**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** A VAST MAJORITY OF THE GEN Z GENERATION STUDENTS DO NOT CONSIDER AGRICULTURE AS THEIR PRIMARY CAREER CHOICE DUE TO A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE OR FAMILY CONNECTION TO FARMING OR MISPERCEPTION ABOUT THE FARM ITSELF. WE AIM TO PARTLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOCUSING ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THEOVERARCHING GOALOF THIS REEU PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE INTERESTS OF YOUNGER GENERATION TOWARDS AGRI-SCIENCE CAREERS BY EXPOSING THEM TO STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGIES EMPLOYED IN MODERN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INDUSTRY, THEREBY ENCOURAGING THEM TO WORK IN THE AG-INDUSTRY, STATE AG AGENCIES, COMMODITY GROUPS OR PURSUE GRADUATE EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE-RELATED DISCIPLINES. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR 75 FELLOWS OVER 5 YEARS, MENTORED BY 10 FACULTY FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUND. WE WILL PROVIDE BOTH HAND-ON LABORATORY EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS FIELD EXPERIENCE TO REEU FELLOWS THROUGH ONE OF 18 OR MORE RESEARCH/EXTENSION PROJECTS AS WELL AS TRAIN THE REEU FELLOWS ON NECESSARY SOFT SKILLS.