| | Children raise their hands to answer questions at the cooking class. |
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| | Katherin Aulds demonstrates her spinning wheel at Lunch and Ag Discovery. |
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| | Erika Anderson displays her trophy at the Horse Show. |
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Events
Field Day updates cotton crop
Farmers in North Caddo Parish learned the latest information about cotton and corn varieties, insects and weeds from LSU AgCenter faculty and representatives from Monsanto at a field tour for producers July 22.
The event began at Sonny and Ryan Kirby’s farm, south of Belcher. Dr. Patrick Colyer, LSU AgCenter Northwest regional director, said he welcomes researchers and industry getting together for such events. Monsanto representatives also gave an overview of their cotton and corn hybrid trials.
There are 16 locations for on-farm cotton variety trials in Louisiana, said Dr. Sandy Stewart, LSU AgCenter cotton specialist. Two are in Northwest Louisiana (the other at the Red River Research Station) and attempts are being made to generate as much data as possible in a single year.
Caddo is the sixth largest parish for cotton production in the state, according to Stewart.
Stewart said it appears that cotton will be harvested earlier this year than in the past. “It’s been a fast crop. Frankly, I don’t think it’s an excellent crop. We’ve had some dry conditions.”
He expects harvest to begin around Aug. 20 and “certainly by Labor Day.”
Aclin, Glasgow cook up class for kids
Connie Aclin and Dianne Glasgow, extension educators, presented Kids in the Kitchen, a program for 9 to 13 year olds, July 14-18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Caddo Extension Office.
Agents provided each participant with a notebook and apron.
Children learned about MyPyramid, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommendations for healthy eating and activity for kids, as well as portion sizes, measuring, garnishing, manners, folding napkins, food safety, washing hands and preparing healthy snacks.
The participants prepared a meal for their parents on Friday.
Some of the items they learned to make include raspberry oatmeal bars, fruit smoothies, vegetable sauté, omelets, homemade rolls, muffins, peanut butter and chocolate eclair dessert, lemonade, fruit pizza, chicken Kiev, rice, green bean bundles and a fruit cup in a scooped-out orange.
Seminars, Conferences, Exhibits
LSU AgCenter Pecan Station research coordinator speaks at convention
Dr. Randy Sanderlin, research coordinator of the LSU AgCenter Pecan Station, discussed pecan scab disease at the 2008 Tri-State Pecan Trade Show and Convention.
The meeting was at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Miss., July 24-25 and was co-sponsored by the Pecan Producers of Louisiana, Mississippi Pecan Growers Association and Arkansas Pecan Growers Association.
Crowd gets the spin at Lunch and Ag Discovery
July’s luncheon with David Caldwell, Chris Hardy and guest Katherin Aulds discussed Cotton: From Seed to Thread.
Cotton-themed music played, 60 guests guessed how many pairs of jeans can be made from a bale of cotton to win the door prize, a cotton candle. Hardy took children out to the cotton fields and explained the machinery when the program ended. Aulds said learning to use her spinning wheel was “kind of like 4-H. I learned by doing.”
The next luncheon is Monday, Aug. 11 with Troy Menard on “Proper Mowing and Lawn Care.”
4-H News
Locals receive awards in horse show
Young people from across Louisiana competed in the 39th annual Louisiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Show July 8-12 in West Monroe.
Coordinated by the LSU AgCenter, the youngsters who gather for the state horse show already have competed in parish and district shows.
The following are Northwest Louisiana winners:
Erika Anderson, Bossier, fifth, 2008 Premier Exhibitor, given to those exhibitors who display a true knowledge for the horse program. Each participating exhibitor is tested on his skills and knowledge of horses through an exam, interview and resume process.
Team penning: second, Kristen Morrison, Wade Morrison and Antonio Jackson, DeSoto; sixth, Taylor Cunningham, William Cunningham and Kelsey Trenor, DeSoto; eighth, Abby Theriot, Terrebonne, Riley Lirette, Terrebonne and Alex Saver, Bossier.
Western Pleasure, 13 and under: fourth, Olivia Willcox, Bossier; Western Pleasure, 14 and over: third, Katherin Willcox, Bossier; Western Horsemanship, 14 and over: third, Katherin Willcox, Bossier; Western Riding, 13 and under: first, Olivia Willcox, Bossier; Western Riding, 14 and over: second, Katherine Willcox, Bossier.
Quarterhorse Mare Foaled 2004 and before: fifth, Erika Anderson, Bossier; AOB and Grade Geldings: Genesis Thomas, fifth, Caddo; AOB and Grade Mares: second, Carolinee Hailey, Caddo.
Miniature Horse Geldings, all ages: second, Erika Anderson, Bossier; Mini Mares: first, Erika Anderson, Bossier; Hunter Under Saddle, 13 and under: second, Olivia Willcox, Bossier; Hunter Under Saddle, 14 and over: fourth, Katherin Willcox, Bossier; Hunt Seat Equitation, 13 and under: fourth, Olivia Willcox, Bossier.
Camps conclude
4-H summer camps for fourth through sixth graders concluded. Dates were July 14 for Caddo and July 25 for DeSoto.
The Great Outdoors
· Louisiana landed the 2009 national Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program competition--more specifically, in this region of the LSU AgCenter.
The 2008 contest was held in Stillwater, Okla., July 23-27 and the 2009 event will be at Wildwood Resort on Toledo Bend in Zwolle.
The Louisiana team representing 4-H placed second out of 18 state teams.
WHEP is a 4-H youth natural resource program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to youth. Although it is a competitive event, its primary function is education, said Joe Barrett, Bossier Parish agent who coached the team.
One of the team members was Maggie Brakeville of Bossier Parish.
· The LSU AgCenter was featured in a Shreveport Times story on a scavenger hunt at Bass Pro Shops, part of the Nature Rangers program. The next one will take place Saturday, Aug. 9.
Webster news
Three teens selected to serve on the State 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology Board attended their first board meeting on July 16-17 in Baton Rouge. At the meeting, board members better understood their roles and responsibilities and began plans for the coming year’s programming. Teens from Webster on the SET board are Callie Shaw (Minden High), Bradley Miller (Shongaloo High) and Mathew Lee (Minden High). County Agent Calvin Walker was also selected to assist as a sponsor.
In recognition for their outstanding work in Webster 4-H, youth, teens and adults were awarded a day trip to Magic Springs/Crystal Falls in Hot Springs, Ark., on July 15. Lisa Holmes and Walker organized the trip for youth who were top candy salesmen, top clover points winners, outstanding Junior Leaders and volunteer leaders. 4-H families also joined the group, which totaled 59 participants.
Statewide 4-H News
Golf tournament looking for players
A golf tournament on Monday, Sept. 29 at Squire Creek Country Club, a private course nestled in the rolling hills of Choudrant, will benefit the Louisiana 4-H Development Program.
The tournament will be presented by Goldman Equipment Co. as title sponsor.
The golf course is ranked No. 1 in Louisiana by Golf Digest.
“It’s great to have our event hosted by one of the best courses in Louisiana,” said Eric Eskew, Louisiana 4-H Foundation executive director.
The field for the four-person scramble is limited to the first 36 paid teams. The fee is $200 per player and includes greens fees, cart, range balls, a golf polo shirt, lunch, dinner, drinks and snacks on the course and door prizes.
A silent auction that includes athletic memorabilia is also part of the event.
Registration on the day of the event will begin at 10 a.m., followed by lunch. Tournament tee-off is at 12:30 p.m. A catfish dinner and awards will be held at approximately 5:30 p.m.
All proceeds will help the 4-H Foundation provide quality summer camping for youth of Louisiana at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock.
“We have always had an annual tournament in the spring, traditionally in South Louisiana,” said Eskew. “With the strong ties to 4-H, particularly memories of attending 4-H camp by our supporters in North Louisiana, we wanted to have an event in this part of the state.”
For more information, contact Eskew at (225) 578-1172 or eaeskew@agcenter.lsu.edu
Raffle benefits 4-H
The Louisiana 4-H Foundation is conducting a $10,000 4-H Centennial Raffle to benefit the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center.
Tickets are $100, and only 1,000 tickets will be sold with the drawing being held on September 13, as part of the 4-H Tailgate Party that will culminate with the LSU-North Texas football game in Tiger Stadium. To purchase tickets, call the Louisiana 4-H Foundation office at (225) 578-2972 or contact your local 4-H agent.
Employee News
Josh Salley joined the DeSoto Parish Extension staff as a summer intern. He is a senior at McNeese State University and is majoring in animal science. He is expected to graduate in December. His family operates a small Red Brangus beef herd in Converse. Salley was active in both 4-H and FFA at Converse High School. After graduation he plans on working on his master’s degree in either animal science or agriculture education and would like to join the LSU AgCenter as an extension agent.
Megan Almond, a 4-H alumna from Webster Parish, is participating in the Experiential Education Program in Louisiana Tech University’s College of Applied and Natural Sciences through a practica experience. The summer quarter practica is spent under the supervision of Lisa Holmes.
The Experiential Education program is designed to provide students with structured, supervised experiences in their chosen professional fields. These experiences will enhance employment opportunities and are available for academic credit, as well as integrating theoretical principals studied in the classroom with the practical knowledge gained from on the job performance.
Almond’s goals include planning and conducting a three-day foods and nutrition workshop for elementary age youth and learning how to write and submit a news article recognizing participants in a workshop.
Mindy Kile is assistant home economist / 4-H in DeSoto Parish. She has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Louisiana Tech University.
Kalem Dartez has been appointed assistant extension agent in Caddo Parish. He is a graduate of McNeese State with a degree in agricultural sciences.
Fond farewell to Rebecca Melanson who will begin graduate school at LSU in Baton Rouge. She has been awarded a Flagship Assistantship to work on a Ph.D. in plant pathology under Dr. Jong Ham. She has been employed as a research associate in plant pathology under Dr. Randy Sanderlin at the LSU AgCenter Pecan Research-Extension Station since January 2004. She previously worked as a summer student at the Red River Research Station under Steve Micinski and Bill Waltman in 2003 after graduating from Centenary College with a B.S. in biology.
And to Amy Thomas, horticulture research associate, who will begin teaching agriculture and biology classes at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. She has an M.S. degree in plant pathology and will pursue a Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville during breaks from her teaching responsibilities. Thomas worked at the Pecan Station for about 1.5 years.
Awards/Recognition/Training
Holmes named local Sweet Adeline of the Year
Lisa Holmes, extension agent for Webster Parish, has been named Piney Hills Harmony chorus's Sweet Adeline of the Year.
The award centers on service to the local chapter, which is based in Ruston, and the embodiment of what a Sweet Adeline should be.
Additionally, Holmes recently was elected to the chorus’s board of directors. She sings baritone with the group and performs on the front row.
“Nearly two years ago, I signed up for some free vocal lessons," Holmes said, "and I got more than that. I found group of wonderful ladies of all ages, backgrounds and personalities who offered acceptance, encouragement and friendship.
"I have never belonged to a group of people whom I felt this way about. Each one of us is unique -- abilities, talents, quirks and attitudes. But when we put it all together, we are amazing."
This year, the chorus will offer its free group vocal lessons for women from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 21 and 28 and Sept. 4 in the Presbyterian Church of Ruston, 212 N. Bonner. After the "Singers Wanted" sessions, participants will have a chance to join the chorus, as Holmes did, but there's no obligation.
Sweet Adelines sing four-part a cappella harmony, and spots are open for both high and low voices. The ability to read music and a solo voice are not required.
The chorus meets from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays in the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church of Ruston. Visitors are always welcome.