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(02/19/25) GONZALES, La. — On the fifth day of the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show, LSU AgCenter and 4-H leadership came together to commend a significant donation to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation.
Jeannette Thomason donated $250,000 for renovations of bathhouses at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock, which hosts 4-H camp programs. A check presentation was made during the livestock show on Feb. 17 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Jon Carr, executive director of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation, received the check along with Matt Lee, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. Lee was full of praise for Thomason, who has been a donor to Louisiana 4-H in the past.
“Every once in a while in life, you come across somebody who has a big heart, who has a set of values that are in the right place and they have the capacity and the means to make a difference,” Lee said. “In this event, Ms. Jeannette and her family are giving $250,000 to renovate Camp Grant Walker to impact generations of youth.”
Thomason is also the donor for the showmanship award that is given out to the top showman at the livestock show. This recognition comes with a $5,000 reward from the Thomason family.
In addition to weeklong summer camps, the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center also holds programming throughout the year and has been part of the 4-H experience for more than 100 years.
“This is truly going to impact young people for decades to come. We're excited to be able to do this, and we've been trying to find a way to get it done,” Lee said. “We're looking to enhance the experience with these young people, and she and her family have stepped up and really made a tremendously significant donation.”
Jeanette Thomason signs a check at the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show in Gonzales. Photo by Anthony Bailey/LSU AgCenter
LSU AgCenter and 4-H leadership stand around Jeanette Thomason. From left, Tara Smith, executive associate vice president and director of Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service; Kimberly Williams, interim assistant 4-H department head and instructor; Matt Lee, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture; Thomason; Todd Tarifa, interim associate director of youth development for LCES and 4-H department head; and Jon Carr, executive director of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation. Photo by Anthony Bailey/LSU AgCenter
