AgCentric receives grant to advance agricultural robotics and automation education
The supplemental award will support the next phase of national curriculum field testing and educator training, including a food processing-focused field test planned for summer 2027. Awarded July 15, the supplement increases total obligated federal support for the foundation’s award to $778,247. Supported through the…
Supported through the Advanced Technological Education program, the project is developing classroom-ready curriculum and professional development to help secondary educators prepare students for technician careers in agricultural robotics, automation and related technologies. The curriculum is organized around three agricultural pathways: animal science, plant systems.
The project is led through a partnership between AgCentric and Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education, working with Minnesota State colleges — including Central Lakes College — and industry collaborators. The curriculum uses inquiry- and project-based instruction and is designed to be adaptable so educators.
What Happened
They worked through hands-on activities involving sensors, automated agricultural vehicles and an automated turkey feeder. Their feedback helped strengthen lessons in electricity, programming, automation, inputs, logic and outputs, as well as lesson anchors and transfer tasks.
The supplemental award will support the next phase of national curriculum field testing and educator training, including a food processing-focused field test planned for summer 2027.
Awarded July 15, the supplement increases total obligated federal support for the foundation’s award to $778,247.
Since the project began in July 2024, it has moved from curriculum development into national field testing, revision and dissemination.
Key Details
Participants explored sensors, coding, robotics, automation, irrigation and data-driven decision-making through classroom activities, technical-college connections and a farm visit. Across the first two years, 53 agriculture instructors representing 21 states and Puerto Rico have participated in curriculum field testing.
During two 2025 field-test cohorts at Central Lakes College in Staples, 31 high school agriculture instructors representing 20 states tested the animal science portion of the curriculum.
In June 2026, 20 additional agriculture educators representing 11 states and Puerto Rico tested the plant systems portion at St.
The final field test, planned for summer 2027, will focus on food processing.
Why It Matters
As these instructors implement the new curriculum in their classrooms, they are positioned to directly reach nearly 1,400 students.
After field testing and final revisions are complete, the curriculum will be offered through Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education as a BriefCASE training, expanding access to more educators and students nationwide.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by Brainerd Dispatch as more details emerge
