From Axolotls to Aquaculture: Building Hands-On Ag Education with Aaron Bokelmann

About this episode

Aaron Bokelmann discusses transforming a marine science program into a hands-on aquaculture education pathway for students.

From Axolotls to Aquaculture: Building Hands-On Ag Education with Aaron Bokelmann What happens when you take a marine science program and turn it into a full-scale agriculture pathway? Aaron Bokelmann is doing exactly that in Manatee County, and the results are something every ag educator should be paying attention to. In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, Aaron shares how he is transforming his classroom into a working aquaculture program where students are not just learning about aquatic life, they are raising it, managing it, and learning how to build a business around it. From axolotls to snook, this program covers it all. With more than 30 tanks and nearly 400 axolotls (and counting), students are immersed in real, hands-on learning every day. But it goes beyond caring for animals. Aaron is building a program that teaches students how to process, market, and operate a successful aquaculture business from the ground up. Looking ahead, the program will offer an aquaculture certificate, giving students a real credential and a real head start in one of agriculture’s fastest-growing industries. Aaron also shares how experiences like fossil hunting in the Badlands with…

People in this episode

Guest: Aaron Bokelmann

Topics covered

• aquaculture
• hands-on education
• marine science
• agriculture pathway
• student engagement
• business skills

Keywords

• aquaculture
• axolotls
• marine science
• education
• business
• student engagement
• agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Green Jean Foundation, Toomey Foundation

Places: Manatee County, Badlands

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