INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - We're 700 miles from the nearest ocean, yet shrimp are thriving in central Indiana.
And there's nothing fishy about the students at IPS using shrimp to start their career.
In Indiana's ocean of farm land, corn is king.
But in a crowded basement at Arsenal Tech High School, we found Sonya Lord-Chamberlain, queen of a shrimp farm.
"I was laughed at, and when I was laughed at, I said 'I'm really going to do it,'" she said.
With a school of students studying agriculture and life sciences.
"I was shocked and I wanted to share the experience with others," said Kaitlyn Smith
Kaitlyn and several other inner city students joined Future Farmer's of America.
The first lesson was how big a job it is to take care of 1,800 shrimp.
"Every day we are coming in and feeding the shrimp," said Donovin Kirtz. "We're getting more data and collection to make sure they are healthy."
It's a life and death responsibility involving chemistry, biology, and following instructions.
"I really like the idea of urban agriculture," said Jordan Franklin.
So much so that Franklin is working on a farming career.
"I like to call myself a producer."
Of shrimp, livestock, vegetables. Even grain grown around the city.
"In 2050, our population is expected to rise to 9.8 billion and we need to figure out how to feed everybody," said Franklin.
The shrimp are still... well, shrimpy. Once they've grow, jumbo by shrimp standards, 2 local restaurants intend to serve them up.
The catch of the day? Providing kids something to eat, and perhaps a career to build on.