Sponsor Spotlight: John Deere Foundation

As a nonprofit, the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® relies on the support of our generous philanthropic partners. The John Deere Foundation has partnered with the Hall of Fame since 2023 to support America’s next generation of innovators.

Rooted in Innovation

John Deere is known for innovation. Founder John Deere was inducted by the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1989 in recognition of his many improvements in plows, including the first successful self-scouring steel plow in 1837. This revolutionized American agriculture, enabling farmers to more effectively cut through the tough soil of Midwestern prairies.

One of the many ways in which this spirit of innovation moves forward is through the John Deere Foundation’s commitment to building stronger communities by investing in opportunities that support education, economic mobility and community vitality. “Our values reflect John Deere’s long-standing commitment to integrity, innovation and positive impact,” said Pat Barnes, Global Program Director, Youth Education & Housing. “Our mission includes helping young people access meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for the future.”

Through its partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the John Deere Foundation supports access to Camp Invention^®, a nationwide, hands-on STEM summer camp for children in grades K-6. Each of the Hall of Fame’s education programs is directly inspired and influenced by Inductees, and designed to guide children to build an innovative mindset and essential life skills.

The foundation’s sponsorship of Camp Invention is part of its continuum of STEM education support across elementary school, middle school, high school and college programs. According to Barnes, “Camp Invention is one of the programs advancing the John Deere Foundation’s bold 10-year commitment to support 1 million youth by 2030.”

Investing in Community

The John Deere Foundation’s support for Camp Invention is an investment in the next generation of innovators, problem solvers and leaders. “This partnership aligns closely with John Deere Inspire, which focuses on creating stronger pathways for students through education, career awareness and community engagement,” Barnes explained. John Deere Inspire is a partnership established with local youth organizations to support and mentor the next generation.

Each summer, the National Inventors Hall of Fame partners with thousands of schools and districts to bring a new Camp Invention program to children in communities across the country. Each camp is brought to life by local, qualified educators, making it possible for the program to maintain a national reach while making a local impact.

“One important aspect of this sponsorship is its local reach,” Barnes said. “By supporting Camp Invention at John Deere Inspire partner schools across multiple home communities, the John Deere Foundation is helping expand access to high-quality invention education for students who can benefit from engaging summer learning opportunities close to home. This effort is further strengthened by the involvement of John Deere employee volunteers.”

Volunteers at Camp Invention see firsthand the impact of high-quality invention education. This approach to learning guides children through the act of hands-on invention to grow more confident in their creative problem-solving abilities, build future-ready skills and unlock their full potential.

Skills for the Future

The John Deere Foundation values the many ways in which Camp Invention benefits children. Just one week of Camp Invention is proven to result in both short- and long-term improvements in creativity, STEM interest, collaboration and problem solving, and children demonstrate even greater gains when they attend Camp Invention more than once. Participating in this program during the summer also is shown to increase academic performance and engagement the following school year.

“The benefits that matter most to our organization are student engagement, confidence, and the development of durable skills like creative problem solving, collaboration and persistence,” said Barnes. “These camps […] spark long-term interest in STEM and future careers at a formative age.”

Camp Invention offers brand-new invention education experiences every summer, filled with opportunities to take part in active, collaborative learning and exploration. “Invention education means giving young people the opportunity to imagine, test, improve and learn by doing,” said Barnes. “It helps students build the mindset and skills to tackle challenges with curiosity and resilience — qualities that are valuable not only in future careers, but also in everyday life and community leadership.”

As children build, test and refine their own inventions, they practice persistence and develop communication and entrepreneurship skills. “These qualities support success in school and in future careers, and they are especially important in a rapidly changing world that values adaptability and innovation,” Barnes explained.

Unique to National Inventors Hall of Fame education programs, every experience introduces children to the lessons and stories of the world’s most innovative role models: Hall of Fame Inductees.

“Innovative role models help children understand that big ideas can come from anyone, and that success often starts with curiosity, effort and learning from mistakes,” Barnes said. “When students see examples of people who create solutions that make the world a better place, they are more likely to believe they can do the same. The Hall of Fame’s programs help students see themselves as capable innovators, which is especially important as we work to inspire the next generation of leaders, makers and community problem solvers.”

Learn More About the John Deere Foundation

Everyone at the National Inventors Hall of Fame is grateful for John Deere’s commitment to investing in a brighter, more innovative future. To learn more about the John Deere Foundation and its impact, visit its website.