Published 8:13 am Tuesday, September 1, 2026
By Staff reports
MACON – The registration period for the 2026 Georgia Ag Experience STEM Challenge is open through Sept. 11.​ The Farmers Market Madness STEM Challenge invites 3rd–5th grade students to explore how to design and operate an agriculture-based market stand or school farmers market. Special education classes, homeschool groups and community or after-school groups with third through fifth-grade students are also encouraged to participate.
Students will apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork while discovering the importance of Georgia agriculture, according to a release from Georgia Farm Bureau.
Each participating team will receive a digital toolkit of resources and a tailored educational program for their students. The challenge offers flexible completion time over a 10-week period. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 11. Winners will be announced via email on Nov. 30.
Participants will create a video (5 minutes or less) documenting their project, including everything learned throughout the process. The video should address the main topic, showcase creative solutions, and highlight the project’s connection to agriculture and STEM.
A top winner will be selected for each of five categories. Winners will receive a $250 cash prize for their classroom and up to $100 in physical prizes of their choice!
The STEM Challenge is an annual contest operated by the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and Georgia Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program.
The challenge was developed to introduce elementary teachers and students to the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills involved in the production of food and fiber, the press release said. It aims to help students recognize their role in agriculture by involving them in real-world agriculture problems that they can help solve in their own classroom.
Visit https://gfb.ag/GFA26STEMChallenge for complete contest details and to register.