Students explore agriculture beyond the farm through robotics, innovation, and hands-on design.
STAPLES, Minn. (January 30, 2026) – Students at STEMLink 2026 at Anoka Technical College didn’t just learn about careers. They experienced them.
Tyler Grunewald from AgCentric led a hands-on session titled Engineering Agriculture: Turning LEGO Creations into Ag Automation & Innovation, where students explored how robotics, engineering, and agriculture come together in today’s workforce.
Using Edison robots and LEGO builds, students designed their own agricultural technology, from sprayers to crop collectors, while learning how automation is shaping the future of farming.
Agriculture Is More Than Farming
A key takeaway from Tyler’s session was simple but powerful: agriculture is far more than planting and harvesting.
Students were introduced to the wide range of careers within agriculture, including engineering, technology, data, and marketing. The session highlighted how innovation, including artificial intelligence and automation, is transforming the industry.
As one student shared:
“It said that agriculture wasn’t just farming, it was also marketing.”
Another added:
“One new thing I learned today is that agriculture isn’t just planting a seed.”
Hands-On Learning That Sticks
The impact of hands-on learning was clear throughout the event.
According to the 2026 STEMLink Impact Report:
- 250 students from 7 schools attended
- 98% of students said they learned about STEM careers in a hands-on way
- 98% said presenters helped them understand how STEM is used in real jobs
- 92% rated their day as good or excellent
Tyler’s session reflected that impact directly. Students described it as:
“It was my favorite because it was hands-on”
“Fun and creative”
“Interesting and hands-on”
“Easy, fun, Legos”
“We got to use Legos”
Building Curiosity Through Innovation
Beyond the fun, students walked away with meaningful insights about agriculture and technology.
They shared learning such as:
“AI is huge in agriculture”
“Agriculture has lots of different careers such as engineers”
These moments matter. In fact, 81% of students reported being more curious about STEM careers after the event
Connecting Students to Careers
Experiences like STEMLink help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers.
By combining agriculture, engineering, and technology into an interactive experience, students were able to see themselves in future career pathways they may not have previously considered.
AgCentric continues to support these opportunities by bringing hands-on, career-connected learning directly to students across Minnesota.
){kind=link}
You must be logged in to post a comment.