This year’s DIG (Dreams, Imagination & Gift) STEM Festival in Williston, South Carolina, recently brought 41 exhibitors together to provide a day of fascinating hands-on learning topics for approximately 2,500 visitors.

The event was created to showcase a multitude of local exhibitors who provide engaging activities, live performances, interactive demonstrations and family-oriented STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) entertainment featuring drone simulators, agriculture technology, video game design, cybersecurity and aeronautics. Local children, teens and their families browsed through aisles and exhibits that featured high-tech machines and other intriguing devices in this science wonderland. The day also featured a STEM-based competition, inflatable play equipment, games and live music.

Steven Brown, President and Founder of DIG, sees the success of a STEM festival in a rural area, like Barnwell County, as proof that his original vision is viable. DIG is a tax-exempt nonprofit. According to Brown, when rural children and youth are motivated, mentored, encouraged and enabled to excel, they can make their dreams and imaginations a reality.

“DIG aims to establish a sense of community pride and ownership by providing an organization that gives residents an opportunity to play a major role in developing their own youth. Statistics show that when a community is involved by volunteering, residents feel secure, personally invested and tend to do more for the well-being of the community,” Brown said. “I am a firm believer that we are witnessing a cultural shift in our communities that will help ensure a better future for our residents and youth.” “As a part of that cultural shift, we