Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** modern agriculture driven by…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** modern agriculture driven by technological innovations and smart farming practices aims at increasing efficiency while protecting natural resources. This shift towards sustainability is facilitated by integrating cutting-edge technologies, digital tools, and data-driven strategies. However, IT also highlights a growing GAP in the skillset required for modern farming practices, particularly among younger generations from rural areas. Recognizing the pressing need for increased food production due to population growth, IT is utmost important to equip youth especially women and minority students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to modern farming practices while promoting diversity, sustainability, and rural development.to address this GAP, the raise (robotics, AI, and sensor education) program is proposed. IT targets women and underrepresented minorities aged 17 to 22 from rural areas of south dakota, offering tailored stem education and experiential learning. The curriculum focuses on key areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, sensors, and mobile application development, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and natural resource preservation. Hands-on learning experiences will engage youth in building smartphone-based imaging system, robots, utilizing AI, and developing mobile applications, making agriculture appealing and future-oriented to them.furthermore, the program underscores its commitment to community and rural development by preparing students to contribute to the prosperity and resilience of rural communities. By fostering a competitive workforce in agriculture science and emphasizing broader goals of sustainable rural development, the project aims to have a positive impact beyond individual skill development.