LSU AgCenter News

A Christmas Wish Come True: Louisiana Lights Debuts at Windrush Gardens

An immersive, multinight light show will illuminate the historic Windrush Gardens at Burden Museum & Gardens this holiday season at Louisiana Lights: Where the Holidays Shine.

The event will invite residents and visitors to take an hourlong stroll through interconnected garden rooms that are exquisitely lit for the holidays, celebrating a garden where the past and present shine as one.

Louisiana Lights was made possible through a collaboration with Visit Baton Rouge. LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens resident director Jeff Kuehny praised the dreamlike quality of the experience, emphasizing how unique it is to have it take place in a metropolitan city like Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Lights will be held every Thursday through Sunday from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29. Each night’s first session will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the last will start at 8:30 p.m. Onsite parking will be $10. Visit DiscoverBurden.com/LaLights to purchase tickets.

■ V. Todd Miller

Homesteader’s Conference Brings Locals, Experts Together to Learn About Self-Sufficiency

The LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station hosted the second annual Louisiana Homesteader’s Conference on Oct. 11 and 12. The convention attracted more than 1,500 people interested in homesteading to check out local vendors and hear from experts on farming and self-sufficiency.

Some visitors already owned farms and land and wanted to learn how to expand while others were hoping to start smaller endeavors on their property.

Because of greater interest in homesteading, AgCenter regional director Ronald Strahan wanted to give people information from researchers they could trust on the topic.

“There are a lot of YouTube channels, and they'll have all kinds of crazy information, but nobody gives out a lot of research-based information on how you can homestead,” Strahan said. “So, we have AgCenter experts, we have them here, and they're doing talks or they have a booth here, and that's how we're dispensing information.”

■ Anthony Bailey

Tarifa to Oversee Louisiana 4-H, FFA in Interim AgCenter Youth Development Position

Todd Tarifa, who has spent his career educating Louisiana’s young people through organizations and in the classroom, was named interim associate director of youth development for the LSU AgCenter effective Oct. 1. He now oversees both Louisiana 4-H and Louisiana FFA, which together reach nearly 126,000 youths.

Tarifa will continue to serve as the AgCenter’s 4-H department head, a role he has held since 2021, and manage statewide 4-H programming efforts. In addition to overseeing FFA, his new position also includes responsibilities involving the Louisiana 4-H Foundation and 4-H camp and livestock programs.

Tarifa has worked in youth development since 1998, when he joined the AgCenter as a 4-H agent. After several years of working in East and West Baton Rouge parishes, he became a 4-H regional coordinator. From 2012 until returning to the AgCenter in 2021, he taught agriscience and led FFA programming at Northshore High School in Slidell.

■ Olivia McClure