The Purple Tractor

Smiling person wearing a Tarleton State University Agriculture shirt.

“The Purple Tractor is a place where you can see the variety of agriculture come together. The student workers at the farm stock the Purple Tractor with the finished products of their hard work. The community is able to see how the farm makes a difference in students’ lives. You get to see chairs and corn hole boards from the Ag Mech building, plants from the greenhouse, steaks and jerky from the Meat Lab, and the students who are working in sales that are the friendly faces to our customers.”

– Taylor Beasley, a student worker at Tarleton’s Meat Lab

Illustration of a cow, packaged meat, person planting, plant, wood, and a chair.

The Purple Tractor was made for students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to make and market their products. Then, when products are bought, the profit goes directly back to their department. For example, a Meat Lab student prepares a cut of meat for the Purple Tractor. This cut of meat is then marketed to be purchased at the Purple Tractor. And then the profit of that purchase goes directly back into the Meat Lab. This is the same for each product, whether it’s a plant grown by a student in the horticulture department or a chair built by a student in the Ag Mech department. This allows an enhanced learning experience for student workers as they learn to provide for their departments through their work.

Seedlings growing in trays inside a greenhouse.
Herbs for sale at the Purple Tractor provided by the Horticulture department
Flower display in a cooler with DIY bouquet instructions on the glass.
Flower arrangements for sale at the Purple Tractor provided by the Horticulture department
Packaged beef steaks with Tarleton State University label in a refrigerator.
Meat for sale at the Purple Tractor provided by the Meat Lab
Purple and black cornhole board with triangle design indoors. Tarleton State University logo.
Cornhole for sale at the Purple Tractor provided by Ag Mechanics students
Collage with Tarleton State University logo, farm photos, and potted succulents.
Canvas prints for sale at the Purple Tractor provided by Tarleton students
Purple chairs and a small wooden table with plants and merchandise in the background.
Wood chairs and table for sale at the Purple Tractor provided by Ag Mechanics students

Support Tarleton’s AG students and

SHOP THE PURPLE TRACTOR!

Website of The Purple Tractor at Tarleton State University on a computer screen.

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