Jason Thomas
Jason Thomas
Extension Educator
208-436-7184
University of Idaho Extension, Minidoka County
85 E. Baseline Rd.
Rupert, ID 83350
I deliver agricultural and STEM focused UI Extension programs to Idaho farmers and youth. My main emphasis is the Integrated Pest Management of insects and rodents.
M.S., Texas A&M University, 2017
B.A., Brigham Young University-Idaho, 2014
Languages other than English spoken
- Spanish
- Integrated Pest Management
- Biological control
- Instructional design
- Video production
- Game based learning
- Artificial intelligence in education
- Thomas, J. and G. Loomis, Pest friends: an educational board game about pest management, ECS 20, University of Idaho, October 2022.
- Thomas, J. 2022. Reducing fear in future pest managers through hands on experiences.
- Thomas, J., K. Duellman, E. Wenninger. 2021. Monitoring Insects with Bucket Traps, EVS 026, University of Idaho Extension, https://youtu.be/y0uONkNjdPw.
- Thomas, J., J. Packham, N. Ghimire. 2020. Money doesn’t always matter, low-cost ways to increase the longevity of southern Idaho’s Hispanic agricultural employees, Journal of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Volume 13, Issue 12.
- Thomas, J., J. Rickman, J. Packham and T. Sorensen, Utilizing Barn Owl Boxes for Management of Vole Populations, BUL 962, University of Idaho, May 2020.
Impact Statements
- New Pest Friends' website helps pest managers thrive
- Early detection and rapid response to Palmer amaranth and waterhemp
- Enhanced Insect ID website: Empowering rapid response and long-term tracking
- Cover crop interseeded into wide row silage corn shows promise
- Local data for local cereal grain growers
- Improving IPM skills through the Pest Friends board game
Born and raised in Idaho, Jason is an enthusiastic instructional designer, educator and scientist with a passion for creating unique learning experiences. From developing board games to running his YouTube channel, "The Insect Hunter," Jason is always finding fun and engaging ways to teach. He also studies and uses artificial intelligence to enhance educational programs, helping farmers and stakeholders better understand and apply complex concepts. With a master's in entomology focused on outreach education and fluency in Spanish from his time in Mexico, Jason’s approach is all about making learning accessible and practical. In his free time, he enjoys jogging with his beagles, shopping for deals and tabletop role-playing games.
- Loomis, G. and J. Thomas, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Communication Award, Publication, National Winner, 2023
- Thomas, Jason, C. Duellman, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Education Video Recording Award National Winner, 2021
- Bean, B., R. Bowling, M. Brewer, D. Buntin, N. Elliot, J. Gordy, A. Jacobson, R. Navarrete-Ganchozo, N. Seiter, J. Thomas, J. Woolley, Entomological Society of America, Plant-Insect Ecosystem Integrated Pest Management Team Award. 2019
- Academic Excellence Fellowship, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, August 2015-2016
- John A Jackman Endowed Scholarship, Texas A&M University, June 2016
- Academic Scholarship, Brigham Young University Idaho, April 2011-2014
- Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouts of America, September 2007