John Deere is now a Trustee of The First Tee®, a non-profit youth organization that provides life skills and character education programs to young people using golf as a platform.

The official announcement was made this morning at the Golf Industry Show by James M. Field, president of John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division, and Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee.

John Deere will donate $1 million over five years to The First Tee, further emphasizing Deere’s active commitment to the game of golf and the career development of professionals in the golf maintenance industry. The donation is consistent with the Deere & Company’s various citizenship initiatives which target education, training, and community enrichment.

The First Tee San Diego chapter members accept a check from
John Deere leadership at the 2013 Golf Industry Show

Within the golf industry, John Deere already supports an array of initiatives, including unique educational experiences to fill vital needs such as the Green Start Academy for Assistant Superintendents, and the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America’s Collegiate Turf Bowl competition. The company also supports the Association itself at the highest level, as a Platinum Partner.

The $1 million donation will be used to enhance the experience of The First Tee participants in a variety of ways. Besides supporting The First Tee network, funds will be used to create and launch a golf maintenance career- oriented youth development program, in conjunction with the PGA TOUR. Local chapters of The First Tee will partner with the TOUR’s Tournament Player Courses (TPC) to provide the opportunity for high school-aged participants to learn about topics in agronomy and golf course maintenance careers. As a planned extension, participants will also have the chance to experience what it’s like to maintain a TPC golf course during a tournament week.

“At The First Tee, we rely on strong partners like John Deere Golf to help us carry out our ambitious efforts to reach 10 million additional young people between 2011 and 2017,” said Joe Louis Barrow, chief executive, The First Tee. “We’re thankful that in addition to their substantial donation, John Deere will help us develop a program to teach our participants about turf care and what it means to be a leader in the golf industry.”
In addition, a portion of the donation will be dedicated to funding development programs connected to the John Deere Classic – a PGA TOUR event held each year near the company’s World Headquarters in Moline, Ill.

“A donation of this magnitude is incredibly meaningful to John Deere,” said Mara Sovey, director, Corporate Citizenship. “Our participation will provide The First Tee with resources to help reach so many more young people, to volunteer with local chapters, and to fuel the curiosity and development of young minds eager to explore careers in the turf care industry.”