Friday, December 16
SU Ag Center now accepting meat pre-sales for Annual Livestock Show
Baton Rouge, La – The
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center will host its’ 74th Annual State Livestock &
Poultry Show on March 2 - 4, 2017 at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena,
Hwy. 61 North, in Baton Rouge, LA.
The Livestock Show Office is
currently accepting pre-orders for non-processed choice meats from various
livestock. All proceeds from meat sales go directly to participating youth as a
reward for their hard work and financial investment. The following meat choices
and quantities are now available for pre-order:
·
Whole
beef $2,000
·
Half
beef $1,000
·
Fourth
beef $500
·
Whole
pork $225
·
Whole
lamb $200
·
Whole
goat is $175
Those
who don’t pre-order their meat are invited to do so during the show’s ‘Junior
Auction Sale’ on Saturday, March 4 beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The
office will deliver the meat to two locations, either the Cutrer Slaughter
House in Kentwood (985) 229-2478 or Rouchers in Plaquemine (225) 687-4258.
There is a processing
fee that is not included in the original cost of the meat. All purchases must
be paid by money order or check and made payable to the Southern University Ag
Center Livestock Show, prior to picking up the meat from the slaughter house.
Donations to the
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank are also welcome.
Southern University
has held an annual Livestock Show since 1943 and has continued the tradition of
providing an opportunity for the state’s youth to showcase their animals, gain
entrepreneurship skills and receive character and leadership training.
For more information
on the SU Ag Center’s Livestock Show, how to participate in the show or how to
purchase meat; visit http://www.suagcenter.com/livestock-programs
or contact the Livestock Show Office at 225.771.5270 or 225.771.6208.
###
Wednesday, December 14
SU Land-grant Campus participates in joint Ag Center Annual Conference
 |
| Chancellor-Dean Phills addresses annual conference audience with updates from the SU Land-grant Campus |
Baton Rouge, La. – Chancellor-Dean Bobby R. Phills presented
updates on the Southern University Land-gran Campus during the joint annual
conference hosted by the LSU AgCenter, December 13-14. In his address, Dr.
Phills emphasized partnership across the three arms of the land-grant units – teaching,
research and outreach between the two agricultural centers in all program area.
In his updates from the LSU AgCenter, Vice President and
Dean Bill Richardson stressed the importance of using available resources to
provide quality programs in Louisiana despite the on-going budget cuts.
Both administrators focused on moving the agricultural
centers in Louisiana to a better place.
###
Monday, December 12
Southern University Ag Center is Nutritionally Yours!
 |
Stephanie
M. Elwood, center, interacting with students at Bridge Academy as they start
their fall gardens in Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes
|
Baton
Rouge, La. - The Southern University Land-Grant Campus is Nutritionally
Yours. Nutritionally Yours encompasses the Land-Grant
Campus’s signature Extension nutrition programs and serves 13 parishes in
the state. Our signature nutrition programs include the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed), the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program
(EFNEP), Creating Healthy Enjoyable Foods (C.H.E.F) Camp & Growing Healthy
Initiative. Our Nutritionally Yours programs provide direct and indirect
education to the citizens of Louisiana using a policy, systems and
environmental change (PSE) approach. The policy, systems and environmental
change approach goes beyond programming into the systems that create the structures
in which our program clientele live, work and play.
Nutritionally
Yours intends
to do just that through our Growing Healthy Initiative. The planting of
vegetable gardens, fruit trees, berry bushes, classroom container gardens, are
all used to help increase nutrition knowledge and encourage behavioral change
amongst our clientele. The Growing Healthy Initiative provides hands-on
nutrition education, fresh foods access and sustainable environment in our Nutritionally
Yours sites. The initiative is implemented by our Family and Consumer
Science Agents and SNAP-Ed, EFNEP Nutrition Educators.
As
part of the Growing Healthy Initiative, Stephanie M. Elwood, Extension
Associate, and Kiyana E. Kelly, East Baton Rouge Nutrition Educator, started
fall gardens for 125 students in two classes at Bridge Academy in Baton Rouge. Vegetables
like Arugula, Bok Choy, Cabbage and Mustard Greens were planted in the gardens
on December 5.
Our
nutrition education programming aims to educate the citizens of Louisiana about
the positive benefits of making healthy nutritional choices, expanding their
food dollar, and preparing food safely.
For more information about the Nutritionally
Yours programs, contact us at 225-771-2242 or ellen_mcknight@suagcenter.com.
###
Thursday, December 1
Southern University Ag Students Sponsored Clothing Bank huge Success
 |
| Ms. Stewart shopping during the clothing bank event in the Southern Niche Boutique on SU Baton Rouge campus |
Baton
Rouge, La - The clothing bank event took place on Thursday, December 1, from
9:00 a.m.-12 Noon in the student-run retail boutique-laboratory, Southern Niche
in Pinkie Thrift Hall. Members of the community turned out for the
student-sponsored event hosted for individuals affected by the recent flood in
Baton Rouge. Flood victims were able to select clothing, shoes, and other
accessories at no cost, with assistance from Jasmine Guillory, MBA graduate
student who was excited to help in coordinating the event.
“I
believe this was an amazing event, and I am so happy I was able to be a part of
such an occasion,” said Guillory.
One
beneficiary of the clothing bank, Brandy Steward is a two-month employee of the
Mayberry Dining Hall on Southern’s campus.
This mother of five young children expressed her gratitude for the
clothing bank which she learned about through the Digest publication.
“I’m
happy they did this. I lost everything in the flood. I think it is great that
you are doing this because I missed the first time they did it. This is wonderful,”
said Stewart.
Dr.
Doze Butler, Associate Dean for the College of Agricultural, Family and
Consumer Sciences serves as lecturer for FCSC 497, Sustainably in Design,
Apparel Merchandising and Textiles in the Department of Family & Consumer
Sciences, as well as Project Director of the Southern Niche Retail Boutique-laboratory.
###
Wednesday, November 30
SU Ag Center to host Pedal 2 Keep the Promise in Greensburg, La.
 |
| Flyer |
Baton Rouge, LA – The SU
Ag Center will host ‘PEDAL 2 KEEP THE PROMISE!’ a National Campaign to promote keeping
the promise to having a healthy body, mind & spirit!
The ride will be held on
Thursday, December 1, 2016, beginning at 5 p.m. behind the St. Helena College
& Career Academy and continuing through the Town of Greensburg!
Participants can ride their
own bike or rent a lighted bike for $15.
For more information, contact Nicolette Gordon
at 225-222-4910.
###
Monday, November 28
Southern University Ag Students to Sponsor Clothing Bank for flood victims
 |
| Flyer |
Baton
Rouge, La - Students in FCSC 497, Sustainably in Design, Apparel Merchandising
and Textiles in the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences, College of
Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences will host a clothing bank for
individuals affected by the recent flood in Baton Rouge.
For
this event to be successful, we need YOU to donate new or very gently used
clothing, shoes, and accessories appropriate for students, faculty, and staff. Please deliver contributions to Room 102 in
Fisher Hall on Monday and Tuesday, November 28 & 29, 2016.
The
clothing bank event will take place on Thursday, December 1, 2016, from 9:00
a.m.-12 Noon in the student-run retail boutique-laboratory, Southern Niche-Pinkie Thrift Hall, Room 155.
Individuals who were affected by the flooding will be able to select clothing,
shoes, and other accessories at NO COST.
For
more information, please contact Ms. Jasmine Guillory at (225) 771-3660. Thank
you!
###
SU Ag Center offers free ServSafe Certification for individuals in the food industry
Baton Rouge, LA – Foodborne
illnesses caused by over 30 major pathogens are estimated to affect
approximately 9 million people in the United States every year. Educating the
public about following proper food safety practices are crucial. Food safety is
a critical necessity for any dining and serving food experiences.
For this reason, the
Southern University Ag Center will held a free ServSafe certification program for
individuals who are currently in the food service industry or those interested in
opening a food business in the future.
The certification program
will be held on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. in room 138 of A. O.
Williams Hall – SU Ag Center Building, 181 B. A. Little Drive, Baton Rouge, LA.
ServSafe is a food and
beverage safety training and certificate program administered by the National
Restaurant Association. The program is accredited by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Conference for Food Protection. The SU Ag
Center offers the food safety (ServSafe) certification program to the public
free of charge.
To attend the class, participants
must purchase the ServSafe Manager Book 6th edition, English (ESX6R)
and the exam answer sheets, English only (SSEAS).
The book and answer
sheets can be purchased at the Barnes and Nobel’s located at 2 Union Square, Baton
Rouge, LA 70803 (on the LSU campus) or online at www.servsafe.com for $70.30 and $38.00,
respectively, plus shipping and handling.
For more information or
to register for upcoming classes, contact Fatemeh Malekian at 225-771-0251.
###
Wednesday, November 23
Outstanding Mature Girlz Club Elect Officers at St. Helena College & Career Academy
 |
| Shy'Janae' giving her speech for president during the OMG Club election on Nov. 7. Photo by Nicolette Gordon, SU Ag Center Assistant Area Agent. |
Baton Rouge, LA – Just
less than twenty-four hours before all of America would cast their votes for
the 45th Presidents of the United States, the members of the Outstanding
Mature Girlz (O.M.G.) Club made their way to the polls. Candidate hopefuls gave brief speeches to
their peers, in hopes of becoming the next leaders of the all-girls club during
the 2016 -2017 school year.
“I love that I can run
for President, it reassures me that I can do anything,” said Shy’Janae Hookfin
who stunned her peers with a unanimous vote.
Students also elected Chriterra Brumfield - Vice President, Ariel Scott -
Secretary, J’Qualene Floyd - Treasurer, Shermil Myles - Parliamentarian, Symone
Bryer - iReporter, and Khristian Muse - Chairman.
The O.M.G. Club is an
in-school and out-of-school club designed to create fun, informative public
awareness platforms for girls in and around the state of Louisiana, to help service
and educate them in the areas of HIV/AIDS and all other STD, and health related
fields.
This club also includes
fun project based activities that will help girls learn new skillsets, all
while promoting a healthy body, mind and spirit!
###
SU Ag Center’s 2016 Fall Garden Workshop a blooming success
Baton Rouge, LA – After several
reports that the August 2016 flood waters contained chemicals and both human
and animal feces, many gardeners and farmers in Baton Rouge and the surrounding
areas were wondering about the health of their soil.
With that fact in mind,
the Southern University Ag Center themed its' 2016 Fall Gardening Workshop, “Recovering
Your Soil – Gardens, Farms and Spirit!” The workshop, which was held on Nov. 22
in A. O. Williams Hall - SU Ag Center - drew a crowd of more than 80 small and
backyard gardeners, farmers and school and community garden coordinators.
Southern University Ag
Center Chancellor – Dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Bobby R. Phills
welcomed the attendees to the Land-Grant Campus – made up of the SU Ag Center
and the College of Agriculture.
“When people think about
the SU Ag Center, they only think about this building. But the SU Ag Center is also
the agents housed around the state,” explained Phills.
Southern University Ag
Center Vice Chancellor for Extension, Dr. Dawn Mellion-Patin also addressed the
attendees and explained why the SU Ag Center holds the Fall Gardening Workshop
on the week of Thanksgiving every year.
“We started this workshop
four years ago and it is held at this time any year because we wanted to give
the teachers an opportunity to come and take information back to their schools,”
said Patin.
Other presentations
included a hands-on demonstration on Healthy Soils by USDA Natural Resources
Conversation Services State Soil Scientist, Michael Lindsey, which discussed
the importance of having cover crops to reduce soil run-off; Collecting Soil Samples
Correctly, which explained the proper way to collect a soil sample and where
the sample should be taken to be tested; Flood Resistant Trees for Louisiana’s
Climate, which provided examples of the various water resistant trees that grow
in the state as well as ways to plant trees in a manner that will allow them to
serve as a barrier against flooding; Is Produce Safety Important?, which
explained the importance of following safety rules and regulations when growing
and harvesting produce and Growing with the Seasons, which discussed the types
of fruits and vegetables that can be grown in each season.
Attendees were also able
to participate in either a hands-on fig propagation or wreath and bow making
demonstration.
The Fall Gardening Workshop was co-sponsored by the Southern
University Ag Center, its Wisteria Alliance Program and the Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program.
Photos from the event are available here.
Photos from the event are available here.
###
Monday, November 21
SU Ag Center – College of Ag enters into partnership with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service
 |
| At the MOU signing between the SU Ag Center - College of Ag and the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service are, seated from left, Elanor Starmer, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator and SU Ag Center Chancellor - Dean of the College of Agriculture Dr. Bobby R. Phills; and standing, Arthur Neal, SU Grad and USDA Deputy Administrator for Transportation and Marketing Programs; Allison Johnson, USDA Liaison Officer; Ken Keck, Director of the USDA's Local Food Research and Development Divison; Dr. Dawn Mellion-Patin, SU Ag Center Vice Chancellor for Extension and Outreach; Bruce Summers, USDA Associate Deputy Administrator for AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program and Richard Lucas, USDA Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Policy Support. Photo by Dr. C. Reuben Walker, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Chairman of the Department of Agricultural Sciences. |
Baton Rouge, LA – Southern
University Ag Center Chancellor - Dean of the College of Agriculture Dr. Bobby
R. Phills, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on
November 2, 2016 during a visit to the USDA’s Washington D.C. headquarters.
As a part of the MOU, AMS
will provide $50,000 to support the Beginning Agricultural Youth Opportunity
Unit (BAYOU) Program at Southern University.
The BAYOU program provides
an array of recruitment and retention activities for high school seniors and
incoming college freshman by providing them with first-hand knowledge about
career opportunities in Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business or
the natural sciences.
The MOU will strengthen the
SU Ag Center – College of Agriculture’s partnership with the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
###
St. Landry Parish Ag/ Garden Education Program on the MOVE!
 |
| Students at Washington Elementary participated in the Southwest Center for Rural Inititatives "Youth Grow" gardening program. |
Baton Rouge, LA – If
anyone knows the mental, physical, educational, and health benefits of exposing
youth to gardening, it is Antonio Harris. As a lifelong gardener and resident
of St. Landry Parish, Harris succeeded in lobbying the school board to approve
the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives (SCRI) newest program, “Youth Grow.”
“Youth Grow” is a
children’s gardening program aimed at developing sustainable garden education
programs that connect youth to nature, educates them on the benefits of
consuming fresh-grown food, and provides interdisciplinary learning
opportunities.
The program creates a
pathway for increasing and introducing agriculture engagement within the school
community. Through the use of lesson plans; students will learn Social Studies,
Math, English and Language Arts, Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth
Science. The Youth Grow program has been approved at all St. Landry Parish
Elementary Schools.
St. Landry Parish serves
as a pilot to the full potential of the program, which aims at having raised
bed gardens at each elementary school within the ten parishes served by
the Southwest Center.
“These gardens give us
the opportunities to not only introduce youth to agriculture and gardening at
an early age, but also Southern University,” said Chasity Johnson, youth agent
in St. Landry Parish.
Students and teachers at
Washington Elementary planted cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower in their four new raised-bed gardens supplied and installed by the Southwest Center/ Southern
University Ag Center.
###
SU Ag Center’s Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives uses Fall Harvest to assist community
 |
| Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives volunteer Jessie Clark harvesting sweet potatoes at the North City Park Community Garden in Opelousas, La. |
Baton Rouge, LA – The
Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives (SCRI) currently maintains several
community gardens throughout St. Landry Parish.
Throughout the year, the
garden and land is cared for by Jessie Clark. Recently, Jessie and the
Southwest Center staff harvested sweet potatoes from the North City Park
Community Garden in Opelousas, La. The garden is located within a low-income
housing area, and was constructed through a partnership with the Opelousas
Housing Authority.
The sweet potatoes
harvested were given to residents to ensure they would have fresh produce.
“We see the blue van
working out here all the time, and really feel blessed when they provide us with
what they grow,” said a resident.
###
Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives Educates Rural Youth on Careers in Agriculture
 |
| Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives Director Antonio Harris, sitting on left, and Extension Agent Krystle Washington, sitting on far left, share information about careers in agriculture. |
Baton Rouge, LA – The
Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives staff participated in the 19th Annual
Career Futures Expo on October 26, 2016 at Northwest High School in St. Landry
Parish.
Every 10th grade
student (roughly 1,200 students) from St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes
traveled to explore the different career paths displayed during the expo.
The event, which was
hosted by the St. Landry and Evangeline Parish Chambers of Commerce, St. Landry
& Evangeline Career & Technical Education Programs and the St. Landry
& Evangeline Parish School Boards, was designed to help 10th grade
students identify and explore career interests that provide them with the
opportunity to interact with professionals looking to the future and exploring
their options.
“I was very amazed and
impressed by the students’ knowledge and interest in our field,” said Kayla
Fontenot, youth agent.
The staff of the
Southwest Center also took the opportunity to speak with the students, and
promote the BAYOU program and ultimately attending Southern University’s
College of Agriculture post-graduation.
“Recruitment starts
early, so if we can introduce them to the College of Agriculture in 10th grade;
we are planting the seed for them to become future Jaguars and ultimately
leaders in Ag,” said Krystle Washington, Extension Agent in St. Landry Parish.
To read more about the event and see additional pictures, visit the Daily World.
###
Tuesday, November 15
SU Ag Center – College of Ag set to kick off Seminar Series with presentation from the Chancellor - Dean on the future of the System’s Land-Grant mission
 |
| SU Ag Center Chancellor - Dean of the College of Ag, Dr. Bobby R. Phills |
Baton Rouge, LA – Southern
University Ag Center Chancellor – Dean of the College of Agriculture Dr. Bobby
R. Phills will discuss the future of the Southern University System’s
Land-Grant mission during the campus’ first seminar series of the 2016-2017
academic year.
The seminar titled,
“Enhancing Southern University Academic\Research and Outreach Programs via
Land-Grant Function,” will be held at 3 p.m. on Nov. 17 in room 191 of A. O.
Williams Hall – SU Ag Center Building.
The seminar committee is
planning to hold a seminar each month throughout 2017. These seminars will
provide SU Ag Center and College of Ag faculty, staff, students and the Baton
Rouge community with information on food and agriculture, academic and research
updates that impact the food and agriculture communities and citizens of
Louisiana, outreach programs and topics related to higher education.
For additional
information contact the SU Ag Center at, 225-771-2242.
###
Friday, November 11
SU Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network set for state-wide Great American Smokeout Celebration
Baton Rouge, LA – The American
Cancer Society has dubbed the third Thursday of every November as ‘The Great
American Smokeout.’ Smokers are encouraged to use the date, which is November
17 this year, to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking on
that day.
In honor of this national
event, the Southern University Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network (CoC)
will host activities in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport. (All events
are free and will be held on November 17.)
Baton
Rouge
Southern University students,
faculty, staff and the Baton Rouge community are invited to attend the CoC’s
Great American Smokeout event from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Fisher Hall on the
Southern University Baton Rouge campus.
The event will feature a seminar
that will address the benefits of quitting smoking for the day with the hopes
of quitting for good and a booth display that will provide attendees with an
opportunity to enroll in smoking cessation programs. The Southern University
Intramural Sports Department will also be on hand to get participants to
substitute the butts and move to the
beat of healthy living.
A “smoke out” of
refreshments will be served off the grill to include: hamburgers, sausages, and
hot dogs. Participants will also receive
collaterals with no smoking messages.
The CoC will also host a
cessation presentation at the Bethesda Rehab Outpatient, 7222 Bluebonnet. The
event, which will be held from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., will also provide individuals
with cessation resources to help them stop smoking and a demonstration on the
harmful impact of tobacco on the body.
For additional information
on these events, contact Linda Brown or Frankie Poland at 225-771-2242.
New
Orleans
The CoC Network invites
residents of New Orleans to exchange their cigarettes for a “cold turkey” sandwich.
Quit “cold turkey!”
During this event, which
will be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Southern University New Orleans (SUNO)
campus - 6400 Press Drive, people who visit the informational site will receive
vital information that can save a life. They will exchange their cigarettes for
“cold turkey” sandwiches to quit for the day.
The CoC’s staff and volunteers will also provide
smoking cessation incentives, as well as, information about heart and vascular
health. A booth display will be
available to ensure individuals receive resources for cessation and information
regarding the dangers of tobacco.
For additional
information, contact Hendrix Broussard at 504-736-6519.
Shreveport
Southern University at Shreveport
(SUSLA) students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in an evening of
smoke-free fun. The CoC will host if Shreveport Great American Smokeout event from
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Shreveport Job Corps, 2815 Lillian Street. The event
will feature a Bingo style game called, “What’s in Tobacco,” and a Cessation
Workshop. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit a Secondhand
Smoke Display and enroll in the smoking cessation trust.
For additional
information, contact Urina Holt at, 318-670-9633.
“As an agent of change,
Southern University Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network is ecstatic at the
opportunity to mobilize our team and utilize our resources, to save lives through
educational awareness activities that will permanently make a difference in the
lives of our constituents statewide, especially as we celebrate Great American
Smokeout Day,” Linda Early Brown, Director of the Communities of Color Network.
About 40 million
Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest
preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. While cigarette
smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 17% in 2014), cigar, pipe, and
hookah – as well as other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are
very much on the rise. Smoking kills people – there’s no “safe” way to smoke
tobacco.
Quitting smoking has
immediate and long-term benefits at any age. Quitting is hard,
CoC is an affiliate of
the Louisiana Public Health Institute/The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Living. The network provides support and technical assistance to
African-American communities to ensure that they are well-informed about the
dangers of tobacco, and understand how to protect themselves from unhealthy
exposure.
Its mission is to
eliminate health inequalities caused by or related to tobacco use among
Louisiana communities of color by building coalitions, increasing awareness of
the dangers of tobacco, and reducing tobacco consumption and secondhand smoke
exposure.
For additional
information about the Communities of Color Network, contact Linda Early Brown at
225.771.2242.
###
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