About the LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter provides innovative research, information, and education to improve people’s lives. Working in a unique statewide network of parish extension offices, research stations and academic departments, the LSU AgCenter helps Louisiana citizens make the best use of natural resources, protect the environment, enhance agricultural enterprises, and develop human and community resources.

Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) - Carol Pinnell-Alison

Franklin Parish producers shift their choice of crops to plant based on the price they can receive at harvest and the cost of inputs like seed, fertilizer, pesticides, land rent, and fuel. Certified crop acres from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) showed118,771 acres of corn planted this year compared to 66,306 acres last year. Soybean acres 44,700 acres from 85,327 acres last year. Cotton acres down with 1,197 acres compared to 13,705 last year.

The annual Beef and Forage Field Day was held at Goldmine Plantation with local cattle producers attending to learn about management practices. A new addition to the program was a discussion on how drones can aid in pest management on pastures and finding cattle that may have gotten out of a pasture. It was good to see several youths participating in the field day.

The corn and soybean on-farm variety demonstrations were harvested. Yields were good for both demonstrations. Producers use the data from these on-farm demonstrations to make planting decisions for the next year. We want to thank Randy Braswell for being a new producer cooperator this year.

4-H Youth and Family Development - Hannah Craddock

July: 4-H Camp 2025. We had 15 youth attend. Each one gained a plethora of new friends, new experiences, and new knowledge! 4th-6th grade 4-H’ers can attend this camp, and we DEFINITELY recommend that you do! The event is unforgettable and essential for youth development.

August: Agents attended the state-wide LAE4-HYDP Convention to learn how to better their programs and make meaningful connections with other agents and community members.

September: Challenge Camp at Seeker Springs wasn’t the largest crowd, but it was chock full of fun! Dakota came again this year and sped through high ropes and made new friends, all while creating goodies and thank you cards for the Monroe Police and Fire departments.

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Nutrition and Community Health (NCH) – Quincy Vidrine
SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator – Sara Godard

LSU AgCenter Nutrition and Community Health (NCH) Agent, Quincy Vidrine, is working with young ladies in the Life Skills classes with Mrs. Rochelle Kelly. A very important Louisiana commodity was the focus on Lesson 2 - Sweet Potatoes. Participants learned about different types of ag commodities that are important to the state of Louisiana and Franklin Parish. They learned how to properly cut sweet potatoes and "fried" them in an air fryer for a much healthier alternative to French fries. Four out of five of them said they would make them a snack at home.

SNAP Ed Nutrition Educator, Sara Goddard represented the LSU AgCenter Nutrition & Community Health team at a health resource gathering in Winnsboro. Goddard distributed nutrition education information and offered information about programs the Franklin Extension NCH team provides in the parish.

Special needs adults from Franklin and surrounding parishes take a field trip the last Friday of each month to be a part of fun and interactive workshops with the LSU AgCenter NCH team. The workshops take place at the M.E.R.I.T. center in Winnsboro. The participants love to put together healthy recipes that they can do at home with a little assistance from their caregivers and loved ones. Recently they made Louisiana Gumbo in the electric pressure cooker and air fried sweet potatoes. They love practicing their knife skills and tasting their healthy creations!

Jessie Sinclair at Magnolia Café worked with the LSU AgCenter and Friends of Crowville to get the Ochsner’s Eat Fit designation for her restaurant which highlights healthier choices on the menu. Eat Fit representative Hope Fruge` from Monroe visited the café and worked with Jessie and Quincy Vidrine, LSU AgCenter NCH Agent to “slim down” some existing menu items and even create some new and exciting offerings for the café. Magnolia Café is the first rural Northeast Louisiana restaurant to obtain Eat Fit designation for their menu items.