Where sustainability meets education: Inside Tarleton’s Purple Tractor

BY LESLIE POSADAS

Multimedia Journalist

Using farm-to-table practices, Tarleton State University students have transformed the Purple Tractor into a hands-on classroom where sustainability meets agriculture.

This student-operated store offers a diverse range of products made by students, for students. These include locally raised meats, in-house vegetables, flowers and apparel.

For retail greenhouse student manager Grace Hoelscher, the Purple Tractor has been a passion since April 2023, when she was hired to bring it to life from the ground up.

“I've learned how to operate an entire greenhouse, what irrigation timers look like, how you manage pest control, and, I mean, you really can't get that anywhere else while you're doing your bachelor's work,” Hoelscher said.

As a retail greenhouse student manager, Hoelscher is not only in charge of the greenhouse itself but also oversees behind-the-scenes work such as budgeting, marketing, selection and educating the Stephenville community. 

The Purple Tractor prides itself on being 100% organic. This includes making soil mixes without the use of pesticides and hormones.

“It's making sure that not only on social media, but in person, we're advocating for not only the horticultural industry, but ensuring people are making educated decisions about landscaping, or if anybody is experiencing any fungal issues with their trees, they're more than welcome to visit or call us,” Hoelscher said. “We're not only a retail business, but we are also a main point of contact for a lot of members in the community; we're a free resource.

Ryan Smith, the student florist at the Purple Tractor, shared that although their mission statement is to be farm-to-table, the floral side of this student-operated business is much different. 

“Unfortunately, there's just no way that any florist or flower shop is going to be able to produce enough flowers to fulfill the orders that we have; therefore, we do have to outsource with floral wholesalers,” Smith said.

While the store occasionally relies on floral wholesalers, the role still provides the hands-on experience they value most, giving Smith the chance to design, plan and create arrangements entirely on his own.

“In the past, when I've worked with wedding florists, for example, I have always just been told this is the recipe for what we're going to be doing and this is how it needs to be made, here are your flowers, whereas now it's all in my own hands and I'm the one planning it,” Smith said.

The Purple Tractor recognizes the president’s office as one of its biggest customers and appreciates its willingness to support a student-operated business.

“One of our largest customers is the president's office, and so when they need floral arrangements for a professional event, or a football game or anything that the president is going to be at and wants flowers ordered, he's going to come to us because he wants to support his students, and that goes the same for other alumni, other students that come in or even faculty members,” Smith said.

Smith’s floral designs showcase the creativity and independence students gain at the Purple Tractor, but they’re not the only ones putting their skills to work. Other students focus on agriculture at its core, providing a selection of fresh and frozen meats that highlight the farm-to-table mission of the store.

Every cut of meat sold at the Purple Tractor is managed by Tarleton students for Tarleton students and the Stephenville community. The selection often includes steaks, ground beef and sausage, along with other specialty items available throughout the year. 

From raising the animals to processing, packaging and even setting the prices, students are present every step of the way. 

The Purple Tractor is open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All students and alumni receive a 10% discount by showing their ID.