** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** FUTURE CHALLENGES TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY CAN ONLY BE OVERCOME IF WE EDUCATE TODAY'S YOUTH. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF PROBLEMS TO SOLVE OR WAYS TO APPLY NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF MODERN AGRICULTURE. YET, MOST YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND HAVE LIMITED EXPOSURE TO AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. STUDENTS WHO LACK THESE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH AGRICULTURE-RELATED TOPICS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OR EMBRACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT IS VITAL TO SUSTAINABLY FEEDING A GLOBAL POPULATION. THE PROPOSED PROJECT GOALS ARE TO USE POPCORN TO CONNECT ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, WE WILL USE 4-H PROGRAMS AS A FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPING EXCITING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGING CURRICULA. FURTHERMORE, AUTHENTIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCES WILL BE USED TO GET STUDENTS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN CROP IMPROVEMENT. HOWEVER, NON-FORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS DO NOT REACH THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS AND OFTEN RELY ON PRIOR INTEREST IN A TOPIC. THEREFORE, WE WILL EXPAND OUR INITIATIVE BY EMBRACING MODERNIZED HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM CURRICULUM DELIVERY AND DEVELOPING A POPCORN-THEMED NEXT-GENERATION SCIENCE STORYLINE. BY FACILITATING YOUTH-DESIGNED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE BROADLY DISTRIBUTED BY SCIENCE TEACHERS WE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT. FINALLY, WE RELY ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH AG IN THE CLASSROOM TO REACH YOUNGER STUDENTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. TOGETHER THESE PURSUITS WILL MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD EDUCATING CONSUMERS, INCREASING ACCEPTANCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE, AND TRAINING A DIVERSE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE THAT WILL DRIVE INNOVATIONS IN THE FUTURE.?