Wednesday, March 26

SU Ag Center Spends an Evening with State Commissioner Mike Strain

Chancellor Williams and Vice Chancellor Brown thank Commissioner Strain for his support 

Members of the community and Ag Center pose with Dr. Strain

Dr. Strain addresses National Ag Day audience

Southern Lab School 6th grader tastes the ice cream he made in a bag this morning

SU Lab School 6th grader tastes the ice cream she made in a bag this morning

SU Lab School 6th graders learn how to make ice cream in a bag 
Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center celebrated the National Ag Day on March 25.  State Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, spent the evening with the SU Ag Center celebrating the 2014 National Ag Day.  Commissioner Strain interacted with the SU and external communities, featuring a musical performance by the Scotlandville Middle Magnet School Choir and McKinley High School Jazz Band, along with agricultural exhibits. Chancellor Leodrey Williams and Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Research, Adell Brown, Jr. brought greetings to the guests.

Dr. Strain talked about the importance and economic impact of agriculture in Louisiana. He emphasized the value and blessing of the abundance of food provided by a few farmers in stores around the nation.  “It is important that we recognize agriculture around the world.  We are blessed to live in America where there is abundant food, fiber and other products to sustain and enhance human life,” Strain said. He encouraged innovation that will help double food supply by 2050 in order to meet worldwide demand. That is why we need the Ag Centers, research, extension and students to discover new ways to increase food production. “There is a need to increase food supply by 2-3% every year to keep prices down.  We must move agriculture forward.” He concluded his speech with a strong message, “Never underestimate the power of the Ag Centers, research, extension, and involving the youth in science.”

The Ag Center welcomed SU students, faculty and staff to the celebration.  Some distinguished members of the community came out in support of the event. Among them were, Mrs. Gwendolyn Robinson, wife of the late Dr. George Robinson, long time professor of Animal Science at Southern University; Vereta Lee, District 2, EBR School Board, and Ronnie Edwards, District 5 Councilwoman. WAFB TV Channel 9 covered the event on the 10 pm news broadcast, March 25.

The celebration concluded this morning with “Adopt-A-Classroom” at Southern University Laboratory School where the Jags in Ag and Food Desert Project engaged youth in agriculture-related activities to teach them the impact of agriculture on their everyday living. A classroom full of 6th graders learned how to make ice cream in a bag, after a quiz on plant and animal sources of calcium such as broccoli, milk, cheese and fish.

“This was a wonderful experience for the SU Ag Center, students, staff, faculty and the community.  It afforded us an opportunity to share with the public the value of agriculture in our everyday lives and its profound impact on this country and the world,” said Dr. Renita Marshall, event coordinator.
For further detail on National Ag Day, visit www.agday.org;

###

Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

No comments: