 |
| Chancellor Williams welcomes event participants |
 |
| Vice Chancellor Brown talks about challenges and opportunities in agriculture |
 |
| Animal Science freshman student explains his poster on rabbits |
 |
| Fashion Merchandising Student displays her work |
 |
| Nutrition freshman shares innovative health information |
 |
| Urban Forestry freshman reports his findings on tree management |
Baton Rouge, LA - The
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center joined in
celebrating the National Ag Day for the first time on March 25, 2014. National Agriculture Day is a day set aside to
recognize and celebrate the abundance of resources provided by
agriculture. Every year, producers,
agricultural associates, corporations, universities, government agencies and
countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of
agriculture. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Agriculture: 365 Sunrises and 7
Billion Mouths to Feed”
Pre-event activities included
a Barnyard Display and Petting Zoo at St. Michael’s Episcopal Day School in
North Baton Rouge where youth 2-5 years old along with their teachers were
taught or reminded about the sources of food and benefits of agriculture. Southern University freshman students
majoring in agriculture and involved in a mentoring program entitled “Jags in
Ag,” joined SU Ag Center employees in exposing youth at St. Michael’s Day School
to young animals like chicks, goat kids, and rabbits, and telling them about animal
uses in daily life.
Today, the National Ag Day kicked
into full force with Ag Center Displays in A.O. Williams Hall, along with
Poster Presentations by JAGS in Ag students. During his welcome address, Chancellor
Leodrey Williams reviewed the history of the 1890 land-grant system, and
provided insight into the future of agriculture. He concluded on a positive
note that “There will always be a need for agriculture as long as people
continue to eat, wear clothing and live in shelters.” There will always be a need for you and what
you do, he told the faculty, staff and students in the audience.
Adell Brown, Jr., Executive Vice
Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Research gave a presentation on the challenges
and opportunities available to agriculturalists. Among the challenges he
mentioned were loss of land to non-agricultural sector and a growing population
to feed, clothe and shelter. The solution he said lies in improving production
in animals, plants and practice. “Having
about 9 billion people to be fed, clothed and sheltered, this is our continued
challenge,” Brown said. He went on to add that we have opportunities in these
challenges. Close to home, he cited the prevalence of “food deserts” in the
Scotlandville area dotted with unused garden spaces. We can utilize these plots to introduce urban
agriculture in an environmentally safe method. Brown urged students to look
into the lucrative occupation with careers in agriculture, and concluded his
message by projecting a bright future. He emphasized the importance of
agriculture and the role of Southern University in helping individuals have a
better future. “We got work to do in order to meet the new demand in
agriculture. The question is, are we able and willing to rise to the occasion?”
The celebration concludes on
Wednesday with adopt-A-Classroom at Southern University Laboratory School where
agriculture-related activities will be performed to teach youth how Ag affects
their everyday living.
“This is an opportunity for
the public to understand the value of agriculture in our everyday lives and its
profound impact on this country and the world,” said Dr. Renita Marshall, event
coordinator who can be reached at 225-771-0252.
###
Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
No comments:
Post a Comment