** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO TRAIN EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES IN A WAY THAT WOULD ENABLE THEM TO MOTIVATE THEIR STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE A DYNAMIC MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENT WHERE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH ARE INTEGRATED TO PROVIDE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL (KINDERGARTEN TO 8TH GRADE, K-8) TEACHERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP INNOVATIVE CURRICULAR MODULES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONCEPTS TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY IN SOUTH TEXAS. THE PROJECT WILL FACILITATE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND EXPLORE EFFECTIVE PEDAGOGIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' LEARNING IN THESE FIELDS. SIXTEEN K-8 TEACHERS WILL BE TRAINED EVERY YEAR IN TWO COHORTS IN A COLLABORATIVE GROUP SETTING TO COMPLETE RESEARCH PROJECTS AND DEVELOP A SERIES OF CURRICULAR MODULES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS' INTERESTS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. EACH COHORT WITH 8 TEACHERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A 2.5-WEEK OF SUMMER PROGRAM TO TACKLE VARIOUS RESEARCH TOPICS, INTERACT WITH FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENT MENTORS, USDA REEU STUDENTS, AND INDUSTRIAL ADVISORS, COMPLETE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, AND DEVELOP CURRICULAR MODULES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. ACADEMIC YEAR FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODULES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE THE HIGHLY NEEDED FUTURE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS BY PROVIDING RESEARCH AND PEDAGOGICAL TRAININGS TO K-8 TEACHERS (ESPECIALLY HISPANICS, WOMEN, AND/OR TEACHERS WHO WERE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES) THAT WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COURSE MODULES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONCEPTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS IN AGRICULTURE LITERACY, THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO BUILD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP AMONG K-8 TEACHERS, UNIVERSITY FACULTY, GRADUATE STUDENTS, INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, AND ADMINISTRATORS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL LITERACY IN SOUTH TEXAS.