John Deere announced on April 21 a three-year partnership with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), committing $2.7 million and more than 500 employee mentors to support hands-on robotics programs for young people worldwide.
The initiative aims to help over 9,000 youth build technical skills relevant to careers in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and technology. By participating in FIRST programs, student teams design, build, and program robots to tackle real-world challenges that mirror those faced by professionals in these industries.
Jahmy Hindman, senior vice president and chief technology officer at John Deere, said: “You can’t build the next generation of technology in agriculture, construction, roadbuilding and forestry without the technologists and engineers who know how to work shoulder to shoulder for the common goal of creating the future. FIRST gives students hands-on experience with the real-world challenges our teams face every day, designing systems that are built to perform outside the lab. That problem-solving mindset is what we look for when we hire, and it is what employers across agriculture, construction, and manufacturing need right now.”
Beyond financial support, John Deere’s involvement includes employee volunteers serving as mentors who guide students through building their robots while sharing practical experience from roles such as precision agriculture engineering or software development. Some mentors are former FIRST participants now working at John Deere as engineers or technicians.
John Deere has a longstanding focus on innovation for solutions in agriculture, forestry and infrastructure according to its official website. The company employs about 75,000 people globally according to its official website and owns more than 25 subsidiary brands including Wirtgen and Monosem according to its official website. It has also been recognized among the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere according to its official website.
Deere & Company highlights its heritage through sites like the John Deere Historic Site and Tractor & Engine Museum according to its official website, reflecting a legacy that began with founder John Deere’s blacksmith innovations according to its official website.
