Please click on the image above to view the PDF version of the 2012 West Carroll Parish Profile.

Program Highlights

Agriculture & Natural Resources
A variety of teaching methods are used to teach West Carroll audiences the latest research-based information. Information on how to use pesticides according to LSU AgCenter recommendations is provided to 600 producers and home gardeners through home visits, newsletters, phone calls and production meetings. Agricultural producers are provided information on methods to produce crops effectively. Eight demonstration plots and two crop verification fields set up at cooperating farms illustrate how the AgCenter variety recommendations can be adapted by producers. Adoption of these practices by producers are observed by on-farm visits.

4-H Youth Development
The West Carroll 4-H Program strives to increase youth’s sense of belonging and leadership skills through experiential learning opportunities. A variety of contests, activities, workshops and camps address the varied interests of youth. After-school programs include Livestock, Shooting Sports, Jr. Leader Club and Fun, Food and Fitness project club. Since 86.4% of West Carroll is in agriculture production, everyone either lives on or may visit someone who lives on a farm. The West Carroll Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is a yearly school enrichment program for all 5th grade youth on a variety of safety subjects with 4-H Jr. Leaders serving as counselors.

Family, Nutrition and Health
Nutrition programs, such as FF-NEWS, Smart Choices and others provide research-based information to help individuals and families increase their nutrition knowledge, gain skills in healthy food preparation, and improve eating and activity habits in order to live a healthy lifestyle. The issue of Childhood Obesity has been adopted as a major initiative. Programs such as Family Nutrition Night and Smart Bodies promote healthy lifestyles through hands-on educational activities for children, parents and caregivers. 871 K-4graders and 70 teachers/volunteers toured the AgCenter’s Body Walk exhibit where one teacher commented "You covered units I didn’t have time to cover in class."

Who we reach:  

4832 - Youth (includes 331 4-H members in 9 school clubs & a community club)
4932 - Adults Ag & Natural Resources 4-H, Youth and Family Development

How we reach them:  

4-H clubs, Class series, School enrichment, Demonstrations, Field days, Workshops, Newsletters, Website, Publications, Farm/home visits, Phone contact, One-on-one contact, Group meetings, In-store displays, Email, and Facebook.

Expanding our efforts:

150 Volunteers - ANR, 4-H, Youth & Family volunteers delivering advisory councils, field days, crop demonstrations, shooting sports, livestock, Master Gardener, Body Walk, Farm Safety. 

Parish Facts  

LSU AgCenter County Agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife and animal enterprises to West Carroll Parish clientele. The 2010 total dollar amount from these commodities were:

• Plant enterprises - $61,223,071.
• Animal enterprises - $4,865,149.
• Fisheries & wildlife enterprises - $66,000

Data from the Louisiana Ag Summary: www.lsuagcenter.com/agsummary/

Population - 11,604
Land area (square miles) - 359.65
Persons under 18 years old - 24.6%
Persons 65 years old and over - 16.8%
Median household income - $33901 

Local Issues & Plans for this year

1. Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana Agriculture.  

• Conduct commodity production meetings and field days.
• Use mail, email distributions, web page, newsletters and local media to disseminate timely information and publications.
• Conduct farm and home educational visits.
• Conduct variety and related on-farm demonstrations.
• Work closely with commodity groups and farm organizations.

2. Promote the wise use of natural resources and protection of the environment.  

• Offer pesticide certification meetings with emphasis on participants understanding how to safely use pesticides.
• Recruit schools to participate in Youth Wetlands Week.

3. Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H youth development.

• Increase awareness of 4-H Youth Development Programs.
• Develop and implement service learning projects throughout the parish.
• Evaluate existing programs for effectiveness, minority participation, youth voice, and retention.
• Expand Shooting Sports Program through increased volunteer recruitment and training.

4. Strengthen families and communities  

• Educate FF-NEWS and FNP clients on how to feed families nutritionally on a budget.
• Increase awareness of the childhood obesity issue and ways to address this issue.