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

Agriculture and Natural Resources

The Franklin Parish gross farm value in 2020 was $146,637,659. Field corn has been the major plant enterprise with the parish still leading the state in acres planted. In 2022 due to increased nitrogen fertilizer costs soybean acres planted was more than corn. Beef cattle is our major animal enterprise. Specialty enterprises include sweet potato and catfish. Core block variety demonstrations with corn, cotton and soybean are conducted on producer’s farms to provide unbiased information on variety performance to help producers make variety selections for planting. Private pesticide applicator and Worker Protection Standard (WPS) trainings are offered to producers and agricultural workers covering how to work with pesticides safely and protect the environment. Programs are given to the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and garden clubs. Through individual contact with agricultural producers and homeowners, crop, aquaculture, animal, and horticulture questions are answered, problems are identified, and management options are provided.

Family and Consumer Sciences

Healthy Communities Coalitions have been established in Winnsboro, and Crowville to increase policy, systems, and environmental changes for Franklin parish citizens. The goals are to increase physical activity opportunities by creating safe play spaces for youth and walkable communities. They also seek to assist in increasing accessibility to healthy food choices. The Crowville community received a fully redesigned Dollar General Store to include fresh fruits and vegetables for their residents. Over 56 youth in Franklin parish have participated in nutrition, healthy living, and culinary workshops to enhance life skills and promote healthy lifestyle habits. A Healthy Living mini grant from Walmart was awarded to the Area Nutrition Agent to further healthy eating and lifestyle programming with youth in the parish.

4-H Youth Development

The 2022 club program focused on agriculture awareness. The shooting sports and livestock project clubs continue to be the largest after-school clubs. Our shooting sports lead volunteer was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame this year and two 4-H members were selected to the State Executive Board.

Whom We Reach:

263 4-H club members representing 12 school clubs, after-school Jr Leader and Shooting Sports clubs, SNAP ED outreach at Franklin Parish Head Start and Council on Aging, Healthy Communities Coalition members, 247 agricultural producers and home gardeners.

How We Reach Them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, farm and home visits, on-farm demonstrations, publications, newsletters, class series, email, website, social media, and workshops.

Expanding Our Efforts:

40 volunteers from 4-H, FCS and ANR (Advisory Leadership Councils, 4-H school club leaders, after-school club leaders, ANR cooperators).

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, animal, aquaculture, and wildlife enterprises to Franklin Parish residents. The 2020 total dollar amount from these commodities were: Plant enterprises, $132,023,233, Animal enterprises, $13,983,950; Aquaculture and Wildlife enterprises, $630,476.

Land area: 625 square miles; Population: 19,668; Population under 18 years old: 24.7%; Population 65 years and over: 18.8%; Median household income: $38,250; Persons in poverty: 24%.

Local Issues and Plans for this Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture.

• Conduct commodity production meetings, crop variety and related on-farm demonstrations, and work closely with commodity groups and farm organizations.
• Use regular mail, email distributions, Web page content, newsletters, and write articles for local newspapers to disseminate timely information and publications.
• Make farm and home educational visits.

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

• Conduct training for private pesticide applicators and agriculture workers.

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development.

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish.
• Encourage youth to participate in parish, regional and state events, workshops, and contests to have new experiences and meet new people.

Strengthen families and communities

• Franklin Parish Healthy Communities Coalition will expand outreach in the parish by coordinating "Franklin Community Partners Summit" and "Play Streets on Prairie St." events.
• Crowville Healthy Communities Coalition will continue efforts to improve walkability by applying for DOTD funding for safe sidewalk routes. They will also install a permanent story walk on Football Field Road now that the Shared Use Agreement with Franklin Parish School Board has been accepted.
• Work with SNAP Ed eligible clientele on healthy living including series of lessons offered in-person and virtual.
• Offer youth workshops to increase healthy lifestyle habits, and basic cooking, food safety and kitchens safety skills.