Student groups from NASEF have been selected to showcase their experience with the innovative Farmcraft® program at the prestigious National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C. The program utilizes Minecraft to enhance understanding of the evolving agricultural industry and its impact on global food security. Don't miss the opportunity to see these teams' exceptional creativity, teamwork, and ingenuity in action!
NASEF Teams Showcasing Innovative Farmcraft® Program at National STEM Festival
( Credit to: Morningagclips )
Student groups from the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF) have been selected to showcase their experience with the innovative program, NASEF Farmcraft®, at the prestigious National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C. The festival celebrates creativity, innovation, and excellence in STEM education.
The NASEF teams have demonstrated exceptional creativity, teamwork, and ingenuity in their approach to sustainable agriculture through Farmcraft®. Each team will have the opportunity to engage with fellow participants, educators, industry professionals, and the public through poster board presentations and gameplay of Farmcraft®.
NASEF Farmcraft® 2024 is an educational program that utilizes the popular game Minecraft to enhance understanding of the evolving agricultural industry and its impact on global food security. Claire LaBeaux, Chief Advancement Officer at NASEF, expressed her enthusiasm for the teams' achievements, stating, "We are incredibly proud of our teams for qualifying to showcase NASEF Farmcraft® at the National STEM Festival. This is a testament to their passion for sustainability and their commitment to making a positive impact in their communities."
NASEF Farmcraft®: Merging Technology and Agriculture
One of the teams, MINDKraft from Hannibal High School in Hannibal, MO, is excited to represent their school and NASEF at the Festival. Students Ivy and Kaylin expressed their enthusiasm, saying, "We are thrilled to show how technology and agriculture are combined in a game that everyone is into. We're also excited to meet other people at the Festival and experience Washington DC and its history."
NASEF Farmcraft® 2024 focuses on the impact of digital technology on agricultural productivity. Participants apply different digital technologies in various farming settings, such as traditional rural open fields, suburban greenhouses, and urban vertical farms, to increase yields and promote food security.
Farmcraft® is administered by NASEF and the U.S. Department of State, with collaborative support from American Spaces. Over four seasons, the program has engaged more than 24,500 participants from 80 different countries. This year, NASEF also piloted a regional adaptation called Georgia Farmcraft, in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting, which provided special challenges for students to learn about local agriculture and economy.
Xavier Flores' Experience with Farmcraft®
Another participant, Xavier Flores from Vogelweh Elementary in DoDEA Europe East, Germany, shared his experience with Farmcraft®, stating, "Farmcraft® established a direct link to a 5th-grade curriculum focused on early U.S. settlers and farmers. In this educational program, students were fully immersed in a virtual environment, making decisions similar to those made by early settlers. The experiential nature of Farmcraft® makes the lessons more real to them."
The National STEM Festival: Celebrating Innovation in STEM Education
The National STEM Festival is a premier event that showcases pioneering solutions addressing significant challenges in six thematic areas: Environmental Stewardship, Future Foods, Health & Medicine, Powering the Planet, Tech for Good, and Space Innovation.
Expanding Horizons: NASEF's Global Impact
Farmcraft® is administered by NASEF and the U.S. Department of State, with collaborative support from American Spaces. Over four seasons, the program has engaged more than 24,500 participants from 80 different countries. This year, NASEF also piloted a regional adaptation called Georgia Farmcraft, in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting, which provided special challenges for students to learn about local agriculture and economy.
Based on the success of the program, NASEF intends to offer additional regional challenges in the future. The National STEM Festival provides an invaluable platform for NASEF teams to showcase how their STEM-based education program leverages youth interest in esports and gaming to understand and address challenges related to food security.
For more information about NASEF and Farmcraft, visit NASEF.org/Farmcraft.