Students to Solve Modern-Day Agriculture Problems at First-Ever AgRobotics Ontario Challenge
London, ON - Western Fair District will be home to a new AgRobotics Challenge for Ontario high school students looking to solve real-world problems facing modern agriculture.
Developed in partnership with the Ontario Council for Technology Education (OCTE) and the Western Fair Association (WFA), this initiative highlights the dynamic intersection of agriculture, automation, and innovation. The competition is part of a larger AgRobotics project that WFA is involved in through Innovation Farms Ontario, powered by FCC AgExpert, and with partners Haggerty AgRobotics and RHA Ventures, and further engages WFA’s strategic development of new ag-education initiatives to honour its agricultural roots, while maintaining its commitment to be innovative for present and future generations.
The idea for the competition came after a discussion with OCTE, a not-for-profit organization representing high school tech teachers from every school board – Catholic and Public – across Ontario.
“We knew that the next stage in getting future generations involved in the career opportunities that exist in Agriculture was something that gave them value and involvement. The idea of an AgRobotics Competition came about as a way to engage students and get them thinking about how the skills they are learning today could be applicable for a future career in Agriculture. With less and less people growing up in and around farms, we want students to know that there are multiple opportunities that exist in technology with agriculture, and this competition allows us to showcase this,” shared Reg Ash, CEO of the Western Fair Association.
“We are thrilled to support the launch of the AgRobotics Ontario Challenge, which opens an exciting new pathway for students to explore the diverse and evolving career opportunities in the agriculture sector. By engaging in authentic problem-solving with real community partners, students will see firsthand how their skills in technology, design, and innovation can directly contribute to solving modern agricultural challenges, helping to connect classroom learning with meaningful, future-focused careers.” Stated Christine German, Executive Director, Ontario Council for Technology Education.
A Different Kind of Robotics Competition
Unlike traditional robotics competitions, this event emphasizes open-ended design, authentic problem-solving, and community engagement. Each participating team will identify a real agricultural issue in collaboration with a local community partner and use it as inspiration for their robot design.
Competition Timeline
The competition, which launches the week of September 24th, will invite students in high school Technological Education programming, including specialty programs like the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), to put together a competition team with a goal of approaching a community partner to solve a problem facing that partner using AgRobotic or AgTech technology.
Community Partner submissions will be due in late November, with six contestant schools being selected in early December. The successful contestants will then be given a design and build timeline from December to February and will be invited to Western Fair’s London Farm Show in early March – the Largest Indoor Farm Show in Eastern Canada – to showcase their AgTech and AgRobotic solutions in action.
Robot kits for the competition are being generously provided by our technology sponsor, Studica (www.studica.ca), whose support is helping make this exciting new challenge possible.
Interested educators can visit www.innovationfarmson.ca/student-competition or email IFO@westernfairdistrict.com for more information and to receive an information package when the competition launches.
Media Contact: Bridget Mahon | IFO@westernfairdistrict.com | 226-242-4964
Competition Coordinator: Dan Woods | IFO@westernfairdistrict.com | 226-242-4965
About Innovation Farms Ontario
Innovation Farms Ontario, powered by FCC AgExpert, is a network of Ontario farms to provide practical research and farm testing on new technologies such as automation, robotics, and sustainability. It exists to help farmers confidently adopt new systems with less risk, while providing a connection for innovative companies to ground-truth their products, connect with mentorship and funding, and network with the broader Ag-ecosystem. Innovation Farms Ontario is funded by FCC AgExpert and operated by Western Fair Association in collaboration with Haggerty AgRobotics and RHA Ventures.