The NSF ITEST project has been a concerted effort towards integrating STEM education with art and design (STEAM) to kindle interest in plant sciences and promote career readiness in high-tech agriculture. Over the reporting year, the project engaged 108 students from six high schools, implementing a teaching module that involves collaborative teams working on plant science investigation, 3D modeling, and its applications in Augmented Virtual Reality (AVR) platforms and science communication. Another 300 participants benefitted from field trips and other outreach events with plant-tech exposure. Goals & Accomplishments The project aimed to: • Inspire STEM career interests. • Enhance knowledge and appreciation of plant science. • Integrate art and design into STEM education. • Advance plant science education through 3D modeling and AVR. Accomplishments include successfully implementing the teaching module at six high schools, including rural schools, notable outreach events, and field trips that provided immersive AVR experiences. The project reported positive impacts on student interests in STEM careers and significant gains in STEAM-related knowledge and skills.