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 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. This community-based work helps individuals and families adopt the nutrition and physical activity principles we have long been teaching.

4-H Youth Development

The Terrebonne 4-H Youth Development Program focuses on enriching the lives of young people through fun, interactive, hands-on learning. Youth participate in 4-H project work, camps, demonstrations, contests, workshops, and service-learning projects. Terrebonne 4-H youth have gained valuable life skills through participation in parish, state, and national programs. In 2025 over 700 Terrebonne 4-H youth are participating in a lesson series about life skills. These lessons teach important life skills that will benefit children and teens as they grow into competent, caring adults.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Terrebonne Parish Agriculture outputs include sugarcane, soybeans, commercial vegetables, home gardens, beef cattle, aquaculture, and fisheries. The Terrebonne Parish Agriculture and Natural Resources Program provides research-based recommendations through seminars, demonstration, workshops, farm and home visits, and electronic and printed extension publications. The outreach efforts help residents achieve their economic and aesthetic goals on farms and home gardens and landscapes while conserving the parish's abundant natural resources. The fisheries agent works with our local fishermen and docks to bring them the latest research to assist in harvest sustainability, marketing, and product quality assurance. Domestic seafood harvest supports the longevity of prominent fishing communities such as those down each of the bayous in Terrebonne parish.

Whom We Reach:

• 5,000 youth (includes 700 4-H members and 32 school 4-H Clubs).
• 12,400 adults (through agriculture and natural resources and through family consumer sciences).

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, TVFC (Terrebonne Volunteers for Family and Community).

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to Terrebonne Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: Animal enterprises, $2,727,095; aquaculture and wildlife, $82,214,759; plant enterprises, $21,651,492.

Land area — 1,254.92 square miles; Population —109,580; Population under 18 years old — 24.6%; Population 65 years old and over — 16.8%; Median household income — $57,940; Persons below poverty — 17.8%.

Local Issues and Plans for this Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• Conduct sugarcane field day.
• Conduct farm and home educational visits.
• Inform the community through news columns, webpage content and seminars on agriculture practices.
• Conduct Pesticide Certification Testing

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

• Deliver the latest research to assist in harvest sustainability, marketing, and product quality assurance.
• Provide technical assistance upon request regarding gear installation on shrimp vessels, proper water quality and circulation information and suggestions in softshell crab and shedding operations. Sharing research on processing at the dock are a few of the ways the fisheries agent interacts with the fishing community.
• Providing all community members with accurate information about nutritional, economic and sustainable benefits of consuming domestic seafood is an ongoing goal of the fisheries agent

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish.
• Provide youth with leadership opportunities.
• Increase a sense of belonging by establishing common ground, celebrating diversity, and creating opportunities for youth to interact and serve others together.
• Conduct educational programs focusing on life skills to the youth through 4-H club meetings.

Strengthen families and communities

• Conduct nutrition programs that help create healthy communities by improving overall nutrition and increasing physical activity levels, in youth and adults, which will help produce long lasting behavior changes.
• Teach nutrition lessons and healthy recipe demonstrations to audiences in the parish.
• Collaborate with community leaders and stakeholders on parish needs assessment.

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.

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