Thursday, December 19

SU Ag Center National Science Day 2013 video is available

Baton Rouge, La - The SU Ag Center National Science Day video 2013 has been posted on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy! http://youtu.be/OvCKU4jjDTk

For further detail, contact Tiffany Franklin at 225-771-2775; tiffany_franklin@suagcenter.com

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Wednesday, December 18

SU and LSU Ag Centers award faculty and staff for excellence

L-r: Gina E. Eubanks, VC for Extension; Dawn Mellion-Patin, Extension Specialist; Adell Brown, Executive Vice Chancellor and VC for Research

L-r: Gina E. Eubanks, VC for Extension; Renita Marshall, Animal Science Researcher; Adell Brown, Executive Vice Chancellor and VC for Research
Baton Rouge, La - At the joint annual conference of LSU AgCenter and the SU Ag Center on Dec. 16-17, faculty and staff members received awards for exceptional extension and research programs.

The Southern University Agricultural Center recognized two individuals, Dawn Mellion-Patin, extension specialist, and Renita Marshall, animal science researcher.

Mellion-Patin received the Outstanding Specialist Award for work with socially disadvantaged, limited-resource agricultural producers and their families. She has accumulated $4.9 million in competitive grant funding to conduct extension programs, such as the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute, the Academy for Youth, and the Wisteria Alliance Project. During 2013, she worked with the Farmer to Farmer Program, which is a joint effort with the University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Florida A&M University in Tallahassee; and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Marshall received the Outstanding Researcher Award for her contributions to the field of small-scale livestock production. Marshall has published extensively and garnered more than $2.6 million in federal funding. One of her projects is JAGS in AG, which is designed to introduce young people to the world of agricultural research.

The Louisiana State University AgCenter recognized several individuals and teams at the joint conference.  Dorin Boldor, an associate professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering won the G & H Seed Company Research Award; Dan Gill, extension horticulturist, won the Floyd S. Edmiston Award; Mike Hebert, extension agent in Lafourche Parish, won the Extension Excellence Award; Don LaBonte, sweet potato breeder, won the Doyle Chambers Research Award; The Acadiana Beef Cattle Educational Program Team won the Denver T. and Ferne Loupe Extension Team Award; Scientists in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering won the Tipton Team Research Award; and Two agents from St. Charles Parish won the Rosalie Bivin 4-H Youth Development Faculty Award.

Photo by John Wozniak

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Monday, December 9

SU Ag Center’s vice chancellor for Extension initiated into Gamma Sigma Delta

Paudel, left, presents certificate to Eubanks
Baton Rouge, La - The 2013 Fall Initiation for the Louisiana State University Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta was recently held in the Nelson Memorial Building. Guest speaker was Dr. William B. Richardson, vice president for agriculture and the Chalkley Family Endowed Chair and Dean of the College of Agriculture. Dr. Gina E. Eubanks, vice chancellor for extension at Southern University Ag Center was initiated, and is shown receiving a certificate from Chapter President Dr. Krishna Paudel. Eubanks also serves as program leader for food and nutrition at the LSU AgCenter.

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Friday, December 6

SU and LSU Ag Center programs target health in rural, urban Louisiana

Baton Rouge, LA - The residents of Louisiana and Mississippi have the worst health in the United States, according to the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings.
The states tied for 49th place in health indicators in 2012. They also rank at the top — Mississippi first and Louisiana second — of Poverty in USA’s national list for poverty.

Two programs in Louisiana are targeting poor health profiles: Healthy Communities in West Carroll Parish and HealthyBR in East Baton Rouge Parish. Those parishes, located in nearly opposite ends of the state, may seem completely different. West Carroll Parish is rural, for instance, while East Baton Rouge Parish is urban.

Both parishes, however, exceed the national overall poverty rate of 14 percent. Both have adult obesity rates of 32 percent and a comparable prevalence of diabetes — 11 percent of East Baton Rouge residents and 13 percent in West Carroll.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative is taking a three-part approach to become healthier: HealthyBR, MedBR and the Healthy Innovation Center for Research. Several initiatives fall under HealthyBR, including Fresh Beginnings, a three-year project that strives to increase healthy food access and promote health and fitness education.

Fresh Beginnings grant coordinator Lyndsi Lambert said the project faces a complex combination of problems. Many Baton Rouge citizens are obese, have heart disease and diabetes, and are uninsured.

East Baton Rouge Parish has seven “food deserts” — low-income pockets more than a mile away from the nearest grocery store. This challenge is being tackled by the Food Access Policy Commission, which launched in February as part of Fresh Beginnings.

About 23 percent of the parish is food desert, according to Stephanie Broyles, commission member and assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The commission is studying the best ways to develop a business structure that can support more food options in areas of low access.

Broyles said while access to healthy foods does not automatically mean eating healthy, people cannot be expected to make healthy choices without access.
“Once that barrier is removed, then they bear a much larger responsibility for their health and how they respond to messages about the importance of making healthy decisions,” she said.

One approach to remove the food desert barrier is The Red Stick Mobile Farmers Market, part of the Fresh Beginnings program.  The mobile market operates on Wednesdays at the Scotlandville Library (9am-11am) and Star Hill Baptist Church (12:30pm - 2pm); and Thursdays at the Delmont Service Center (8:30am-10:30am) and the McKinley Alumni Center (12pm-2pm). Both SU and LSU Ag Centers are involved in educating the public on the benefits of eating locally grown fresh produce and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Located in Louisiana’s northeastern corner, West Carroll Parish ranks 33rd out of Louisiana’s 64 parishes for health. Just three years ago, however, it ranked ninth.
That decline is one reason West Carroll Parish was selected as the pilot location for Healthy Communities, an initiative that officially launched in October to improve health in rural Louisiana. It is a joint effort of Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the agricultural centers at LSU and Southern University.
Gina Eubanks, Southern University Ag Center vice chancellor for extension and LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor, said Healthy Communities’ goal is to enhance residents’ health from every angle — eating habits, exercise, healthcare, recreational facilities and food access.

Southern and LSU extension agents in the parish will focus on demonstrating the importance of being healthy. One objective is making people more aware of health services in the parish. Because rural areas generally have fewer or more limited health services than cities, it is important to get people’s feedback and ensure they suit their needs, Eubanks said.

Educating and engaging residents is also crucial. “Health is very personal,” Eubanks said, meaning people need to both understand how making better lifestyle choices will benefit them and be equipped with practical knowledge.

Healthy Communities may be a “three to six year ordeal where it’s truly going to take chipping away ... to see what makes a difference,” said LSU AgCenter extension agent and Healthy Communities coordinator Monica Stewart. Eating healthy is not an option for many residents, a quarter of whom live in poverty. With only one gym and one park in the entire parish, there just is not much to do, so many residents lead a sedentary lifestyle, Stewart said.
For more information about HealthyBR, visit http://healthybr.com/. Healthy Communities is available on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCommunitiesWestCarroll?ref=stream.
For the full story, visit the LSU Reveille at http://www.lsureveille.com/
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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Monday, December 2

USDA Announces Notice of Funding Availability for Value-Added Producer Grants

Baton Rouge, LA – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on November 25, 2013, the availability of nearly $10.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities designed to give them a competitive business edge. Click here for the full news release.
"U.S. agriculture is connected to one in 12 American jobs, and value-added products from homegrown sources are one important way that agriculture generates economic growth," Vilsack said. "Supporting producers and businesses to create value-added products strengthens rural economies, helps fuel innovation, and strengthens marketing opportunities for producers – especially at the local and regional level."
The funding is being made available through the Value-Added Producer Grant program. Grants are available to help agricultural producers create new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products. They may be used for working capital and planning activities. The maximum working capital grant is $200,000; the maximum planning grant is $75,000.
Eligible applicants include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and agricultural producer groups. Funding priority is given to socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers or ranchers, and to small- to medium-size family farms, or farmer/rancher cooperatives.
The project is supplying emerging markets with locally grown produce to enhance production, marketing and distribution infrastructure among women and minority landowners in persistently poor rural communities.
Additional examples of how VAPGs assist local and regional food producers are available on the USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, which is searchable by zip code and key word.
Grant applications are due by Feb. 24, 2014. More information about how to apply is available on page 70260 of the November 25 Federal Register, or by contacting any USDA Rural Development state office.
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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Thursday, November 21

SU Ag Center: MANRRS students hold successful Thanksgiving food and clothing drive

Mayo, left, and Chambers distribute potatoes, while collecting food and clothing
Baton Rouge, La - The Southern University Ag Center worked diligently to support student members of the  Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), in their effort to make a difference in the community this Thanksgiving season. The Southern University MANRRS chapter held a sweet potato sale, food and clothing drive at the SU Ag Center on November 21. The student organization was very active before and during the food and clothing drive. Following the event, the students will give the food and clothing collected to WBRZ's Feed A Family for distribution.

“The support from the community was huge.  I’m excited that we can help somebody during this Thanksgiving season,” said Robert Chambers, doctoral student in urban forestry, and Region I Graduate Student Vice-President for MANRRS.

“Since this is our first time ever to hold a food and clothing drive, it is amazing how much food and clothing items have been contributed. In the past we only did the sweet potato sale, and now we’re expanding to feed and clothe the needy in our community,” said Tanyatta Mayo, senior in dietetics program.  

To ask questions, place an order, or drop off items, please contact Zanetta Augustine at 225-771-2591.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

SU Ag Center receives funding for the fourth year for 4-H LIFE program

 Baton Rouge, La - The Southern University Ag Center has received funding to replicate the 4-H LIFE Continuation-Only project, engaging 50 youth, the incarcerated parent, and the caregiver at both the St. Landry and East Baton Rouge Parish Prisons.  The National 4-H Council has issued a letter of intent to award a grant in the amount of $71,425.28 under the 4-H National Mentoring Program – OJJDP Award 2013-JU-FX-0022 – to Southern University. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funds the 4-H Living Interactive Family Education (4-HLIFE) through the National 4-H Council. Subsequently, the Council provides a request for application to qualified candidates to apply for the funds.  There is stiff completion for the grants since applicants include Tech Wizards, 4-H Youth and Families with Promise – 4H YFP, and 4H LIFE. The SU Ag Center has been a sub-awardee to 4-H Council for four years. 

The program is set up to replicate Missouri’s program that has been operating successfully over the past 14 years.  The SU Ag Center has been conducting the 4-H LIFE program in East Baton Rouge and St. Landry Parishes since 2010. Over the past three years, Louisiana’s 4-H LIFE Project has reached more than 800 individuals, including youth (ages 8-17), inmates, and caregivers.  Beginning February 2014, the age range for qualifying youth participation will be 5-17 years old. 

“The impact is definitely positive on inmates and family members,” said Tiffany Franklin, Principal Investigator.

The purpose of the 4-H LIFE program is to enhance familial relationships between incarcerated parents, their children, and caregivers.  The program targets youth ages 5 to 17 and seeks to reinforce critical elements that inmates, children, and caregivers encounter during the parent’s incarceration.  The program intends to continue to use best practices to increase familial relationships during visits, increase participation in family activities, and inspire parents to regain control of the relationship as an authoritative person in their child’s life even though they are incarcerated.

In the coming year, the SU Ag Center will replicate the 4-H LIFE Continuation-Only project, engaging 50 youth, the incarcerated parent, and the caregiver at both the St. Landry and East Baton Rouge Parish Prisons.  Each site will begin using the Nurturing Parenting Programs by Dr. Stephen J. Bavolek, who is recognized nationally in the fields of child abuse and neglect treatment and prevention, and parenting education.  He is also the principal author of the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory, which is designed to assess high risk parenting attitudes.  The evidenced-based curriculum’s engaging lessons and activities are ideal and will encourage positive interactions between the children, inmates, and caregivers.  The 4-H LIFE team has been trained to implement all parts of the aforementioned curriculum.

The program is directed by Tiffany Franklin, Principal Investigator and Milissia John-Baptiste, Program Assistant. The program staff is scheduled to attend the annual mandatory training January 6-9, 2014. 

Mentoring positions are open to the public.  Are you interested in becoming a Mentor for this project? Please contact Tiffany Franklin, or Milissia John-Baptiste at 225-771-2242.



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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Saturday, November 16

SU Ag Center: Women in Agriculture embrace Successful Workshop

Workshop participant measures wood for making a picnic table

McMullen-Dunn, trainer demonstrates wood handling

Mellion-Patin displays farm safety tools
Baton Rouge, LA –The Southern University Ag Center held the first workshop in its Wisteria Alliance Women in Ag training series on Saturday, November 16 at the Maurice Edmond Livestock Arena in Baker. Workshop topics included understanding the basics of farm safety presented by Dawn Mellion-Patin, Agricultural Specialist; handling small tools by Victoria McMullen-Dunn, Agricultural Science Educator in East Feliciana Parish; and making garden waste work for you, Mila Berhane, Senior Research Associate. Participants learned how to make a picnic table in their hands-on exercise.

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Friday, November 15

SU Ag Center-Communities of Color Network to host the Great American Smoke Out

Event flyer
Baton Rouge, LA- the Southern University Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network will host an event to mark the 2013 Great American Smoke Out Day in the Smith-Brown Student Union Courtyard on Thursday, November 21, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Every year, the America Cancer Society observes the third Thursday of November as Great American Smoke Out Day to encourage smokers to quit smoking for that day, with the hope that they will stop smoking for a lifetime. Event activities will include games, prizes and dissemination of tobacco cessation information.

The 100% Tobacco-Free Southern University System Policy provides a healthy place to live, work and learn.

For further information, please contact Frankie Poland, at (225) 771-6237 or via email at Frankie_Poland@suagcenter.com

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Thursday, November 14

SU Ag Center: Wisteria Alliance – Women in Agriculture, Upcoming Workshop

event flyer
Baton Rouge, LA –The Southern University Ag Center will hold the first workshop in its Wisteria Alliance training series on Saturday, November 16 at the Maurice Edmund Livestock Arena in Baker. The workshop is designed to help women on the farm or those interested in gardening to sharpen their skills. The training is open to the public at no cost.

Training starts at 8:30 am, and ends at 2:00 pm. Topics in breakout sessions will include handling small tools, small engine maintenance, and making garden waste work for you.

For further detail, please contact Zanetta Augustine at 225-771-2591, or via email at Zanetta_Augustine@suagcenter.com .

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Wednesday, November 13

SU Ag Center: MANRRS to sponsor Sweet Potato Sale, Food, Clothing Drive

Event Flyer
Baton Rouge, La - the Southern University Ag Center is working with a student organization, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), to reach out to surrounding communities this Thanksgiving season.  The Southern University MANRRS chapter is sponsoring a Sweet Potato Sale, along with a Food and Clothing Drive. The deadline for the Sweet Potato orders is Nov. 15. The last day to bring items for the Food and Clothing Drive is November 21. Your support is highly anticipated and appreciated. The attached flyer contains full details. Thanks!

The event will take place on Thursday, November 21 from noon-3:00 pm at the SU Ag Center-A.O. Williams Hall.

To ask questions, place an order, or drop off items, please contact Zanetta Augustine at 225-771-2591.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Monday, November 11

SU Ag Center Team to participate in the annual Step Out to STOP Diabetes Walk!!!

Some Team SU Ag Center  members at diabetes walk
Baton Rouge, LA - Team SU Ag Center is set to participate in the 2013 Step Out to STOP Diabetes Walk. By taking part in this event, you'll be stepping out onto the streets to help change this growing epidemic. Here are reasons you should take pride in participating in Step Out: Walk to STOP Diabetes: about one in 10 American adults now has diabetes; Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death by disease in the U.S.; one out of every three Americans born today will develop diabetes in their lifetime if present trends continue.

It's Not a Walk for Heart Disease, Stroke or Kidney Disease. And Yet It Is! Diabetes can, and does, lead to a wide range of other serious health complications.

“I welcome you to join or simply support our team and help make a difference to millions of Americans living with diabetes, as well as the other 20 million at risk for developing this life changing disease,” says Erica-Williams Mitchel, Team SU Ag Center leader. “Won’t you please join me in such an important event and help take steps towards preventing and curing this deadly disease?”

There are several ways that you can join the team or give a tax-deductible donation:
1.      Call or come see Erica at the SU Ag Center at 225-771-2242
2.      Email Erica at erica_williams@suagcenter.com
3.      Follow this direct link to donate on My Page/Team Page link on diabetes.org:

The details for the 2013 Walk are as follows:
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2013. (SU and LSU play home games).
Location: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Perkins Road, Baton Rouge
Time: Event Starts at 10 AM (Opening Ceremony & Warm Ups at 9:30 am).
           
Please show your support and add your HAND to the Diabetes Tree of Life in the SU Ag Center Foyer! Thanks in advance for your usual support & I look forward to hearing from you.

P.S. Please make all check/money order donations payable to: American Diabetes Association

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Thursday, November 7

SU Ag Center schedules free “Business Development Training’ in Alexandria

Event flyer
BATON ROUGE, LA — The Center for Rural and Small Business Development in the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center will hold a free ‘Business Development Training’ from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, November 18 at the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, 1401 Martin Luther King Drive, in Alexandria, La.
               
The seminar is free and open to all current and potential small business owners. Participants will learn how to start or expand an existing business; receive the forms and applications needed to legally operate a business in the state of Louisiana, information to ensure that an existing business continues to operate efficiently, business etiquette information and marketing techniques to help promote your business.

To receive additional information about the Center for Rural and Small Business Development or its E-Learning Center, contact Eual Hall, LaKeeshia Giddens or Sonja Butler at 225.771.2242.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

SU Ag Center set for free “Business Development Training’ in Oak Grove

Event flyer
Baton Rouge, La -The Center for Rural and Small Business Development in the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center will hold a free ‘Business Development Training’ from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 14 at the Thomas Jason Lingo Community Center, 10284 Highway 17 South, in Oak Grove, La.
               
The seminar is free and open to all current and potential small business owners. Participants will learn how to start or expand an existing business; receive the forms and applications needed to legally operate a business in the state of Louisiana, information to ensure that an existing business continues to operate efficiently, business etiquette information and marketing techniques to help promote a business.

To receive additional information about the training contact Carolyn Robinson at, 318-428-3571 or Eual Hall, LaKeeshia Giddens or Sonja Butler at 225.771.2242.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Tuesday, November 5

SU Ag Center to hold ‘Business Development Training’ in Bastrop

Event Flyer
Baton Rouge, La - The Center for Rural and Small Business Development in the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center will hold a free ‘Business Development Training’ from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12 at the Visitor’s Center, 124 North Washington Street, in Bastrop, La.
               
The seminar is free and open to all current and potential small business owners. Participants will learn how to start or expand an existing business; receive the forms and applications needed to legally operate a business in the state of Louisiana, information to ensure that an existing business continues to operate efficiently, business etiquette information and marketing techniques to help promote your business.

To receive additional information about the training or the Center for Rural and Small Business Development, contact Eual Hall, LaKeeshia Giddens or Sonja Butler at 225.771.2242.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Monday, November 4

Southern University Ag Center holds enjoyable Community Garden Workshop

Stephanie Elwood, right, shows attendee the right way to pot a plant

Participant, Krystal Sugulleh is thrilled about her new plants

Mila Berhane discusses edible landscape

Participants pot transplant seedlings to take home

Mr. James Snowden, first time attendee, hugs his young vegetable plants
Baton Rouge, LA - The SU Ag Center held a Community Garden Workshop today, November 4, 2013 from 10 am – 3 pm in A. Williams Hall. The workshop featured fall vegetables suitable for Louisiana weather, in the yard or in containers. Topics of discussion and related hands-on activities centered on community, school, and container gardens. 

The training culminated in potting fall vegetable by participants who then took their seedlings home to grow and nurture for healthy eating. This event, like many others, is geared towards reducing food deserts, encouraging physical activities, and healthy living.

Stephanie M. Elwood, Extension Associate for Community Gardens; Mila Berhane, Senior Research Associate; and Tiffany Franklin, Extension Associate organized the event. 

To get help starting a garden at home, school or community, call 225-771-2242.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Friday, November 1

Southern University Ag Center to hold Community Garden Workshop

Event Flyer
Baton Rouge, LA - The SU Ag Center in Baton Rouge will hold a Community Garden Workshop in room 191, A. O. Williams Hall on Monday November 4, 2013 from 10 am – 3 pm. This Fall Garden Workshop will conduct several garden related hands-on activities and discuss topics related to community and school gardens. Stephanie M. Elwood, SU Ag Center Extension Associate for Community Gardens will organize the event.

For further details or questions, contact Mrs. Angela Jackson, Ms. Stephanie Elwood or Mrs. Mila Berhane at 225-771-2242.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Thursday, October 24

SU Ag Center participates in hunger discussion panel in observance of Food Day

Franklin on A Place at the Table panel 
Baton Rouge, La - Mrs. Tiffany Franklin, extension associate, attended the screening of “A Place at the Table" and participated in a panel discussion, sharing her professional knowledge about the topics discussed.  The Southern University Agricultural Center is proud and honored to have Franklin represent the organization. 

In celebration of Food Day 2013, and in collaboration with the Mayor's Healthy City Initiative, Baton Rouge held a film screening, panel discussion, Q&A and expo on October 22 at LSU’s Energy, Coast and Environmental Building. Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. A Place at the Table is a film that tells the powerful stories of three children that don’t know where their next meal is coming from; Americans, who maintain their dignity even as they struggle just to eat. In a riveting journey that will change forever how you think about the hungry, A Place at the Table shows how the issue could be solved forever, once the American public decides—as they have in the past—that ending hunger is in the best interests of us all. More information about “A Place at the Table” is available at Magnolia Picture.

Tiffany Wilkerson-Franklin works with eradication of food deserts in the Baton Rouge Community, can be reached at 225-771-2775, or via email: tiffany_franklin@suagcenter.com

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Tuesday, October 22

SU Ag Center Kickoffs the Wisteria Alliance Training Series



balloon launch
Balloon launch 
Baton Rouge, LA - Southern University Ag Center teaches women in agriculture farm skills with workshops and hands-on training. The Wisteria Alliance training series is being designed for women, and will be conducted primarily by women in an environment where women on the farm or those interested in gardening can sharpen their skills. The celebration kicked off today, October 22, 2013 at the SU Ag Center. Participants came from as far away as Colfax, Louisiana for the kickoff.

Kickoff activities included: a slide show of previous trainings, a taste fair of SU Ag Center products such as goat meat pie, hibiscus tea and jelly; a balloon launch; giveaways; and networking.

Participants in the training series will learn improved skills of managing livestock; growing container gardens; using power tools; landscaping; building fences and other topics by special request. The calendar of the training sessions was shared at the kickoff celebration. The series will start on Saturday, November 16, 2013 and conclude on Saturday, August 9, 2014.

The event organizers are Dawn Mellion-Patin, PhD, Extension Specialist and Zanetta Augustine, Extension Associate.

For further detail, please contact Mellion-Patin at 225-771-3532, dawn_mellion@suagcenter.com or Zanetta Augustine at 225-771-2591, Zanetta_Augustine@suagcenter.com .

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

Monday, October 21

SU Ag Center: Whey 2 Go Program Concludes first phase

Ford, study participant shows change in pant size before the study 

Program participants flanked by VC Brown, Snowden, (left), and Betty Kennedy, Malekian 
Baton Rouge, La – In response to the high incidence of overweight and obesity in Louisiana, the SU Ag Center received funding from USDA/NIFA to mitigate this issue. The “Combating Childhood Obesity with Caregivers as Change Agents,” or Whey 2 Go Program which lasted 24 weeks concluded today. The study was conducted on 26 African American men and women in Baton Rouge in collaboration with Pennington Biomedical Center. Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Research, Adell Brown brought congratulatory message to the participants, urging them to keep up the good job. 

Participant Porsche Holmes lauded the involvement of children through caregivers because childhood is the best starting point to control obesity through healthy lifestyles. Another participant, Marlin Ford brought his “before” clothing to the ceremony as proof of the study impact.

Dr. Fatemeh Malekian serves as project director on this project funded by US Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture, assisted by Dr. Janana Snowden. For further details, please contact Malekian or Snowden at 225-771-2242.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714