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| Chancellor Williams and Vice Chancellor Brown thank Commissioner Strain for his support |
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| Members of the community and Ag Center pose with Dr. Strain |
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| Dr. Strain addresses National Ag Day audience |
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| Southern Lab School 6th grader tastes the ice cream he made in a bag this morning |
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| SU Lab School 6th grader tastes the ice cream she made in a bag this morning |
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| 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;
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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
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