Institute Overview

The Agricultural STEM Institute for Informal Learning & Sustainability of Small-Family Farms is an interdisciplinary education and applied-learning initiative designed to strengthen rural communities by connecting youth, families, farmers, and university partners through hands-on agricultural STEM experiences.

The Institute serves as a living laboratory where agriculture, environmental science, technology, and community resilience intersect. Through informal learning models — including summer camps, field days, community workshops, and virtual project-based learning — the Institute equips participants with practical skills, systems thinking, and exposure to modern agricultural careers while directly supporting the long-term viability of small and family-owned farms.

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Mission

To expand equitable access to agricultural STEM education, foster intergenerational knowledge transfer, and advance sustainable, technology-enabled practices that support the economic, environmental, and social resilience of small-family farms.

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Program Model

The Institute operates through a hub-and-spoke model, anchored by partner farms and community sites and supported by university faculty, students, Extension professionals, and industry collaborators.

Core program elements include:

• Youth AG-STEM Learning (Grades 3–11)
  Experiential programs introduce youth to soil science, crop systems, animal science, food systems, climate resilience, and agricultural technology through age-appropriate, hands-on activities. Programs emphasize curiosity, problem-solving, and real-world application.
• Informal Learning for Families & Communities
  Workshops and demonstrations engage parents, caregivers, and community members in topics such as food security, sustainable gardening, farm economics, and environmental stewardship, reinforcing learning beyond the classroom.
• University Experiential Learning & Workforce Development
  Undergraduate and graduate students participate through for-credit internships, capstone projects, service-learning placements, and applied research. Students support curriculum development, technology integration (e.g., drones, GIS, sensors), evaluation, and community engagement.
• Small-Farm Sustainability & Innovation Support
  The Institute works alongside small-family farms to pilot scalable practices that improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance environmental outcomes. Focus areas include precision agriculture, climate-smart practices, diversified revenue models, and youth workforce pipelines.

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Educational Focus Areas

• Agricultural and environmental sciences
• Food systems and food security
• Climate-smart and regenerative agriculture
• Agricultural technology (drones, GIS, data analytics)
• STEM literacy and workforce pathways
• Farm business fundamentals and rural entrepreneurship

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Impact & Outcomes

The Institute is designed to generate measurable, community-centered outcomes, including:

• Increased STEM engagement and career awareness among rural youth
• Strengthened pathways from K-12 education to postsecondary agriculture and STEM programs
• Enhanced adoption of sustainable and technology-enabled practices on small-family farms
• Expanded experiential learning opportunities for university students
• Improved community resilience through education, workforce development, and local food systems

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Partnerships & Alignment

The Agricultural STEM Institute is intentionally aligned with:

• Land-grant university missions and Extension services
• USDA priorities for small and beginning farmers
• Workforce development and rural education initiatives
• Environmental sustainability and climate resilience goals

Partnerships may include universities, Extension offices, school districts, nonprofits, tribal organizations, conservation groups, and agricultural businesses.

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Vision

By integrating informal education, applied research, and community-based innovation, the Agricultural STEM Institute for Informal Learning & Sustainability of Small-Family Farms seeks to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders while ensuring that small-family farms remain economically viable, environmentally responsible, and deeply rooted in their communities.