Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** precision agricultural mechanics…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** precision agricultural mechanics mentors (pamm) is a professional development and mentoring program with a vision to catalyze the adoption of smart farm technologies. Pamm equips and empowers female secondary agricultural mechanics teachers to teach precision agriculture mechanics curriculum in their local schools by providing equipment, curriculum, face-to-face training, and mentoring to pamm participants.pamm leaders will develop a repository of skills-based high school precision agriculture curriculum and activities. Pamm competencies include: describe fundamental precision agriculture concepts and technologies, demonstrate data management and analysis techniques, create crop management plans, and evaluate the economic and environmental implications of precision agriculture.pamm will host five face-to-face institutes to provide hands-on curriculum and skill training for pamm participants. Participants will return to their local communities and teach hundreds of high school students each year using the curriculum developed and equipment purchased by pamm. Pamm participants' students will develop the skills needed to work in a variety of biotechnology and agricultural systems careers and the skills needed to take precision agriculture to local farms.pamm seeks to increase self-confidence and technical skills of female agricultural mechanics teachers. Pamm incorporates both faculty and near-peer mentoring to develop a community of practice for supporting female agricultural mechanics teachers with technical and social support.pamm seeks to build the research base by investigating the barriers to adoption of precision agriculture technology and the interplay of curriculum training, mentoring, and communities of practice in the self-efficacy and practices of female agricultural mechanics teachers in implementing workforce training.