Intern Gets Hands-On Experience at Agcenter Research Station

Intern Bryce Trahan, left, and Adam Famoso, rice breeder and director of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, talk while examining young rice plants in a tray. Photo by Olivia McClure

Bryce Trahan is no stranger to agriculture. He grew up on a rice, crawfish and cattle farm in Forked Island and participated in 4-H and FFA. But the recent Kaplan High School graduate still found plenty to learn at an internship this summer at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station.

“It’s been eye-opening,” he said.

Trahan was selected for the Charles and Rose Broussard Internship, which is named for a Vermilion Parish couple who worked tirelessly to improve agriculture. The program was established in 2020 with a gift from the Broussard family, and the first intern was chosen in 2021. The program is open to high school and college students.

Exposing students to the intricacies of agricultural research is one of the goals of the internship program. Even those like Trahan who come from farming backgrounds can benefit from this broader perspective, said Kurt Guidry, assistant station director and coordinator of the internship program. ■ Olivia McClure

State Climatologist Brings Local Focus to Weather Updates

Above: Jay Grymes is the Louisiana state climatologist. Photo by Olivia McClure

Jay Grymes was named the Louisiana state climatologist for a second time in 2024. He is once again director of the Louisiana Office of State Climatology housed at LSU and is chiefly employed by the state through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. He is also working with the LSU AgCenter Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service to make weather and climate data more accessible and locally relevant.

Even with the passage of two decades and the change in employment structure, Grymes notes that the objectives remain the same: developing and delivering timely weather and climate information for Louisiana interests.

Information that once was difficult to not just find but make relevant on a local scale is now much more readily available. Still, much of the public does not know how to access it.

To combat this, Grymes, for the past several months, has been sending out weather updates every few days that contain assessments and discussions that are not routinely available to the average person. His updates can cover topics like the tropics, expected rainfall and drought, among others.

Grymes curates his emails based on what he thinks will be the most important or relevant to Louisiana residents and policymakers. To be added to his newsletter mailing list, send Grymes an email at JGrymes@agcenter.lsu.edu. ■ Anthony Bailey

Lahouse Works With Youth to Envision Community Resilience Through Art

Above:Maya Guttierez paints her vision of a resilient Louisiana during a program to teach area youth to envision community resilience through art. Photo by Shelly Kleinpeter

As the state reflects on the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, educating the youth of today is crucial to building a more resilient Louisiana.

“Visions for a Resilient Louisiana,” a program from the LaHouse Research and Education Center, challenged youth participants to envision community resilience through art. Funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Community Development, the initiative taught attendees about natural disasters and ways to improve their homes’ resilience.

Youth participated in hands-on challenges where they built structures and tested their resilience to wind and floods and took a tour of LaHouse to learn more about emergency preparedness.

The art workshop was a collaborative time for the participants to transfer what they learned into an art piece relating to resilience. Many of the works showed strategies to protect homes from wind and flood damage while others focused on nature-based solutions. ■ Shelly Kleinpeter

These news items appear in the fall 2025 issue of Louisiana Agriculture.