Bossier Parish Profile

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

Nutrition and Community Health program efforts focus on improving the overall health and nutrition of residents in Bossier Parish. Audiences in Bossier Parish that have been reached through nutrition programming including six libraries, Bossier Council on Aging, Benton Council on Aging, four elementary schools, Bossier Head Start, Bossier Parish School Board Central Office, By Faith Living Word Ministries, Smith Family Farms, and Bossier Parish Community College. Articles are written bi-monthly for “The Best of Times Magazine”, with a readership of 61,000. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) program serves limited resource audiences in Bossier parish. Sites reached through these programming efforts include Centerwell, CADA, Bellaire Elementary School, Bossier Lighthouse, Bossier Elementary School, Plain Dealing High School, Butler Educational Complex, Rusheon Middle School, BPSTIL, and Cumberland Farms.

4-H Youth Development

A series of leadership lessons were presented at monthly club meetings which focused on Agriculture Education, showcasing the impact of the commodity and teaching youth where their food comes from. Junior Leaders took part in a series of life skills to prepare for life Beyond high school and prepare them for adulthood; Adulting 102, to ensure our youth are Beyond Ready. Bossier Parish has 30 organized 4-H clubs, with 1,036 members of which there are 15 livestock exhibitors, 19 Cloverbuds, 24 cooking club members and 149 youth in the shooting sports program.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Forestry is Bossier Parish’s leading agricultural sector, contributing 393 jobs, $21.6 million in income, and $61.8 million in goods and services, supported by the annual Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum. The parish also maintains strong row-crop, cattle, horse, and poultry production. Horticulture outreach continues to grow through training programs, plant sales, seminars, and a seasonal library series. The largest effort is the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener Program, which trained 26 new volunteers from Bossier Parish. These volunteers support local agricultural educational outreach.

Whom We Reach:

• 1,036 (includes 1,017 4-H members and 30 school 4-H Clubs, two afterschool clubs, Shooting Sports (149), Livestock Club (15), Cooking Club (24), Jr. Leadership Club and two Cloverbud groups).
• 4,979 youth (environmental, horticultural and nutritional programming); 43,071 adults (3,894 through forestry programming; 8,672 through horticulture programming, and 30,505 through nutrition and community health).

How We Reach Them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, class series, website, day camps, social media, workshops, television viewership, forestry awareness, and tailored programming.

Expanding Our Efforts:

165 volunteers from 4-H, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Master Gardeners, and Nutrition and Community Health.

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife and animal enterprises to Bossier Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: $97,226,648; Animal enterprises, $42,495,083; aquaculture and wildlife, $3,839,041; plant enterprises, $50,892,525.

Land area — 867 square miles; Population —128,746; Population under 18 years old — 24.0%; Population 65 years old and over — 15.7%; Median household income — $71,365; Persons below poverty — 14.2%

Local Issues and Plans for This Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• NW Louisiana Master Gardner Plant Sale
• Conduct annual pesticide applicator workshops
• 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 regional forestry forum and prescribed burn management certification workshops
• Partnerships with the Louisiana Master Naturalist Program and civic organizations dedicated to environmental awareness
• Educator workshops and programming, Louisiana Master Gardeners program, Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Project WILD
• Collaborate with the Louisiana Forestry Association, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and other industry partners to deliver educational material and opportunities to area landowners, forestry professionals, and the public
• Conduct educational visits on all agricultural topics to landowners, farmers and homeowners alike

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish
• Donate items for the Pack-a-Sack program which feeds under-resourced youth on the weekends during the school year
• Leadership opportunities include: parish officer training, Challenge Camp, State Junior Leadership Conference, 4-H University, camp counselor trainings, NW Ag Ambassador program, State Fashion Board members, State Shooting Sports Ambassadors, State Livestock Ambassador, and State Executive Board

Strengthen families and communities

• Conduct educational workshops on health and nutrition, food safety, MyPlate, meal preparation, and incorporating physical activity into family lifestyles
• Write publications for local magazines and strengthen social media presence
• Impact built environments in the parish with Healthy Communities initiatives to make the healthy choice the easy choice

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

For the latest research-based information on just about anything, visit our website: LSUAgCenter.com