Stable to stem (S2S) is a five-year undergraduate education and research program designed to attract and support students interested in animal science by using horses as an engaging entry point into…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $750,000 to The University of Kentucky Research Foundation on August 15, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program to support Stable to STEM (S2S), a five-year undergraduate education and research program designed to attract students into animal science and STEM careers using horses as an entry point.

S2S delivers hands-on training, mentorship, and research experiences to undergraduate students, combining laboratory practices, animal care, data interpretation, and communication skills with close mentoring relationships between students and faculty mentors and extension professionals. The program engages participants in meaningful research and extension projects addressing animal health, agriculture, and food systems while emphasizing knowledge translation to agricultural stakeholders and the public. Core program components include introductory scientific education, laboratory practices, and animal care training; support through mentoring relationships with experienced faculty and extension professionals; and engagement in research and extension projects. The program aims to build scientific literacy, develop practical skills in research, teamwork, leadership, and communication, and encourage long-term involvement in animal science and related STEM fields while strengthening the workforce supporting agriculture and animal health.

Performance takes place in Lexington, Kentucky, with a period of performance extending from August 15, 2026, through August 14, 2031. The award is classified as a project grant.

Stable to stem (S2S) is a five-year undergraduate education and research program designed to attract and support students interested in animal science by using horses as an engaging entry point into stem careers. Horses are a species that naturally draw strong student interest, and S2S will use this interest to introduce students to research, education, and outreach careers that improve animal health, agriculture, and food systems.through hands-on experiences, students will learn how science is used to solve real-world problems. Participants will gain practical skills in research, teamwork, leadership, and communication while working alongside faculty mentors and industry professionals. The program will also emphasize sharing scientific knowledge with agricultural stakeholders and the public, helping students understand how research moves from the laboratory to everyday use.S2S will create a learning environment that builds scientific literacy and encourages long-term involvement in animal science and related stem fields. By combining research, mentorship, and outreach, the program aims to strengthen the future workforce needed to support agriculture and animal health. The overall goal of S2S is to use the university of kentucky's strong, collaborative equine research community to provide high-quality undergraduate training, mentorship, and scholarship in animal sciences. The program is designed to spark lasting interest in research and extension careers and to support students as they explore professional pathways in science and agriculture.to achieve this goal, S2S focuses on three core objectives:training: provide students with introductory education in scientific concepts, laboratory practices, animal care, data interpretation, communication skills, and outreach.mentorship: support students through close mentoring relationships with experienced faculty and extension professionals.research: engage students in meaningful research and extension projects that address real-world challenges in animal agriculture.program outcomes will be evaluated using surveys and feedback collected before, during, and after participation to understand student learning, experiences, and career interests.