| [Image: Ag Adventures Furs] |
| [Image: Ag Adventures Wildlife] |
| [Image: Ag Adventures fisheries] |
4-H is the nation’s largest youth organization and is a part of the land-grant university system. In Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter -- through its Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service -- is responsible for overseeing this educational outreach program where approximately 225,000 youth participated in 4-H Clubs and school enrichment programs. Recently, the Iberia Parish Cooperative Extension Office of the LSU Ag Center held its annual Agriculture Awareness Program (Ag Adventures) on May 6-7, 2009, at SugArena in New Iberia. Ag Adventures is an educational program focused on targeting youth who are currently in the third grade for the primary purpose of introducing them to 4-H and informing them about the importance of agriculture within Louisiana.
With the faithful support of the Iberia Parish School Board, other local government agencies and several local supporters, nearly 1,200 youth from Iberia Parish participated in this great event. Every child who attended was educated on the importance of agriculture and how 4-H can help develop their interest and knowledge through a multitude of project and club activities. Educational displays and stations relating to farm animals, aquaculture, horticulture, the environment, entomology, agricultural crops, soils, hand washing and farm machinery were set up to give youth a hands-on learning experience. In addition, each school teacher was provided with a packet of lessons prior to the event so that students could receive classroom information on agriculture awareness.
For more information on agriculture in Louisiana or 4-H, you may contact the Iberia Parish Cooperative Extension Service at 337-369-4440. It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.