About the 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

The LSU AgCenter’s Flavors of Health Program is a nutrition and health program with a community focus that provides classes and workshops on a variety of topics. This helps individuals and families make healthy food and fitness choices to live healthful lives. Flavors of Health uses the latest science and evidence-based practices to support and encourage healthy food and fitness choices. Nutrition programs including Dining with Diabetes, Small Changes Healthy Habits, Stay Independent, Break Up with Salt, and Let’s Eat for the Health of It are being offered. Youth receive nutrition programming through workshops and summer camps. Our nutrition programs, workshops, classes, and resources encourage healthy food and fitness behaviors.

4-H Youth Development

East Feliciana Parish’s 4-H programs currently include 379 youth in 10 school clubs, two community clubs, and five project clubs. Club meeting lesson plans for 4th -12th grades include agriculture literacy, while Cloverbuds (grades K-3rd) have adopted a dairy calf and are learning the importance of dairy farmers. Local grants provided funding for three new school gardens, while improving and expanding those already established. Educational workshops held throughout the year focus on fishing, Shooting Sports, ATV training, yoga, hunter’s safety, and livestock showmanship. East Feliciana will host its 2nd Annual Parish livestock show in 2025 with almost 120 livestock projects being shown.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

In 2023, the value of agriculture and natural resources topped 40.1 million dollars, with timber and cattle production being the largest agricultural enterprises. Throughout the year, clientele is educated using a multifaceted approach through meetings, field days, workshops, demonstrations, newsletters, newspaper articles, phone calls, and farm and home visits. Programs delivered to clientele include beef and forage field days, forestry and wildlife field days, Master Gardener classes, and pesticide training. Private pesticide applicators were trained in worker protection methods and learned techniques to minimize spray drift. Seminars are offered for residents to learn about how to beautify their home/ground.

Whom we reach:

• 404 Youth (includes 223 4-H Members, 141 Cloverbuds, and 40 Be Fit Youth Camp) 104 Adult Volunteers (Includes 75 Master Gardeners and 29 4-H Volunteers) 15,790 adults (5,792 through agriculture and natural resources)

How we reach them:

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

Expanding our efforts:

150 volunteers from 4-H, Master Gardeners, Master Horseman, family, and community

Parish Facts

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to East Feliciana Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were:

Animal enterprises, $23,315,858; Aquaculture and wildlife; $2,644,317; Plant enterprises, $14,293,048.
Land area — 453.41 square miles; Population —19,338; Population under 18 years old — 17.6%; Population 65 years old and over — 19.2%; Median household income — $54,187; Persons below poverty — 19.9%

Local Issues and Plans for the Year

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• Conduct beef, forestry, and wildlife field days
• Conduct pesticide recertification workshops
• Offer local pasture walks and livestock field days
• Support local cattleman’s associations
• Coordinate a two-parish forestry association
• Write news column, web page content, and seminars on agriculture practices
• Conduct farm and home educational visits
• Conduct on farm demonstrations

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H youth development

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish
• Plant live oaks with Acorns of Hope for storm surge protection on coastal areas
• Junior Leaders will work with CASA, character education projects and fashion club members on promoting youth development activities

Strengthen families and communities

• A Dining with Diabetes series will be offered to help adults at risk for type 2 diabetes learn how to manage their condition through meal planning, carbohydrate counting, portion control and label reading
• A hypertension program, Break Up with Salt, will be conducted to help adults at risk or with high blood pressure learn about managing their condition through goal setting, diet, label reading, portion control and cooking
• Classes on how to eat a healthy diet and how to become more physically active will be conducted for youth at the Be Fit Camp
• A program to help citizens use small-goal setting and habit-formation techniques to develop healthier food and physical activity routines will be conducted. This nutrition program includes knife skills for home food preparation, a grocery store/food selection tour, and how to create a healthy home food environment – practices that reduce chronic disease risk

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