Monday, June 17

SU Ag Center Concludes Fruitful Youth and Family Exposition

L-r: Marshall, Alante’ Jackson (EBR Parish, 1st place winner in Public Speaking Contest), Chancellor Williams 
Baton Rouge, LA - The 2013 SU Ag Center youth expo, which attracted more than 250 students across the state, concluded successfully on June 15. Highlights of the event included the East Baton Rouge Sherriff’s Office demonstration of their Bomb/Haz Mat Unit to middle and high school students, showcasing the robot, suit, and other tools for the first time at the event; keynote speaker, Kwame I. Asante, a practicing attorney; youth competitions in public speaking and illustrated talk; talent show and dance; chemistry demonstrations; science education by LIGO Science Educational Center; and the culminating quiz bowl.  Winners of the quiz bowl competition in the senior category were from Bossier Parish, 1st place; Calcasieu Parish, 2nd place, and 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, 3rd place. In the junior category the 1st place went to Calcasieu Parish; 2nd place, Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives in St. Landry Parish; and 3rd place, West Carroll Parish.

Grant Henry, 11th grader from Bossier Parish and member of the 1st place winning team in the senior category said, “This is my third year attending the expo, I’m always excited about the quiz bowl, and I look forward to next year’s contest.”

The Public Speaking and Illustrated Talk contests were organized in three age categories: 9-12, 13-15 and 16-18 years old.  In the Public Speaking first category, Miracle Styles from Madison Parish took 1st place; Breanna Scott, Bossier Parish, 2nd, and Olivia Viltz, St. Landry Parish, 3rd.  The 1st place went to Kanessia Crothers, Madison Parish in category two; 2nd place, Sandreca Citizen, St. Landry; and 3rd place, D’Anthony Butler, Calcasieu Parish. In the 16-18 year-old category, Alante’ Jackson, EBR Parish took 1st place; Crystal Jackon, Madison Parish, 2nd, and James Zachary, Caddo Parish, 3rd

Illustrated Talk Content Category one had Jordan Page & Keonia Freeman of West Carroll Parish in 1st place, and Alaina Schaffer & Jeremiah Schaffer, St. Landry Parish in 2nd place. In Category two, Grant Henry, Bossier Parish, took 1st place; Seth Poirier, St. Martin, 2nd place and Taylor Threads, West Carroll Parish, 3rd place. The 1st place and lone winner in Category three was the Juwan Nimer & Jaylen Nimer team. 

The parade of parishes on Friday afternoon assembled all participating extension agents and volunteers who chaperoned students to the Expo.  Representing Orleans Parish was Krystal Sugulleh; East and West Carroll, Carolyn Robinson and Thomas Legiandeny; Bossier, Katherine Ervin; Morehouse and Union, Odis Hill; St. Landry -  Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives,  Aubrey Williams; DeSoto and Caddo, Patricia Lee; East Baton Rouge, Terrence Marshall; St. Martin and Iberia, Chris Robichaux; Calcasieu and Jefferson, Carol Sensley; Madison, Sarah Sims; and Rapides, Terry Washington.

“This was an exciting year. Thanks to all who made the event successful,” said Dr. Wanda Burke, Youth Development Specialist and event organizer.

For additional information, contact Wanda Burke, at 225-771-5184.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

bridget_udoh@suagcenter.com

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