Although animal agriculture in Nebraska primarily revolves around beef cattle production, forward-thinking agriculturalists across the state are beginning to explore less traditional markets. Among them is Noah Miller, a member of the Hampton FFA Chapter. Supported by a grant through the Nebraska FFA Foundation, Miller launched Chirp Valley Farms, an innovative operation dedicated to raising crickets—yes, crickets—for the production of high-protein cricket flour.
Chirp Valley Farms falls into the emerging sector of micro-livestock production. While insect agriculture remains a niche market compared to traditional livestock farming, cricket operations across the United States are growing in popularity. Driven by food-tech innovators, these operations aim to increase consumer adoption of sustainable, alternative proteins.
For his cricket farm setup and system, Miller orders 2,000 crickets at a time from an online retailer. He then feeds, waters, and raises the crickets in the basement of his home, which his mother graciously gave him permission to do! Once the crickets are ready for harvest, Miller humanely freezes them, roasts them, and grinds them into fine flour. Using a vacuum sealer to preserve freshness, he packages the final product for sale. The nutrient-dense powder can seamlessly replace or complement traditional grain flour in recipes for cookies, brownies, tortillas, and other baked goods.
Through this unique Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), Miller has gained insights into entomological production and facility management. He has mastered controlling the highly specific environmental conditions—such as strict temperature and humidity levels—required for cricket survival. He also trial-tested various nutritional feeds to optimize growth rate. Additionally, Miller gained knowledge about how crickets can affect sustainability.
“Raising crickets reduces the amount of food we throw away because crickets can eat leftover fruits and vegetables. This helps to minimize our ecological footprint as humans,” noted Miller.
The inspiration for Chirp Valley Farms sparked during a professional development conference Miller attended with his parents, who are both ag educators in Nebraska. This session triggered an interest for Miller to create his own cricket farm, so he applied for and received a Nebraska FFA Foundation SAE grant..
“With the grant, I was able to purchase the necessary housing for the crickets so that they have a home to live in. If I didn’t receive this grant, I probably would not have created Chirp Valley Farms,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Miller wants to continue increasing the number of crickets he raises so he can produce more flour. He also hopes to use his platform to educate the public and encourage consumers to be more open-minded about integrating insect protein into their daily diets.
Powered by ingenuity, persistence, and key funding support from the Nebraska FFA Foundation and Constellation Energy, Miller has designed a truly unique SAE. Transforming a bold idea into a thriving reality, Miller is not only expanding his own horizons but also paving the way for the next generation of diverse agricultural leaders.
