Growing Curiosity: Kicking Off Our New Middle School STEM Program
Lemon Grove Elementary Students at McGrath Family Farms
The start of a new school year always brings a sense of excitement, but this year felt extra special because we officially launched our STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture program for middle school students!
Our first stop was Lemon Grove Elementary in Ventura County, where 50 sixth through eighth graders enrolled in a gardening elective dove right into their first hands-on STEM lessons. The energy in the room was contagious. Curiosity, teamwork, and a whole lot of laughter filled the air as students explored how science, technology, engineering, and agriculture all connect.
One of the biggest highlights was our STEM Lab, where students rolled up their sleeves to build a working hydroponic system completely from scratch. After learning the basics of hydroponics — growing plants in nutrient-rich water rather than soil — the class broke into five teams to take on different roles.
Some groups took charge of constructing the system itself, carefully assembling pipes, tubing, and containers. Others focused on planting design, deciding which seedlings to use and how to space them for the best growth. Another team got to mix the nutrient solution, learning how water chemistry supports plant health. By the end of the lab, the students stood proudly around their finished system, a fully functioning setup bursting with broccoli seedlings that would now live and grow right in their classroom.
The hands-on learning didn’t stop there. The students also got to experience a field trip to McGrath Family Farms, a local organic farm known for its regenerative and sustainable growing practices. The visit was the perfect blend of fun and education. Students walked through the farm’s many plots and learned about soil health, crop rotation, biodiversity, and the essential role insects play in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Along the way, they harvested and tasted fresh blackberries, explored colorful flower fields, and even met Jacob Pacenka, a research scientist who shared insights into his work with agricultural technology and data collection. The trip ended on a sweet note as students enjoyed crisp Asian pears straight from the orchard.
It was a day full of discovery, curiosity, and connection; the kind of learning that sticks long after the bus ride home.
This pilot middle school program is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for SEEAG. By expanding our STEM programming to middle schoolers, we’re helping students explore real-world applications of science and technology in agriculture — and showing them just how many career possibilities exist within the field.
We can’t wait to continue growing this program (pun intended!) and bringing more hands-on STEM experiences to students across Ventura and Santa Barbara County. Here’s to a year of growth, learning, and plenty of broccoli!
