** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EMPOWER IDAHO 4-H YOUTH TO ENTER STEM PROFESSIONS FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE STEM EDUCATION PROGRAM TITLED THE IDAHO DRONE LEAGUE FOR 4-H LEADERSHIP (IDRONE 4-H). AS A NEW INITIATIVE, THE IDRONE 4-H PROGRAM WILL CONSIST OF A WEEK-LONG ONLINE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN (PHASE 1) PLUS TWO-DAY HANDS-ON IN-PERSON TRAINING (PHASE 2) DURING THE IDAHO 4-H STATE TEEN ASSOCIATION CONVENTION (STAC). THIS HYBRID (ONLINE + OFFLINE) FUTURE WORKFORCE ACTIVITY WILL BUILD AND FLY DRONES, LEARN ABOUT SAFETY REGULATIONS, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOP RESEARCH QUESTIONS. TO ACCOMPLISH THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE PROGRAM, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL FOCUS ON FOUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVES; 1) INCREASE STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE IN STEM-RELATED AREAS (NON-FORMAL LEARNING), 2) IMPROVE STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD STEM (NON-FORMAL LEARNING), 3) INCREASE STUDENTS' MOTIVATION TO BE AN AG SCIENTIST OR ENGINEER, AND 4) INCREASE STUDENTS' SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-CONFIDENCE RELATED TO LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND STEM. WE WILL RECRUIT STUDENTS ACROSS IDAHO VIA THE 4-H NETWORK, WITH A RECRUITMENT FOCUS ON STEM MINORITIES IN RURAL SETTINGS. ALTHOUGH A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED PRINCIPAL IS APPLIED, 15-20 SEATS WILL BE RESERVED FOR STUDENTS IN RURAL HOMES WHERE INTERNET SERVICE IS UNAVAILABLE. ABOUT 450 (150 STUDENTS/YR X 3 YEARS) HIGHLY MOTIVATED IDAHO YOUTH WILL IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TALENTED STUDENTS IN RURAL SETTINGS THROUGH IDRONE-4H, ULTIMATELY ENHANCING THE NATION'S STEM COMPETITIVENESS.