2018 Assumption Parish Profile

Program Highlights

Family & Consumer Sciences
Nutrition is important to everyone. Efforts in nutrition programming continue to address the obesity problem and the other chronic diseases associated with it. Nutrition programs are conducted with young audiences beginning at age three in Head Start and across the life span including programs at the Council on Aging sites. Nutrition information is also provided at commodity distribution and food bank sites. The overall goal is aimed at changing eating behaviors for a healthier population with lessons centered on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, reducing fat, making half of grains consumed whole, choosing lean sources of protein and being physically active. Healthy living is making the healthy choice, the easy choice.

4-H Youth Development
4-H in Assumption Parish is a fun and exciting youth organization that offers hands-on learning through project work, demonstrations, contest, workshops, and service learning activities. 4-H remains a leader in health-related education, in an effort to promote the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our youth. Through educational programs, demonstrations and hands on activities, Assumption 4-H’ers have gained knowledge and increased their physical activity. Assumption 4-H provides youth with the opportunity to develop such life skills as self-esteem, decision making, social interaction, and practical knowledge. 4-H’ers in Assumption Parish are “Learning by Doing”.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agriculture is a 49+ million dollar industry in Assumption Parish. Sugarcane and soybeans are grown on nearly 40,000 acres in the parish. Through continued educational efforts such as growers meetings and field days producers of these agronomic commodities are given research-based information on weed, insect, and disease control practices. Producers incorporate these recommendations into their operations to help increase profitability and environmental sustainability. In addition, through pesticide recertification residents and producers are educated on the safe handling, use and storage of pesticides contributing to a cleaner and safer environment.

Who we reach.
11,098 - Youth (includes 875 4-H members in 12 school 4-H clubs,
60 Jr. Leaders, 178 ANR, and 1625 FCS)
9,256 - Adults
3,994 Ag & Natural Resources
3,211 Family and Consumer Sciences
2,051 4-H

How we reach them:
4-H clubs
Class series
School Enrichment
Demonstrations
Field days
Workshops
Newsletters
Web sites
Publications
Social media
Direct and Indirect Methods

Expanding our efforts:
534 Volunteers - 4-H, Farmers, Families and community

Parish Facts:
Population - 22,695
Land area (square miles) - 338.66
Persons under 18 years old - 22.2%
Persons 65 years old and over - 16.4%
Median household income - $47,822
Persons below poverty - 18.4%

LSU AgCenter agents provide the latest research-based information to the clientele of Assumption Parish through programs, news articles, and social media to enhance their lives. Agents continually seek new professional development opportunities that will help them in providing the information to the residents of the parish.

Local Issues & Plans for this year.

1. Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H youth development.

• Conduct educational programs to youth through 4-H club meetings
• Develop and implement service learning projects
• Provide youth with leadership development opportunities
• Expand and continue success of Jr. Leader Club
• Retain, train and utilize volunteers

2. 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 produce long-lasting behavior changes
• Provide nutrition information at Commodity Sites
• Provide disaster preparedness information and storm clean-up and house cleaning information after a storm
• Provide parish school students with opportunities for learning through gardening

3. Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana Agriculture.

• Conduct Sugarcane Field Days and Growers Meetings
• Conduct Pesticide and Smoke Management Recertification Programs
• Conduct Pesticide Certification Testing
• Conduct Gardening Programs
• Write news articles and seminars on agriculture practices
• Conduct farm and home educational visits