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- Red River Community Garden 2014 Winners Revealed: Champion "Mater" Grower Crowned
This spring has been a fun time for the departments of the Red River Parish courthouse. The LSU AgCenter hosted a “mater” growing contest which incorporated seven different groups: two groups from the sheriff’s department, the District Attorney and judge’s office, the police jury, the sales tax office, the tax assessor’s office and the registrar of voters. Each team was able to choose their raised bed located behind the courthouse. The beds were prepared, and it was the responsibility of each group to plant their choice of tomato plants. Most of the groups planted four plants in their individual bed. The teams faithfully watered and weeded their beds. Some even decorated their garden beds to make them attractive. There was teasing and joking between the groups as to which one would win champion “mater” grower. It was made known to each team that the beds would be judged when every group had an opportunity to produce tomatoes. Melea Martin, LSU AgCenter’s Northwest regional horticulture agent, came to judge the beds on July 29, 2014. Melea said, “I am very impressed with the garden beds, they have done an outstanding job." On August 4, 2014, the LSU AgCenter hosted a hamburger cookout, offered to those who participated in the contest. Awards were handed out, and the groups reminisced on their “mater” growing experience. It was a fun time for all, and several of the groups are going to continue growing vegetables into the fall. I would like to thank each and every one of the groups that committed their time and hard effort to the garden. They did an excellent job growing these tomatoes. One group from the courthouse, “Deputy Squash," had two beds of squash plants. The squash were bountiful and a huge success. Much was harvested, and many enjoyed the produce from the garden. The results from the “mater” growing contest are as follows:
Best Kept Bed - Share-iff’s “Mators” (Red River Parish Sheriff’s office)
Healthiest Tomato - Brown Thumb’s (Red River Parish Tax Assessor’s office)
Largest Quantity of Tomatoes - T.P.J’s (Red River Parish Police Jury)
Best Garden Name - GR-OWEN Moore Mators (Red River Parish Sales Tax)
Most Unique - Deputy Squash (Red River Parish Sheriff’s office)
Most Variety - DA-Maters (Red River Parish District Attorney and judge’s office)
Best Farming Technique - Dirt Dynasty (Red River Parish Registrar of Voters)
Grand Champion “Mater” Grower - GR-OWEN Moore Mators (Red River Parish Sales Tax)
For more information on how to get involved with the Red River Community Garden, please call the LSU AgCenter Red River Parish office at 318-932-4342 or email us at redriver@agcenter.lsu.edu.