WSU Director to Put Passion for Agriculture Into New Role

By Scott Weybright

Growing up, Troy Peters spent his summers on an Idaho farm, loving the work and time spent outdoors. Graduating from college with an engineering degree, he worked in an office for three years.

“I decided I couldn’t spend my career in a cubicle,” said Peters, a professor and agricultural engineer with Washington State University. “I had to get outside and knew I liked working with people in agriculture.”

Peters returned to school and earned a PhD, which eventually led him to his position as an irrigation specialist at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser. Now that decision he made in 2000 has led to his selection as the new director of WSU’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS).

“Troy will do great work leading CPAAS,” said Wendy Powers, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “His research background, experience collaborating with industry as an Extension specialist, and years working at WSU are perfectly suited to lead the center forward doing impactful work for our state.”