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 the Toomey Foundation are helping keep students engaged, curious, and connected to the world around them. It is a reminder that the best learning does not happen behind a desk. In This Episode, We Cover: • Turning a marine science program into a hands-on agriculture pathway • Building an aquaculture program from the ground up • What it takes to offer an aquaculture certificate in high school • Raising everything from axolotls to snook in the classroom • Managing 30+ tanks and hundreds of aquatic species • Teaching students how to run and market an aquaculture business • Fossil hunting in the Badlands with the Toomey Foundation • Why hands-on learning is the key to student engagement Why This Matters: Programs like this are redefining what education can look like. When students are given the opportunity to work with their hands, solve real problems, and see the results of their efforts, learning sticks. This is the future of agriculture education, and it is already happening. Stay connected for more conversations highlighting the people and programs shaping the future of agriculture.