Lincoln University's 3D-Printing Jesup Wagon Brings Tech to Missouri Farms | The Locally Times
A century after George Washington Carver's original, Lincoln University's modern Jesup Wagon 2.0 now brings 3D printing and hands-on agricultural education directly to Missouri farmers, bridging historical innovation with cutting-edge solutions.
More than a century after George Washington Carver revolutionized agricultural outreach with his horse-drawn Jesup Wagon, Lincoln University is again transforming how farmers learn. Its relaunched Jesup Wagon 2.0, a high-tech mobile classroom, now brings hands-on agricultural education and technology directly to farmers across Missouri. Operated by LU Cooperative Extension, this initiative continues Carver's legacy of accessible learning, aiming to support rural communities with practical tools and solutions, Lincoln University announced in a March 30, 2026, news release during its George Washington Carver Heritage Days Celebration. ## Continuing a Century-Old Vision Carver's original Jesup Wagon, designed in 1906, was a horse-drawn classroom on wheels. It carried tools and instructional materials, sharing practical farming knowledge directly with rural communities. This pioneering approach brought essential research and instruction into the field, ensuring farmers with limited access to formal education received key information where they lived and worked. Lincoln University's Jesup Wagon 2.0 reimagines this foundational concept, carrying Carver's vision forward more than a century later, the university's news release details. ## Modern Tools for Missouri Farmers Operating through LU Cooperative Extension's Small Farmers Outreach Program (ISFOP), Jesup Wagon 2.0 now traverses Missouri, blending traditional practical tools with cutting-edge technology. The mobile classroom includes ergonomic long-handled tools to reduce farmer strain and seeders to boost field efficiency. Crucially, it also features a 3D printer and scanner. This advanced capability allows farmers to recreate small, missing, or broken tool parts on-site, offering a critical alternative when replacement pieces are scarce or shipping times are prohibitive, Lincoln University's announcement explains. Based in Joplin, the Jesup Wagon 2.0 has a dedicated driver for transport to regional and state events. ## Expanding Outreach and Support A formal scheduling system allows new and existing partners to reserve the wagon for educational activities, including workshops, conferences, and field demonstrations. This approach, Lincoln University emphasizes, continues a model rooted in hands-on learning and direct community outreach, echoing the original wagon's mission to make education and innovation accessible. While the program's operational budget is not detailed in available records, nor is the exact number of counties or communities the wagon is scheduled to visit, its impact is designed to be widespread. ## Key Questions **What is the Jesup Wagon 2.0?** The Jesup Wagon 2.0 is a mobile classroom operated by Lincoln University's Cooperative Extension, designed to bring hands-on agricultural education and modern tools directly to farmers across Missouri. **How does it help farmers?** It provides practical tools like ergonomic implements and seeders, and includes a 3D printer and scanner to help farmers recreate small or broken tool parts, supporting safer and more efficient farm work. **How can communities request a visit?** The program uses a formal scheduling system for partners to reserve the wagon for workshops, conferences, and field demonstrations.