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(11/08/23) RACELAND, La. — Second graders from across the parish got an early start on farm education at the Lafourche Farm City Day recently held at LSU AgCenter facilities in Raceland.
The program was created to teach parish youth all aspects of farming and how food gets from field to table.
Originally conceived by the Lafourche Parish Farm Bureau in the 1980s, the program continued for about a decade before becoming inactive. This was until a motivated group of AgCenter agents and local industry leaders decided to revive it this year.
Randi Toups, an assistant AgCenter agent in Lafourche Parish, was thrilled to see the number of local students who chose to attend the event, and their enthusiasm for all the booths and educational opportunities available — not to mention the animals.
“We are excited to share that 530 second graders throughout Lafourche Parish attended the event,” she said.
During the program, students learned about poultry, sheep, goats, dairy cattle, beef cattle, horses, swine, alligators, crawfish, sugarcane, tractors, drones and the average American’s food consumption.
Children also were able to enjoy a hayride that went through a nearby sugarcane field.
The attending schools included Bayou Blue Lower Elementary, eLearning, Lockport Lower Elementary, Raceland Lower Elementary, St. Charles Elementary, St. Genevieve Catholic and St. Mary’s Nativity.
Volunteers consisted of junior leaders of the Lafourche Parish 4-H program, as well as FFA members from Central Lafourche High School.
“We want to thank our main contributor, Lafourche Parish Farm Bureau for supporting this program both financially and with volunteer support,” Toups said.
Other contributors included the American Sugar Cane League, AT Management Company, Lafourche Roping Club, Dusty Riders, Farm Service Agency, First South Farm Credit, Foret Brothers Agricultural Heritage Center, Gaubert Oil Company, Grand Isle Shipyard, Joe’s Septic, Johnathan Blum Plumbing, Kentwood Springs, Lafourche Animal Hospital, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche-Terrebonne Soil and Water Conservation District, National Resources Conservation Service, Parish President Archie Chaisson, Range and Judge Rebecca Robichaux.
“We plan to make this an annual event available to second graders throughout Lafourche Parish,” Toups said. “Our first year was a great success, and we cannot wait to host it again next year.”
A brave Lafourche Parish second grader pets a baby alligator at Lafourche Farm City Day, an event recently held in Raceland and organized by the LSU AgCenter. Photo by Randi Toups/LSU AgCenter
Lafourche Parish second graders learn about horses during Lafourche Farm City Day, an event recently held in Raceland and organized by the LSU AgCenter. Photo by Randi Toups/LSU AgCenter
