AFTON – Students in SUNY Morrisville’s Natural Resources Conservation program have a new tool to utilize for hands-on learning, thanks to a generous donation from the Wagner Companies in Ninevah.

Wagner, a producer of lumber for furniture, cabinetry and specialty use product industries, recently donated a truck and loader to Morrisville State College. The 1987 Mack model machine gives Morrisville students a chance at more hands-on experience while also upholding Wagner’s vision to provide for future generations of employees and forest managers.

It’s a good partnership, said Wagner Head of Procurement Tom Gerow – one with big payoffs for both Morrisville’s Environmental Sciences Department and the Wagner Companies.

“At the Wagner Companies, we realize that the forest provides the jobs we have,” said Gerow. “Hence, we need to take care of the forest and manage it wisely for our current needs as well as the needs of future generations. Working with the local educational institutions is no different. We have to nurture the learning environment to grow and maintain a workforce for our current and future needs as well.”

The truck and loader will primarily be used in class forestry activities at Morrisville. Wagner employees Don Goodrich and Dennis Gates, along with their team at Wagner Nineveh, maintained and made improvements to the heavy-duty machine which was handed over to the college earlier this month.