Honoré to motivate Ag Center Youth

Retired Lt. General Russel L. Honoré will speak with 300 youth attending the Family and Youth Expo at 2pm tomorrow in the Southern University Smith-Brown Memorial Union.

At 6 p.m. today, youth will get acquainted and enjoy Funtastic activities on the grounds of the Southern University Ag Center. Educational seminars and workshops on technology, hand washing, juvenile justice, 4H, poultry, bullying, and making scent bars will be held through out the day tomorrow.

“These youth are participants of Southern University Ag Center’s Youth Educational Support (YES) programs across the state,” said Wanda Burke, youth development specialist. Expo is the Ag Center's culminating youth development activity. The event ends Saturday at 10:30am

Honoré will keynote the general assembly, delivering a message on the expo theme: “Inspiring Youth with Tools for Achieving Excellence”. For more information, contact Burke, youth development specialist, at the Southern University Ag Center, (225) 771-2242, or visit www.suagcenter.com.

National 4-H conference rejuvenates Louisiana youth

Four Louisiana students arrived in Washington, D.C. last month to attend the 2010 National 4-H Conference in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The six-day conference consisted of youth delegates from 49 states and two countries representing 1862, 1890, and 1994 land grant colleges and universities. 

The youth delegation from the SU Ag Center were: Kaylon Benjamin, sophomore, Lafayette High School; Jeremi Edwards, junior, La Grange High School; Darrell Griffin, sopho-more, St. Helena Central High School; and Kori Williams, sophomore, Thurgood Marshall Early College High School, New Orleans. Supervis-ing the group were Wanda Burke, PhD, youth development specialist, and Hendrix Broussard, assistant area agent, Orleans Parish. 

The youth participated in roundtable discussions about their respective state programs and shared ideas that they could take from other states and use to make an impact on youth back in their home communities. 

The delegates got a chance to tour his-toric landmarks, witness the changing of the guards at the Tombs of The Un-known Soldiers, and see the 911 me-morial at the Pentagon. They also met with some elected officials from Lou-isiana to address youth issues in their communities. They met with Congressman Charlie Melancon, Congressman William Cassidy, Senator David Vitter, and an assistant to Senator Mary Landrieu. Another highlight of the trip was meeting Oscar award-winner Monique while at the airport in New Orleans. 

Ready, Set, Go!

Plans are underway statewide as youth prepare to travel to Baton Rouge for the 2009 Family and Youth Expo, "READY, SET, GO: Encouraging Youth to Win the Academic Race." 

The June 18-20, 2009, expo is the culminating celebration for the Ag Center's youth development programs. All activities will be held on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus.

Contact your local agent or Wanda Burke, Ph.D., youth development specialist, (225) 771-2242 ext. 325 for more information.