Highlights from LSU AgCenter programs in Union Parish during spring 2009.
· Fifty youth, teens, volunteer leaders and agents attended 4-H youth camp at Camp Grant Walker.
· Agent presented “Our Lives, Our Water” video to over 500 youth stressing information concerning the Sparta Aquifer.
· 4-H agent conducted monthly 4-H club meeting programs at all Union Parish schools stressing a variety of science, engineering and technology topics.
· Over sixty-five youth gave speeches and demonstrations as a part of the 4-H Speak-Up program.
· Twelve students out of seventeen were blue ribbon winners at 4-H University. They included: Cody Kenly and Cole Griffin, Automotives; Dana Bennett and Andrea Deason, Ag Demonstration; Reva Carpenter, Child Development; Victoria Alexander, Horticulture Demonstration; Mary Bush, Horticulture Demonstration; Victoria Bryan, Dog Care; Katie Knight, Fashion Revue; Conrad Cable, Diesel Operations; and Taylor Snell, 4-H has Talent.; Cody Kenly won high individual in the state Automotives Contest and won trip to San Antonio, TX.
· Conrad Cable served as 2008-09 Regional Representative on the State 4-H Executive Board.
· Bethany Rhodes placed 1st in State Beef & State Dairy Poster contests.
· Tiffany Johnson, Shaniqua Nation, DaNesha Williams and Shantoria Kidd attended La. Co-op Leadership Conference. Shantoria was named one of the top leaders at the conference and received a trip to San Antonio, TX.
· Jordan Dunn and Derek Warden received the 4-H Scott Truck and Tractor Scholarship.
· Agent presented over 30 basic life skills classes.
· Agent conducted once-a-month workshops to 35 youth at
Bernice High School.
· 4-H project leaders conducted once-a-month programs in the areas of art, clothing, out door skills, photography and wildlife.
· 4-H Wildlife Club worked with the D’Arbonne State Park to establish a deer food research plot.
· Secured funding to purchase Genesis bows, arrows, targets and safety equipment for 4-H Archery program.
· Volunteers secured funding and a storage building was constructed for the 4-H Shooting Sports program.
· Fourteen 4-Hers exhibited 42 market and breeding animals.
· Numerous sewing clinics were conducted.
| Family and Consumer Sciences |
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· Four probationers attended educational program on car buying. Participants learned the importance of knowing their credit scores prior to shopping, how to negotiate the price of a new and used vehicle, and selecting a vehicle that meets their families needs.
· Two potential home buyers attended a home buyer’s education program and have been approved for a home loan.
· Bernice Community Center GED participants along with their children completed a 6 week series of lessons on basic nutrition. The series combined books on nutrition with hands on activities and food tasting.
· 123 students at Marion School, Farmerville Head Start and Bernice Head Start completed the 6 week series of nutrition lessons from the “Show Me Nutrition” curriculum. The lessons focused on basic nutrition using books and food sampling.
· 839 Union Parish residents receive nutrition information with their monthly commodity boxes.
· Nutrition lessons are presented monthly to the residents of the Farmerville Square and Marion Manor Apartments.
·FCS agent conducted a three day “Celebrate Girls” self-esteem workshop for Lincoln and Union junior high girls. A total of 38 girls completed the course.
·Agent conducted a three day “Babysitting Clinic for Lincoln and Union Parish youth. A total of 35 youth completed the course.
| Agriculture and Natural Resources |
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·County Agent presented programs on farm finances and taxes; U.S. Bio-fuel Industry and Opportunities for La. Agriculture; Pesticide Applicator Recertification Classes; firearm safety and shotgun discipline training for 4-Hers age 9-13; hunter education classes; and Global Positioning Systems.
·Completed construction of poultry demonstration houses at the Hill Research Farm.
·Southern Agent conducted Ag Days of Summer Camp for St. Landry and Pointe Coupee youth to introduce them to various agriculture enterprises in north Louisiana.
·Community garden project started at nursing home for residents.
·Four Union Parish residents became Master Gardeners.
·Presented programs to Summer Job Training Employees
·Conducted farm demonstration plots using 15 different varieties of seedless watermelons.
·68 entries in the La. Watermelon Festival Interior Quality Contest.