[Image: signing lease LamarDixon]News Release Distributed 02/19/08
GONZALES – Officials with the LSU AgCenter and the Ascension Parish Council have signed an agreement to extend the lease of the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center for the annual statewide 4-H and FFA livestock show for two more years with the option for another two years.
“This facility meets all our needs for the livestock show,” said LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson. “It’s a state-of-the-art facility with ample parking. We hope to be here four more years.”
The signing took place at the final event of this year’s show on Feb. 16. More than 3,000 young people and 6,000 animals participated in the weeklong show.
The LSU AgCenter began holding the state show at the facility in 2004 after years of hosting it on the LSU AgCenter portion of the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The building of the Louisiana Emerging Technology Center on the campus took away much of the space for the livestock show, which had already been cramped especially for parking. The show is held in February when LSU classes are in session.
“The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center is ideally situated for our show,” said LSU AgCenter vice chancellor Paul Coreil. “It provides ample room for growth of the show.”
The cost for leasing the facility depends on use, waste disposal and security needed, Coreil said.
“It runs about $88,000 to $100,000 per year,” Coreil said.
Dates for the 2009 LSU AgCenter Livestock Show are Feb. 14-21.
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Contacts: Bill Richardson at (225) 578-4161, for brichardson@agcenter.lsu.edu
Paul Coreil at (225) 578-6083, or pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu
Writer: Linda Foster Benedict at (225) 578-2937, or lbenedict@agcenter.lsu.edu