Agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) are essential to every community, yet many young people lack opportunities to explore these topics in meaningful ways

Oklahoma State University received a $200,000 project grant awarded September 15, 2025, through the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WAMS) Fields Program (CFDA 10.318), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The three-year project, concluding September 14, 2028, will develop and deliver an innovative curriculum combining photography, digital media, and storytelling with hands-on research to engage students in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) issues. Through this curriculum, students will learn to identify local AFNR challenges, conduct digital media-based research, and communicate findings through visual storytelling while developing critical thinking and civic engagement skills.

The project will provide direct student support through mentorship and scholarships, guided by a new curriculum developed by Oklahoma State University experts. Primary deliverables include curriculum materials, student research projects analyzing local AFNR issues, visual storytelling outputs, and mentoring and scholarship programs designed to increase student participation in STEM fields related to agriculture. The initiative aims to strengthen educational outcomes in AFNR topics, increase interest in STEM careers within underrepresented populations from rural areas, and build student capacity to address community challenges while fostering awareness of agricultural and natural resource issues.

This project addresses the need for innovative education that helps students understand and communicate complex AFNR issues. By combining photography and storytelling with hands-on research, students will learn to identify challenges in their communities and share their findings in creative and impactful ways. This approach not only builds technical skills but also fosters critical thinking and civic engagement.students will be taught how to use digital media tools to conduct research, analyze local AFNR issues, and present their insights through visual storytelling. A new curriculum developed by experts at oklahoma state university will guide this process, and students will receive mentorship and scholarships to support their educational goals. The ultimate goal is to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and agriculture, while equipping them with the tools to make a difference in their communities. If successful, this project will lead to stronger educational outcomes, increased interest in stem fields, and greater public awareness of AFNR challenges.