In today’s world, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find families who still operate farms or ranches. This makes it all the more remarkable when student athletes emerge from these backgrounds. These individuals combine the demanding life of farming with the rigorous commitments of college athletics. It’s a significant achievement, and one that deserves recognition. That is the need for recognition that Zach Bosle-CEO of Tractor Tuesday- wanted to fill with the Farm Athletes Initiative.
The content in this blog is derived from my interview with Zach Bosle- CEO of Tractor Tuesday
The Farm Athletes Initiative: Supporting Rural Student Athletes
There are many farm and ranch kids competing at high levels in the NCAA. The Farm Athletes Initiative aims to support these individuals in any way possible. By providing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, Tractor Tuesday hopes to offer them opportunities that extend beyond the athletic field.
Where Did the Idea for Farm Athletes Come From?
The concept of supporting farm athletes is truly a brainchild born out of a desire to make a difference. Initially, Zach's idea was to integrate this support within a different auction business, reaching out to a large NIL initiative. The goal was to assist every farm and ranch athlete within a university system’s athletic department. Although the initial outreach didn’t yield results, the vision expanded to a nationwide scale.
The motivation behind this initiative is to help student athletes who juggle the demands of being new students, especially freshmen from rural areas, with the overwhelming experience of joining a large university. Beyond financial assistance, the aim is to provide support and recognition. At Tractor Tuesday, they understand and appreciate the unique challenges these young men and women face, balancing their athletic achievements with their personal lives and family responsibilities as producers.
Benefits to the Agriculture Industry
The goal is to reshape the corporate outlook within the agricultural sector. Large companies, whether cooperative-owned, chemical manufacturers, or others, often focus on larger goals and may overlook the potential impact they can have on individual families and rural communities. Farm Athlete's aims to shift this focus back to a more local level.
By supporting student athletes from rural backgrounds, they believe they can benefit the individuals who make up small communities. This support can provide them with advancement opportunities, networking possibilities, and a better chance to succeed in their personal careers. Whether they return to the farm or enter the corporate world, the initiative aims to help them achieve their goals and contribute positively to the agriculture industry.
How to Apply to Become a Farm Athlete
If you are a farm athlete, please visit https://farmathletes.com/ and click the 'Apply Now' button. It’s a simple process: just enter your information and submit it. Someone from the team at Tractor Tuesday will reach out to verify a few details.
About Tractor Tuesday
Tractor Tuesday is a completely unique auction platform in the heavy machinery space. It empowers equipment owners by giving them the opportunity to represent and sell their own equipment. If you own your equipment, you pay nothing for the service and access to our technology. There is a capped buyer’s premium of 5%, which is capped at $9,500.
The system is based on credit card authorizations, which Tractor Tuesday believes will stifle any unethical bidding activity. When an item is listed for sale, they ensure that the winning bidder is a valid buyer and facilitate the transaction. This allows every farmer, rancher, and equipment owner the opportunity to represent and sell their own equipment using the Tractor Tuesday platform.
Listen to the full interview here: https://youtu.be/SxPPDinyVPg
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