About the LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter provides 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.

4-H Youth Development

“4-H Makes the Best Better” is the motto that drives our members to accept the responsibility to make a difference in the community. Each of the 21 traditional school clubs and several project clubs, with 26 local club leaders, over 100 volunteers, and about 1200 youth members are participating in service all over the parish. We offer everything from cooking and sewing to robotics and circuits. Monthly club meetings include an educational program for members with lessons that bring hands-on activities for the members to learn about the properties of water and how litter affects the environment around them. Clover Buds are our 3rd grade members who learn in a classroom environment about topics to include science, agriculture, and problem solving. Evangeline Parish 4-H is Beyond Ready!

Nutrition and Community Health

Nutrition and Community Health agents and educators are improving the overall health of residents by helping to reduce chronic diseases which are related to poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles and improving the health outcomes in which Louisiana has traditionally ranked so low.

The General Nutrition programs are provided by LSU AgCenter staff while Snap-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are provided by Southern University staff. These programs help teach audiences about making lifestyle choices to improve their overall health.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

The LSU AgCenter Extension service has provided a long history of support to the agriculture producers of Evangeline Parish. Efforts are made to improve productivity by offering educational field days and clinics. Through these educational opportunities’ producers, a given knowledge for better understanding the use of new technologies related to seed varieties, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Through the educational opportunities offered, producers also learned the most cost- efficient Best Management Practices with an emphasis on being environmentally friendly and conservations oriented.

Who we reach:

• 3,129 youth (includes 1,101 4-H members and 21 school 4-H Clubs)
• 3,500 adults (agriculture and natural resources: Pesticide Education, Agriculture Production, Homeowner – landowner site visits for environmental concerns and other outreach community related engagement.)

How we reach them:

4-H Clubs, Clover Buds, School Enrichment, Demonstrations, Field Days, Workshops, Newsletters, Website, Publications, Social Media, and Radio (ANR and 4-H)

Expanding our efforts:

326 volunteers from 4-H, Master Gardeners, family and community and Master Cattleman

Parish Facts:

Agriculture production largely consists of rice, crawfish, soybeans, cattle, hay, and timber, and other commodities such as sugarcane, grain sorghum, and wheat.

LSU AgCenter Extension Agents provide stakeholders in Evangeline Parish with the most current research based and credible information from resources related to plants, aquaculture, wildlife and animal enterprise. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: Animal enterprises, $25,883,121; aquaculture and wildlife, $28,309,493; plant enterprises, $98,366,810. LSU Ag Summary.

Land area — 662.38 square miles; Population — +/-32,000; Population under 18 years old — 25%; Population 65 years old and over — 16%; Median household income — $34,500; Persons below poverty — 24%

Local Issues & Plans for this year

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana Agriculture

• Pesticide Education programs for agriculture producers, landowners, homeowners, and applicator businesses
• Field days, educational clinics, and commodity production meetings related to the relevance of production areas in Evangeline Parish which include rice, soybean, crawfish, pasture & forage management for livestock grazing and haying
• On-farm demonstrations in areas of rice, soybean, and forage management
• Assist with feral hog issues offering technical assistance for trapping, hunting, etc.
• Farm, home, and landowner site visits to assist with recommendations on environmental issues that may concern the individual. Site visits to local schools, municipalities, and other businesses for correcting issues related to shade trees, lawns, insect infestations and various other concerns
• Collaboration with other farm-oriented groups and governmental agencies: LDAF, FSA, NRCS, Farm Bureau, rice grower associations, cattle producer groups and Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries
• Athletic field management and on-site demonstrations

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Junior Leadership Club and several local clubs across the parish plan and implement service- learning projects across the parish.
• Promotion of Youth Development through participation in Summer Camp, LOST Camp, Regional Challenge Camp, Junior Leadership Conference, Marsh Maneuvers, Co-op Camp, and the many workshops offered throughout the school year. 4-H Members participate in curriculum-based programming such as Youth Wetland Week, Careers in Science, and LEAP enrichment with Science Tasks.
• Youth will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of traditional parish programs including gardening, cooking, nutrition, clothing and textiles, and livestock, as well as some programming that is newer to 4-H like shooting sports, outdoor skills, science, engineering, and technology, and wetlands preservation. It is through all these program opportunities that we hope to help our club, our community, our county and our world.

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
• Family and Consumer Sciences