| [Image: Sweet Potato Cookery Winners 2008] |
| [Image: 4-H Garden Project 2008] |
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4-H Youth Development
Two 4-H’ers won a trip to Club Congress in Atlanta, Georgia where they increased their knowledge in leadership and communication skills by attending different sessions relating to leadership, team building and communication.
Youth participated in local parish commodity nutritional cooking contests and learned nutritional facts about beef, catfish, corn, eggs, pecans, poultry, rice and sweet potatoes.
250 youth and leaders displayed the characteristics of caring, citizenship and responsibility by donating food to elderly and needy people in the community.
750 youth and leaders are increasing their knowledge of health and gardening by attending monthly club meetings that offer a wide range of information based on healthy lifestyles and how to develop a garden.
More than 75 4-H’ers and leaders at Northside Elementary helped with the first Community Garden spot at their school by planting collards, onions and cabbage to be donated to community members as a part of the gardening project through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) – EFNEP and FFNEWS
Conducted two financial management classes for five community action clients. Clients increased financial management practices for increased skills in budgeting.
Conducted the FCS Advisory Leadership meeting in which 21 clients attended and participated in break out sessions to develop and prioritize recommended programs to be implemented in the focus area of FCS.
Conducted 12 parenting programs for 34 parents of the Parents Preparing for Success Program in which parents increased positive parenting practices.
Conducted 12 nutrition education weekly meetings in which 5 nutrition educators participate in briefings for continued service to clients.
4 nutrition educators have conducted 30 youth and adult group meetings for 900 clients. Clients gained knowledge and improved skills for healthier eating and improved physical activities for a healthier way of living.
Carolyn Robinson and nutrition educators attended and participated in a health fair in which 200 clients increased knowledge of portion sizes and healthy food choices.
Nutrition educators and Carolyn Robinson distributed fact sheets and conducted group meetings for more than 700 clients who received nutrition education through home visits and group meetings held at OFS, Health Unit, OCS, Community Action, Council on Aging, Housing Authority, etc.
Agent and 5 nutrition educators participated in Make a Difference Day by conducting 2 nutrition lessons to 92 nursing home residents. Clients received raisins as a healthy snack and gained knowledge of the health benefits of raisins as to make a difference in their lives.
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Via email 60 producers were made aware of the LSU Disaster Hotline designed for producers with crop losses due to inclement weather during harvest. This hotline is designed to give producers the opportunity to visit with LSU AgCenter Economists to build a financial plan for the 2009 cropping season.
Glenn Dixon taught approximately 30 small farmers from around the country how to establish various farm records management systems at the SU Ag Center’s Small Farmer Leadership Institute. Mr. Alvis Whitlock, a local farmer, is a member of the 2009 class.
In an effort to make better farm business decisions in a very uncertain agricultural climate, approximately 20 farm operations have begun assessments of the financial performance of their enterprises. These assessments will be completed in February 2009 with the assistance of local Extension faculty.
Community Rural Development
More than 30 persons have learned basic principles of e-Commerce through the “e-Business: Build or Buy It” workshops conducted by the Northeast Region’s CRD Team.
Glenn Dixon and James Barnes conducted two eBay workshops. Participants gained the knowledge and confidence to move from eBay consumers to eBay sellers.
Through a town meeting held in December, local residents have updated focus forum data for East Carroll parish. This information sets priorities for local concerns.