This summer, a team of passionate young innovators found a different kind of workspace on a farm. By combining a love for technology and a commitment to sustainability, this group helped bring the future of farming to life. They didn’t just work with plants; they worked with robots, drones, and cutting-edge software, proving that the agricultural sector is anything but old-fashioned.
We sat down with five team members to hear about their unique summer experience.
The People Behind the Mission
The team is a group of diverse talents, each bringing a unique set of skills to the farm. Rikaysh, the Tech Lead, is the driving force behind the farm’s robotics. Nikhayl, the Drone/GIS Specialist and Media Associate, focuses on data collection from the air and storytelling on the ground. Peter, a Technology & Innovation Specialist, works to upgrade existing robots and invent new solutions. Sarah, the Program Coordinator, connects the farm with the community, especially through a variety of educational workshops. Rounding out the team is Sam, a STEM Coach/Technician, who handles equipment maintenance and demonstrations.
From University to the Field
For many, the journey to Boreal Farms was a new experience. Nikhayl, for instance, had a passion for the environment but no background in agriculture. He was drawn to the farm’s focus on sustainable practices. Sam, with a background in robotics, was eager to see how his skills could be applied to a novel field like AgriTech.
Peter initially had doubts about his career path as a mechanical engineer until Rikaysh told him about the projects at the farm. Working with real-world technology at Boreal Farms helped Peter realize that this was the kind of work he wanted to do for the rest of his life. For Sarah, a chance connection with the Boreal Farms team led to an opportunity to blend her experience in social work and youth outreach with agriculture. She saw the community-based approach as a powerful way to bridge a gap between interest and a career.
A Typical Week: A Mix of Tech and Tillage
A typical week for the team is anything but routine. On workshop days, Peter and Sam are often setting up and running the 10-in-1 robot activities, helping attendees get a feel for how robots can automate farming tasks. Rikaysh is usually at the farm working on the Farmbot and the Oz robot.
Nikhayl’s role is more about data. Every week, he takes a drone map and processes the imagery, ensuring the time-lapse cameras are working, and capturing pictures of crops to track their growth. He believes it is one thing to hear about technology, but it is far more impactful to see it in action.
Tackling Projects and Growing Together
The summer was filled with hands-on projects, from building and upgrading robots to implementing complex software. The team worked on improving the 10-in-1 robots, creating more efficient tracks and enhancing their ability to perform farm tasks.
One of the biggest challenges came from implementing the Oz robot, as there was little information available on its use. Rikaysh, Peter, and Sam had to learn how to operate it entirely on their own, from creating maps to editing and running tasks. The experience taught them the value of attention to detail and perseverance. As Peter put it, he made designs that didn’t work the first few times, but he learned to keep going and improve them.
A Vision for the Future
Each member of the team sees their work contributing to a larger mission. Rikaysh believes that farm automation can help make agriculture more sustainable by reducing the need for pesticides and manual labor. Sam’s work with the robots has been mostly focused on education, demonstrating the utility of automated systems for various audiences. Peter’s work shows that technology can increase farming efficiency.
Sarah feels that her work contributes to Boreal Farms’ mission by delivering AgriTech education to a variety of community members, including skilled trades workers, high school students, and adults with disabilities. For her, the summer was “impactful,” as she saw firsthand how the programs inspired new ideas and provoked interest in careers in the AgriTech sector.
Looking ahead, the team is excited about what’s next. Nikhayl is looking forward to seeing the new greenhouses, including a 40-foot geodesic dome, and the technology that will be implemented within them. Peter and Sam hope to continue their work by implementing more custom solutions and designs at the farm. Rikaysh is looking forward to testing out some of the custom implements they have been developing, and Sarah hopes to see the Skills Development Training program grow its impact and teach more people about the future of farming.