Applications Open For 2026 Ag-Tech Career Exploration Program
REBEKAH HALL
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
To expose the next generation of farmers, researchers and scientists to the benefits of agricultural technology, the Cooperative Extension Service is now accepting applications from high school students for the 2026 Ag-Tech Career Exploration program.
The Ag-Tech Career Exploration program, or ACE, launched last year and will welcome its second cohort in January 2026. Over the course of seven months, participants will be introduced to career opportunities in agricultural technology through in-state and international study tours, hands-on experiences and job shadowing.
High school students ages 16-19 are eligible to apply. Twenty spots are available. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 30, 2025. The program will run from January to July 2026. More information about the application process is available on extension’s ACE webpage.
Kayla Machen, extension leadership program technician for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the program focuses on high school students because this is a critical time for them to “explore their interests and begin shaping their future.”
“At this age, many young people are considering what they will study in college or what careers they might pursue,” Machen said. “Exposure to advanced agricultural technology during these years helps them see the exciting and innovative side of agriculture, a field that many may not have previously considered.
“It also builds confidence, sparks curiosity and gives them experiences they can use to make more informed choices about their next steps,” she said.
ACE is conducted by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the Division of Agriculture. The program is supported through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Machen said ACE will address technology involved in food genetics, robotics, precision agriculture, sensors, drones, data analysis and radio frequency identification technology, or RFID.
“If you are curious about technology and want to be part of something that impacts the world, ACE is a program that can open doors for you,” Machen said.
During the program, students will participate in hands-on workshops and visit Arkansas sites including food labs, the Milo Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center and the livestock barns on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
“Students also get to shadow professionals working in agricultural technology, which gives them a closer look at potential careers in the industry,” Machen said. “In addition to the educational components, the program makes time for fun activities in the evenings, such as escape rooms, laser tag and an indoor tight ropes course, which helps students bond and enjoy the experience together.”
ACE also includes an international study trip, the location of which for the 2026 cohort will remain a secret until orientation. In 2025, students traveled to Panama.
Future of the field
As the largest industry in Arkansas, agriculture is central to the state’s economy and culture, Machen said.
“Technology plays a key role in helping farmers succeed,” Machen said. “Tools like precision sensors and drones allow farmers to grow more food with fewer resources, manage livestock more efficiently and make better decisions about their operations.
“These advancements increase productivity, support sustainability and help farmers remain competitive in a rapidly changing world,” she said.
To ensure the future of agriculture is in good hands, Machen said educating the next generation about careers in the field is crucial.
“Young people represent the next generation of innovators and leaders in agriculture,” she said. “By introducing them to advanced agricultural technology early, they not only learn how these tools work, but also begin to understand how important they are to solving future challenges.
“This helps ensure that ag-tech will continue to grow, adapt and improve, since students who experience it now are more likely to carry it into their studies, their careers and their communities,” Machen said.
Because ACE is in its second year, long-term outcomes, such as past participants’ college majors or career choices, are still unfolding.
“Since ACE launched in 2025, students have already shown greater confidence in using technology and a stronger understanding of career options in agriculture,” Machen said. “The goal is to encourage more students to consider ag-tech as a path of study or future profession.” ∆
REBEKAH HALL
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS