Sidney Middle Schools experience 21st Century's mobile STEM lab

SIDNEY -- In December 2022, 21st Century Equipment unveiled its Mobile Technology Learning Lab.

Sidney Middle School 7th grade students had the opportunity to experience it this week.

The program, lead by Jason Stratman of Scottsbluff, took students through a series of exercises that show the relationship between technology and agriculture. The program was held west of the middle school using 21st Century's mobile STEM lab. 

The stations included use of a drone, demonstrating a self-driving lawn tractor, a virtual tractor simulator, pivot irrigation basics, the "TopoBox" where students learn about augmented reality of terrain and how topography influences water runoff. The last station is Soils where students learn the difference between topsoil, sand and clay. Students had the opportunity to use meters and check for moisture, pH and temperature.

The 21st Century Equipment mobile technology learning lab was funded in part by a Nebraska Developing Youth Initiative grant. The mobile technology learning lab empowers 7th and 8th grade students in various areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning and exposes youth to the extensive number of high wage, high skill and high demand (H3) job opportunities in Nebraska. 

"The primary purpose of this project is to inspire interest in STEM opportunities by exposing students to these things earlier in their educational journey," Owen Palm, 21st Century Equipment President and CEO said at the unveiling of the mobile lab in December. 

Schools interested in having the lab visit their location can email [email protected].