(ABC 6 News) – Saturday afternoon, elementary schoolers competed in the Vex Robotics Tournament hosted at the IJ Holton Intermediate School in Austin.

More than 30 teams from across southeast Minn. and even Wisc. came ready to compete.

Event organizers say the hope is to increase awareness around robotics programs, which help students develop necessary skills for human interaction.

This is an alliance, they’re working together, we are not dueling robots they’re not fighting each other,” said Brytnie Carolan, the event organizer. “They are helping each other and working together, that’s one thing we really like to stress here; just that component that the students do the work, and the students help other students.”

The tournament was free for anyone who wanted to attend.