Mansfield FFA Member Cultivates Feeder Insects as SAE
Monday, January 15, 2018 | Author: Texas FFA News
Logan Larson of the Mansfield FFA chapter has developed a unique Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) by cultivating feeder insects.
The high school sophomore at Lake Ridge High School originally enrolled in an agriculture class due to her interest in reptiles. Upon seeing that her advisor had a bearded dragon as a class pet, she offered to build a cockroach colony as a source of food.
“She is raising Dubai Cockroaches from the Middle East,” said Doug Klaudt, Mansfield FFA advisor. “She keeps them in a Rubbermaid tote with air ventilation hoses and a heater underneath, so they can stay warm.”
The colony that started with only 20 insects, has now grown to include over two thousand.
“I have to watch what I feed them, not because it is bad for the cockroaches, but because the bearded dragon can’t eat something that has ingested citrus,” said Larson. “I mostly feed them apples, carrots, and squash.”
Larson was able to turn her passion into a successful SAE, and now plans to incubate different types of insects to get maximum production.
“We want [our students] to pick things they’re really interested in,” said Klaudt. “Logan gets to feed that interest and put her own stamp on her education.”
In the future, Larson plans to attend college to become a Herpetologist Veterinarian and a Ball Python breeder.
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