About the LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter is dedicated to providing innovative research, information and education to improve people’s lives. Working in a 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.

Program Highlights

Nutrition and Community Health

Improving the overall health and nutrition of families and individuals is our main focus. Citizens are learning to make daily healthier lifestyle changes. Nutrition lessons along with food demonstrations and tasting are taught in schools, camps, senior centers, and libraries. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) High Obesity Program (HOP) this program utilizes economic development strategies to improve the local food system and build an environment so that community members can better access healthy foods and an opportunity for physical activity.

4-H Youth Development

4-H in Assumption Parish is a fun and exciting youth organization that offers handson learning through project work, demonstrations, contests, workshops, and servicelearning activities. Through educational programs, demonstrations, and hands on activities, Assumption youth have gained valuable knowledge and life skills through participation in parish, state, and national programs. Assumption 4-H provides youth with the opportunity to develop such life skills as self-esteem, decision making, social interaction, and practical knowledge. 4-H’ers in Assumption Parish are “Learning by Doing”.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agriculture is a 49+ million-dollar industry in Assumption Parish. Sugarcane and soybeans are grown on nearly 40,000 acres in the parish. Through continued educational efforts such as growers’ meetings and field days producers of these agronomic commodities are given research-based information on weed, insect, and disease control practices. In addition, through pesticide recertification residents and producers are educated on the safe handling, use and storage of pesticides contributing to a cleaner and safer environment.

Whom We Reach:

• 9,900 youth (includes 500 4-H members and 10 school 4-H Clubs)
• 12,450 adults (through Agriculture and Natural Resources and through Nutrition and Community Health)

How We Reach Them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, class series, website, social media and workshops

Expanding Our Efforts:

Over 200 volunteers from 4-H, family and community and farmers

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plants, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to Assumption Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: Animal enterprises, $1,180,029; aquaculture and wildlife, $3,180,144;

plant enterprises, $49,846,678. Land area — 344.02 square miles; Population —20,604; Population under 18 years old — 20.4% Population 65 years old and over — 20.5%; Median household income — $42,831; Persons below poverty — 19.0%

Local Issues and Plans for This Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• Conduct sugarcane field day
• Conduct master vegetable field day
• Write news columns, webpage content and seminars on agriculture practices
• Conduct farm and home educational visits

Promote the wide use of natural resources and protection of the environment

• Conduct Sugarcane Field Day and Grower’s Meetings
• Conduct farm and home educational visits
• Write news columns, webpage content and seminars on agriculture practices
• Conduct Pesticide Certification Testing

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Health Rocks Curriculum will be taught to all 5th-8th graders in Assumption Parish. 10 high quality lessons serve to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and drug use in youth
• Increase a sense of belonging by establishing common ground and creating opportunities for youth to interact and serve others together
• Conduct educational programs focusing on life skills to the youth through 4-H club meetings
• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish
• Provide youth with leadership opportunities
• Retain, train, and utilize volunteers

Strengthen families and communities

• Conduct nutrition programs that help create healthy communities by improving overall nutrition and increasing physical activity levels, in youth and adults, which will help produce long-lasting behavior changes
• Collaborate with community leaders and stakeholders on parish needs assessment
• Teach nutrition lessons and healthy recipe demonstrations to audiences in the parish
• Utilize economic development strategies to improve the local food system and build an environment so that community members can better access healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity

How is Extension Funded?

• Federal funding from the USDA/ NIFA
• State general funds from the Louisiana Legislature
• Local support from parish government, including police juries and school boards
• Self-generated funds

What Role Do You Play?

Our stakeholders at the parish level are the local supporters and beneficiaries of the LSU AgCenter cooperative extension programs. Their support keeps these critical programs in their communities.

Each Parish Offers Programming In:

• 4-H and Youth Development
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Nutrition and Community Health