John Deere Financial tomorrow is hosting a qualifying tournament of the FIRST Tech Challenge ­- Iowa, a program of the national nonprofit organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The tech challenge is a robotic competition for students in grades seven through 12 that is designed to provide participants with hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Officials and business leaders in the state have identified a need for more engagement of STEM principles in schools through the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. A recent Business Record article also highlighted the need for more technology workers, and efforts by businesses to build a pipeline at the K-12 level. Saturday's event will take place at John Deere Financial headquarters, 6400 N.W. 86th St., Johnston, with remarks from John Uchytil, director of global information technology for John Deere Financial, at 10:45 a.m.