News Release Distributed 05/26/09

For the past five years, the LSU AgCenter has hosted the annual statewide Livestock Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. But because the status of this facility has been unknown, the location for 2010 show, to which nearly 3,000 4-H and FFA members bring their award-winning animals to compete for the best-of-the-best, has been up in the air.

“The Lamar Dixon Expo Center has been a popular venue for our livestock show,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for extension. “The center is big enough to meet our educational needs, conveniently located and has served us well for the past six years.”

The LSU AgCenter began holding the show at the Lamar Dixon Center in 2004. The three-year contract was extended another three years, but that contract expired with the 2009 show, Coreil said.

“The Ascension Parish Council has recently passed an ordinance to exercise their option to purchase the facility,” Coreil said. “Once the sale is complete, the LSU AgCenter looks forward to staying at Lamar Dixon and negotiating a more permanent agreement in the coming weeks, including holding the 2010 show in Gonzales.”

Dates for the 2010 show, which will be the 75^th annual show celebration, have been tentatively set for Feb. 13-20, Coreil said.