“P&K Equipment has been a big supporter of OSU students,” Veenstra said. “They did not hesitate to help when asked if this was something the company wanted to be involved in.”

The company supports OSU BAE in other ways such as providing academic scholarships and hiring graduates to serve in various roles at its 18 locations in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

“P&K has enjoyed watching the program advance over time,” Eisenhauer said. “Through the years, the college has produced incredibly strong assets for the agricultural industry.”

Donors like P&K Equipment make academic program advancements possible, said Mari Chinn, BAE department head.

“The students and faculty are fortunate to have the support of the donors that help the programs here at Oklahoma State,” she said. “Because of them, we get to enhance the experience the students receive.

“We are very thankful for those who stepped up and helped with the upgrading of the room’s equipment,” she added.

Eisenhauer said P&K will continue to provide support to the department and the college.

“We were proud to play a part in this classroom renovation project, knowing more agricultural leaders will emerge from those doors and continue to advance the industry,” Eisenhauer said. “P&K Equipment is proud to support the positive and forward-thinking development within the Ferguson College of Agriculture.”

Story By: Emily Cooper | Cowboy Journal