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 a hands-on in person workshop at the TTU Center at Junction, TX, a series of resources including Data Sheets for the Identification List and recordings from a series of webinars focusing on specific topics related to the Exam.

Entomology Workshop

A full hands-on experience collecting and processing specimens.

 

Resources

Fact Sheets 

A compilation of information and images for the 155 organisms of the Entomology CDE 2022–2026 Identification List:
   Prescott, L., Forrest, J., Girón, J.C. (2025). Texas FFA Entomology - Fact Sheets - Insect Identification Guide 2022–2026 (2025-04-05). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15163708

Label template

List of books, materials, and suppliers

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.

The presentation files used for these webinars are available at this link: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15184139

Prescott, L., Forrest, J., & Girón Duque, J. C. (2025, April 9). Texas FFA Entomology materials. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15184139

• 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: This webinar has passed.
  Recording
• 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: This webinar has passed.
  Recording
• Reproduction, Development and Physiology: An overview of how insects function.
  Date: March 12th, 2025
  Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
  Registration: This webinar has passed.
  Recording
• 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: April 2nd, 2025
  Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
  Registration: This webinar has passed.
  Recording
• Bring your own questions: A session dedicated to answer questions brought by the audience. Clarifications, expansions, demonstrations. As much as we can resolve. Feel free to email us your questions ahead of time so that we can be prepared to answer them during the webinar.
  Date: April 9th, 2025
  Time: 4:30 pm US Central time
  Registration: This webinar was canceled.
  
  

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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

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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.

Lily presented a poster about the webinars and other resources at the TTU Undergraduate Research Conference on April 1 2025. The poster is available at this link.

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For questions about the webinars, contact Jennifer.Giron@TTU.edu.

For questions about the workshop, contact Scott.Longing@TTU.edu.

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The group of our 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.