Chris and Porter Terry of Vivian look at Bugs Rule at the AgMagic exhibit at State Fair. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell)

Children dig for potatoes at AgMagic. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell)

The LSU AgCenter's AgMagic exhibit was at the State Fair of Louisiana for the first time. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell)

Visitors can enter the world of agriculture and follow a path that leads to knowledge in wildlife, crops, livestock, nutrition and 4-H at AgMagic at the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport.

AgMagic, an interactive, visually stimulating educational experience for children and their families, will return to the State Fair of Louisiana Agriculture Building this year, said Karen Martin, 4-H regional coordinator for the LSU AgCenter.

“AgMagic was a huge success last year, and there will be even more fun opportunities for kids to learn about agriculture this year,” Martin said.

The display will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the duration of the fair except Nov. 3-5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. when guided tours are conducted for pre-registered third- through sixth-grade groups.

Schools can sign up for tours online at www.lsuagcenter.com/agmagicstatefair.

The AgMagic 4-H Welcome Station will provide fun games for students – 4-H hopscotch, 4-H trivia and green rover. Children also will get to make their mark on the 4-H wall and play Where Does Your Crop Grow? on an interactive map of Louisiana’s agricultural commodities.

As visitors move from the 4-H Station to the forest, which will show the many uses of forestry products and their value, they’ll enter gardens and see vegetables and flowers growing.

The above-ground garden will feature typical vegetable garden plants for this time on year arranged as an actual garden in rows. Visitors can walk between the plants and get a feel for what it’s like to be a gardener.

Crops and their products on display include cotton, sweet potatoes and sugarcane.

A Cut the Fat, Rate Your Plate lesson will give children up-to-date information on the amounts of fat, sugar and salt that they consume in one year if they eat a hamburger, French fries and a soft drink each day for a year. That translates to 74.7 pounds of fat, 63.4 pounds of sugar and 1.2 pounds of salt, according to Joan Almond, LSU AgCenter agent.

Young visitors will be encouraged to eat healthier choices and will be able to “rate a plate” of food with the option of choosing which of two plates of fast food would be healthier for them, Almond said.

Poultry displays will consist of breeds of chickens, broiler production, an incubator with eggs hatching and live baby chicks. Beef displays will consist of cuts of meat, nutrition, beef breeds, products from cattle other than meat and a beef carcass.


“The LSU AgCenter is again proud to sponsor an outstanding agricultural awareness experience at the State Fair of Louisiana,” said Paul Coreil, vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter. “This opportunity allows both children and adults to fully experience what agriculture and forestry provide to all of us in our homes and businesses.”

“Louisiana 4-H and the livestock show have always been an integral part of the State Fair of Louisiana,” said Chris Giordano, president and general manager of the State Fair of Louisiana. “The fair’s board of directors and I are happy to welcome back the LSU AgCenter and the youth for this exciting event that teaches them about agriculture.”

The fair runs Oct. 21-Nov. 7 in Shreveport.

Schools interested in finding out more about AgMagic may call Katherine Pace at 318-226-6805.

The LSU AgCenter is one of 11 institutions of higher education in the Louisiana State University System. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, it provides educational services in every parish and conducts research that contributes to the economic development of the state. The LSU AgCenter does not grant degrees nor benefit from tuition increases. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.