Texas Tech FFA Entomology Training
The Entomology Lab of the Texas Tech Department of Plant & Soil Sciences and the Invertebrate Zoology Collection of the Natural Science Research Laboratory, Museum of Texas Tech University are offering learning sessions for the Entomology CDEs (Career Development Events) of FFA (Future Farmers of America).
Below you will find information about our first series of webinars focusing on specific topics in entomology to provide attendees with a solid foundation to train their student contestants. We will also offer a hands-on in person workshop at the TTU Center at Junction, TX. Dates and cost to be announced.
In order to gauge interest in these offerings, we prepared a survey to learn about the needs of entomology coaches in Texas. The survey is available at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/HinwJ6qwtn. If you are an entomology coach or know one, please share this information with them.
This survey has two main blocks of questions. The first one to find times and days that work best for coaches and their teams to attend the webinars. The second to assess the experience of entomology FFA advisors and how prepared they feel BEFORE attending webinars and viewing study material. We kindly ask you to fill out the form by the end of February 2nd, 2025.
Once we determine the date and time when most people can attend, we will send out a registration link.
Webinar Topics
These FREE 1-hour webinars will occur every two weeks and emphasize topics covered in the exam portion of the competition. There will be a registration process for each.
- Getting Started (Building your collection & resources): “I just started my FFA Entomology team, what do I do?” This webinar for teachers
and students provides information on how to build an insect collection. We review
different methods and supplies used to collect insects and ways to preserve, identify,
and label your specimens. We highlight the importance of well-curated specimens in
the learning process.
Date: February 12th, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
Registration:https://texastech.zoom.us/meeting/register/bSAQSBuqRcWbaHyZKfYcFg - Anatomy & Morphology: Learn about insects inside and out! This webinar covers both internal and external
systems.
Date: February 26th, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
Registration: https://texastech.zoom.us/meeting/register/i5ktPF3CQFmJw0tUD1SO7A - Physiology, Reproduction & Development: An overview of how insects function.
Date: March 12th, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
Registration: https://texastech.zoom.us/meeting/register/VVdB1EEzQrG6Y-902PtHUw - Biodiversity, Ecology, Pests & Beneficial Insects: Join us as we discuss the habits of insects, concentrating on pests and beneficial
insects and their significance to health, agriculture, and the environment.
Date: March 26th, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
Registration: https://texastech.zoom.us/meeting/register/woaD1TZxS5KwcxadabDR9g - Bring your own questions: A session dedicated to answer questions brought by the audience. Clarifications,
expansions, demonstrations. As much as we can resolve.
Date: April 9th, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
Registration: https://texastech.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ov-e0ZFAQhGgaIcUql7pjg
Entomology Workshop
We had out first Entomology Workshop in the summer of 2024, with 14 teachers attending during two and a half days of lectures and hands on collecting and pinning.
Since we will be covering (and expanding upon) the lectures during the webinars, we plan on offering the wokshop as a full hands-on experience collecting and processing specimens.
Information for 2025 will be available soon.
The Team
Dr. Scott Longing, Plant and Soil Sciences Department
Dr. Jennifer C. Girón, Museum of Texas Tech University
Lily Prescott, Department of Natural Resources Management
Jill Forrest, Plant and Soil Sciences Department
In November of 2024 Jill and Lily, former entomology FFA contestants and in charge of preparing the identification portion of the contest, presented a poster during the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America. The poster is available at this link.
For questions about the webinars, contact Jennifer.Giron@TTU.edu.
For questions about the workshop, contact Scott.Longing@TTU.edu.
Natural Science Research Laboratory
-
Address
Museum of Texas Tech University, 3301 4th street, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
806.742.2486 -
Email
nsrl.museum@ttu.edu