** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THEFIVEMILLION JOBS IN AGRICULTURE (AND FOOD) ARE EXPECTED TO GROW AT OVER 6% A YEAR, BUT NEARLY ONE-QUARTER OF THE WORKFORCE IS NEARING RETIREMENT AGE. THEREFORE, THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO DEVELOP STUDENT KNOWLEDGE OF, AND INTEREST IN,AGRICULTURAL CAREERS.PROJECT FARM (FOSTERING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND MENTORING) WILL EMPOWER RURAL MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS TO USE AN INQUIRY-DRIVEN APPROACH TO DEVELOP STUDENTS' AGRICULTURAL LITERACY. SEVENTH AND EIGHTH-GRADE SCIENCE CLASSES INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS WATER QUALITY BUT ARE OFTEN TAUGHT WITHOUT AN AGRICULTURAL CONTEXT. A TEAM OF FACULTY, STAFF, AND EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS WILL GUIDE FOURTEEN MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS FROM TWO RURAL ALABAMA COUNTIES ON INTEGRATING AGRICULTURAL INQUIRY ACTIVITIES INTO CURRICULA AND SCIENCE FAIRS. THIS WILL CONNECTSCIENCE TEACHERS WITH THE REGIONAL/NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LITERACY ECOSYSTEM COMPRISED OF REGIONAL EXTENSION AGENTS, EXTENSION-LED CITIZEN SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY RESOURCES, EDUCATIONAL SITES, AND ONLINE RESOURCES. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN INQUIRY-BASED TEACHING IS LINKED TO COMMUNITY IMPACT, STUDENT INTEREST, KNOWLEDGE, AND SELF-EFFICACY INCREASE. THEREFORE, WE EXPECT THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL INCREASE STUDENT INTEREST IN AGRICULTURAL CAREERS.