Pivot Bio Brings One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour to Penn State Homecoming
Pivot Bio, an agricultural technology company focused on developing solutions for farmers, is bringing its Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour to Penn State’s Homecoming celebration this weekend. The tour will make a special stop in State College, Pennsylvania, as the Penn State Nittany Lions prepare to face the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The visit is part of Pivot Bio’s nationwide effort to recognize American farmers and highlight the critical role agriculture plays in supporting communities, food systems and the broader economy. In partnership with the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, the Homecoming stop will place farmers and agriculture at the center of one of the university’s largest annual traditions.
The Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour was created to celebrate the individuals who work every day to produce the food, fuel and fiber relied upon by communities across the country. Through its more than 1,500-mile tractor journey, Pivot Bio is encouraging people to express their appreciation for farmers while drawing attention to the importance of continued investment and innovation in American agriculture.
The Penn State Homecoming stop provides an especially relevant setting for that message. Both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have strong agricultural traditions, with dairy production playing a significant role in the economies and rural communities of the two states. Wisconsin is the nation’s second-largest milk-producing state, while Pennsylvania has one of the country’s highest shares of agricultural producers under the age of 35.
The connection between the two states and their agricultural communities makes the Penn State-Wisconsin football matchup an appropriate occasion to recognize farmers and discuss the future of agricultural innovation. The event will also provide an opportunity to highlight technologies designed to support crop production, dairy operations and livestock agriculture.
As part of the tour, Pivot Bio is showcasing its work in crop nutrition and silage production. The company develops agricultural technologies intended to help farmers manage crop nutrition and improve productivity while addressing some of the challenges associated with modern farming.
The company’s presence at Penn State also reflects the strong relationship between agricultural education, scientific research and farming. Universities such as Penn State and the University of Wisconsin–Madison have long contributed to agricultural research and education, helping develop new approaches that can ultimately be applied on farms.
Travis Frey, Ph.D., chief technology officer at Pivot Bio and an alumnus of both Penn State and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said the location was particularly meaningful because of the agricultural connections shared by the two institutions.
“Penn State and Wisconsin both have deep roots in agriculture, so there’s something fitting about bringing the Year of One Million Thanks Tour here for this game,” Frey said. He added that his experiences at the two universities influenced his perspective on science and its potential to expand opportunities for farmers.
Frey emphasized that agricultural innovation has its greatest impact when scientific developments successfully reach farms and address practical needs. According to Frey, working directly with farmers remains an important part of understanding the challenges facing agriculture and ensuring that research and technology continue to evolve in ways that are useful to producers.
The tour’s Penn State appearance will also give members of the university community, football fans and visitors a chance to participate directly. The Grati-Tractor, the centerpiece of Pivot Bio’s farmer appreciation initiative, will be stationed at the Snider Agricultural Arena from 3 to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Visitors will be invited to stop by the Grati-Tractor and leave personal messages of appreciation for farmers. The interactive experience is designed to give attendees an opportunity to recognize the people whose work supports the agricultural supply chain and contributes to everyday life.
The timing of the event will allow fans to participate before and during the Homecoming festivities. The Penn State-Wisconsin game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, making the tour stop part of a broader day of activities surrounding the university’s Homecoming celebration.
Beyond the football rivalry, the event highlights the shared agricultural heritage of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Dairy farming is particularly important in both states, supporting farm families, processors, suppliers, rural businesses and local communities. Recognizing the farmers behind these industries can also help draw attention to the importance of attracting younger generations to agriculture.
Pennsylvania’s relatively high proportion of agricultural producers under age 35 underscores the role younger farmers can play in the future of the industry. At the same time, Wisconsin’s position as a major dairy-producing state illustrates the scale and economic importance of livestock agriculture.
Pivot Bio’s Year of One Million Thanks initiative seeks to connect these agricultural realities with consumers and communities that may not always have direct relationships with farmers. By taking the Grati-Tractor to major events and agricultural communities, the company is creating opportunities for people to learn more about farming and publicly recognize producers.
The Penn State stop also reinforces the connection between agricultural education and innovation. Agricultural colleges provide students and researchers with opportunities to explore new technologies, understand production challenges and develop solutions that can contribute to the future of farming.
For Pivot Bio, bringing the tour to Penn State provides an opportunity to celebrate farmers while highlighting the continuing need for innovation throughout the agricultural sector. The company’s participation with the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences reflects the broader relationship between farmers, universities, researchers and agricultural technology companies.
As the Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour continues, its message remains centered on appreciation for American farmers and the essential work they perform. The Penn State Homecoming stop adds a strong agricultural and educational dimension to that effort, bringing together students, alumni, football fans and members of the farming community.
With the Grati-Tractor at the Snider Agricultural Arena and the Penn State-Wisconsin game taking place later in the afternoon, Homecoming visitors will have an opportunity to celebrate college traditions while also recognizing the farmers who help sustain communities across the country.
The event ultimately places agriculture alongside one of Penn State’s most visible annual celebrations, providing a platform to recognize farmers, discuss agricultural innovation and encourage greater appreciation for the people responsible for producing the nation’s food, fuel and fiber.
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