V. Sue Cleveland High School

Storming STEM competed for the 5th year in a row in the Governor's STEM Challenge. Their project this year focused on fighting food deserts by incorporating robotic automation and agriculture to design an automatically harvested micro-green garden prototype. The team tested harvest methods and growth rates to decide on the most efficient harvesting method. Ultimately they designed the Rotating Arm Double Sided Harvester (RADSH). The RADSH is driven around the growing area and pulls the mature microgreens from the medium. The team looked at large-scale implementation using algorithms to simulate placing industrial versions in Harding County. The contest consisted of a one-page executive summary, a 9-page written report, and a live presentation to judges. Ultimately the team was chosen by the industry partner WSP Golder as a 2024 Governor's STEM Challenge Showcase Winner.