Holt AgriBusiness, a farm equipment dealer based in Texas, has donated 8 tractors and heavy equipment machinery for use at the Tarleton State Univ., Tarleton Agriculture Center, or College Farm, with an estimated in-kind value of $967,000.

The agreement between Holt and Tarleton was formalized at a lunch June 18 followed by a program at the Southwest Regional Dairy Center. Under the four-year deal, Holt will provide new agricultural equipment to the College Farm after 250 hours of use, or approximately every year.

“We’re extremely excited about the generous donation of the use of eight tractors to the center, which will provide us a top-of-the-line equipment fleet to operate and help meet our educational goals and objectives,” said Dr. Don Cawthon, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “This partnership is extremely important and timely because our student enrollment continues to grow and financial support from the state struggles to keep up with needs. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with Holt Agribusiness.”

Allan Morgan, manager of the Agriculture Center, said the donation “will not only have a tremendous impact on the efficiency of our operation, but will provide our students the opportunity to experience the industry’s current technology. In fact, the Challenger tractors are the most technologically advanced equipment that we have had the opportunity to use at the Tarleton Agriculture Center.”

Brandy Patton, Holt AgriBusiness regional manager for North Texas, said, “At Holt, supporting and contributing to the communities where we live and work symbolizes our core value of commitment. Partnering with Tarleton … in supplying our agricultural equipment will foster our investment in this community as we strive to keep the agricultural industry thriving and growing in the region.”

Holt AgriBusiness sells and services Challenger and Massey Ferguson tractors, Claas combines and forage harvesters, in addition to agricultural implements and allied products at more than 20 locations throughout South, Central, North and East Texas, as well as in Jonesboro, Ark. and Sikeston, Mo.