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.

In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Bert Johnson, Applied Engineering and Technology teacher at Melbourne High School in Brevard County, Florida, who is redefining what education can look like. Mr. Johnson brings engineering to life through aquaponics, creating a dynamic learning environment where students are not just memorizing information but actively building, growing, and solving real problems. His classroom blends agriculture, engineering, biology, and sustainability into one hands-on experience that prepares students for far more than a test. Rather than teaching to standardized exams, Mr. Johnson focuses on teaching students how to think, how to troubleshoot, and how to apply what they learn in real-world situations. From designing systems to growing healthy food, his students gain practical skills that will serve them for a lifetime. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Mr. Johnson encourages students to take advantage of the resources around them and to stay curious long after they leave the classroom. His philosophy is simple but powerful: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” This episode is a thoughtful conversation about the importance of meaningful education, the value of hands-on learning, and how programs like aquaponics can shape confident, capable, and curious young people. Whether you are an educator, parent, student, or simply someone passionate about agriculture and innovation, this is an episode you will not want to miss.

In this episode of The Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Katrin Rudge, Aquascience teacher at Riverview High School, whose program is nothing short of extraordinary.

What started with simple aqua balls has grown into a full-scale, immersive aquascience program that gives students hands-on experience in aquatic ecosystems, marine life, and real-world conservation. At the center of it all is the Aquadome, an outdoor greenhouse that houses a dynamic collection of living systems designed, maintained, and studied by students.

Inside the Aquadome, students work directly with a shark tank featuring multiple species of sharks and tropical fish, a mangrove ecosystem, a coral reef tank, and clownfish breeding systems that support live food production. The program also includes a snook tank, where students raise juvenile snook, tag them, and release them in partnership with MOTE Marine Laboratory, contributing to real conservation efforts happening right here in Florida.

Katrin shares how she built this program from the ground up, the challenges she faced along the way, and the vision that kept it moving forward. Named Sarasota County Teacher of the Year in 2013, she brings a level of passion and purpose that is clearly reflected in her students and the opportunities they are given.

This episode highlights what is possible when education becomes hands-on, meaningful, and rooted in real-world application. Students aren’t just learning about aquatic systems, they are actively managing them, gaining skills in aquatic husbandry, system design, and environmental stewardship.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Katrin Rudge built Riverview High School’s aquascience program from the ground up
• The evolution from basic aqua balls to the fully developed Aquadome greenhouse
• A behind-the-scenes look at the shark tank, mangrove system, coral reef tank, and clownfish breeding program
• The snook tagging and release partnership with MOTE Marine Laboratory
• The importance of teaching aquatic husbandry through hands-on experience
• Real-world skills students gain through managing live aquatic systems
• The impact of strong agricultural and environmental education programs on student success
• Katrin’s journey as Sarasota County Teacher of the Year and what drives her work today

This is the kind of program that sets the standard. If you care about the future of agriculture, aquaculture, and education, this episode will leave you inspired.