On September 21, 2009, the Volunteer Homemaker Council and the LSU AgCenter presented the Washington Parish Library's Franklinton Branch with a $300 donation to help expand the audio books selection of the library.

Valerie Vincent, associate extension agent in Washington Parish, was honored recently at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences 2009 annual session. Vincent was a member of the team that received first place in the national and first place in the southern regional NEAFCS Extension Housing Outreach Award.

The Healthy Living Program is an exciting national program that encourages residents to develop and maintain healthy, active lifestyles. The program is made possible through a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation. Washington Parish 4-H and Family & Consumer Science programs received grant funds to help tackle wellness issues such as nutrition, physical fitness and safety.

This year’s Dollar Defense Workshop featuring the LSU AgCenter, SHIPP, Governor’s Office Elderly Affairs (GOEA), Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office, and Medicaid/LaCHIP was held at the Franklinton Senior Center on September 9, 2009.

The LSU AgCenter offers a valuable Character Critters program for students. To find out how to offer the Character Critters program in your Washington Parish school, contact Valerie Vincent.

The annual Washington Parish Health Fair and the Covington Health Fair were both well attended with hundreds of residents receiving information from the LSU AgCenter.

The High School Financial Planning Program is offered statewide each summer in nine cities. On July 9, 2009, LSU AgCenter agents Valerie Vincent, Laura Lea Perault and Lauren Kennedy taught the North Shore session at the LSU AgCenter office in Covington.

The annual Washington Parish Christmas in July Homemaker Event was held on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds Homemakers Building in Franklinton. Seven people demonstrated and provided information on economical ways to make family friendly Christmas treats.

Educators who want to learn how to teach high school students about money management may enroll in the High School Financial Planning Program workshops. The workshops are open to high school teachers, home school parents, youth group organizers, church youth leaders and the public and are offered at no charge.

Results of the Washington Parish Volunteer Homemakers Annual Dairy Cooking Contest