Tractor to be used as a student teaching tool in College’s Agricultural Equipment Technology program
(Pictured: Representatives from Capital Tractor, Clinton Tractor, and SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech stand with the New Holland T6)
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech has received a New Holland T6.180 tractor through a partnership with Capital Tractor and Clinton Tractor and Implement Co., making the College one of only a handful of colleges in the United States to house the innovative clean-energy machine for student research and training.
The New Holland T6 is a 160-horsepower row crop tractor capable of running on either biomethane or compressed natural gas (CNG), producing zero harmful emissions during operation. New Holland has made the tractor available to select colleges and universities as part of a broader effort to advance research into sustainable agricultural technology.
“This is one of the first two dozen methane-powered tractors in the United States. When we saw that New Holland was offering these for research, we knew Cobleskill Ag & Tech was the right fit,” said Kevin Armitage, President of Capital Tractor. “There are no emissions with this tractor. It burns clean and, environmentally speaking, it can certainly be a trendsetter for the future. It’s important that we get it to a research facility like this College where students can learn the technology in a hands-on way.”
“The industry is changing fast, and the technicians coming out of school need to change with it. It’s not just about rebuilding engines anymore, it’s diagnostics, software, and understanding how these new systems work together,” said Greg Calidonna, Sales Manager at Clinton Tractor and Implement Co. “Putting a methane-powered tractor like this in the hands of students at Cobleskill Ag & Tech means they graduate already familiar with the technology we’re seeing in the field. That’s a huge advantage for them and for us as employers.”
In addition to facilitating the tractor donation, Capital Tractor and Clinton Tractor and Implement Co. are investing $100,000 to support student scholarships and programmatic enhancements. The scholarship fund will expand access for students pursuing careers in agricultural equipment and dealership operations, building on a longstanding pipeline between the two companies and the College.
“Partnerships like this one with Capital Tractor and Clinton Tractor demonstrate what’s possible when industry and higher education work toward a shared purpose,” said Dr. Marion Terenzio, President of SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech. “This tractor is a teaching tool that represents where the industry is heading, and the scholarship opens the door for more students to pursue that future here at our college, while knowing they are preparing for tomorrow’s industry, not yesterday’s.”
Cobleskill Ag & Tech’s Agricultural Equipment Technology program trains students to maintain and manage the complex mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems that power modern agriculture, with a curriculum that blends hands-on technical coursework with business, management, and communications skills. The four-year Bachelor of Technology degree includes a credit-bearing internship, preparing graduates for careers spanning agriculture, equipment retailing, manufacturing, and engineering.
“Half of our staff members are graduates of Cobleskill Ag & Tech, and the program here really prepares them for what we need,” said Armitage. “Historically, we’ve been able to scholarship high school students through BOCES programs and start them at the dealership once they graduate college. Partnering with Cobleskill on this scholarship now allows us to reach a wider audience and offer more students an opportunity to come work with us.”
Capital Tractor, Inc. is a locally owned and operated authorized New Holland dealership based in Greenwich, N.Y., providing agricultural and construction equipment, parts, and service to the Capital District and surrounding region since 1966.
Clinton Tractor & Implement Co. is a family-owned and operated authorized New Holland dealership based in Clinton, N.Y., serving the agricultural and industrial equipment needs of the region since 1953.
