Claiborne, Natchitoches youth win most showmanship champions

The 67th Annual State Livestock Show
Showmanship Champions

2010 Beef Breeding Division

Category:  Brahman Influence – Heifer

Champion: MacKenzie Scriber, Claiborne Parish

Reserve Champion: Austin McCurry, Claiborne Parish

Category:  Non-Brahman Influence – Heifer

Champion:  Taylor Dobson, Natchitoches Parish

Reserve Champion: Taylor Dobson, Natchitoches Parish

Category:  Brahman Influence – Bull

Champion: Jake LaCaze, Natchitoches Parish

Reserve Champion: Ashlyn Turner, Claiborne Parish

Category:  Non-Brahman Influence – Bull

Champion: Chloe Thompson, Bossier Parish

Reserve Champion: Mitchell Miles, Winn Parish

Category:  Commercial Heifer

Champion: Mitchell Miles, Winn Parish

Reserve Champion: Jesse Magee, Jackson Parish
                            Category:  Beef Showmanship

Champion: Megan Hammons, Jackson Parish

Reserve Champion: MacKenzie Scriber, Claiborne Parish

2010 Junior Dairy Division
 Dairy Champion and Showmanship
Eugene Runles, Superintendent

Category: Supreme Champion

Champion: Ann Robinson, Webster Parish

Reserve Champion: Baylse Salley, Sabine Parish

2010 Commercial Dairy Division

Category: Supreme Commercial Champion

Champion: Stefanie Ferguson, Winn Parish

Reserve Champion: Baylse Salley, Sabine Parish                       

          Category:  Dairy Showmanship

Champion: Katherine Rashall, Caddo Parish

2010 Market Goat Division
Goat Showmanship Only 
Mary McMahon, Superintendent

Category:  Goat Showmanship

Champion: Kyle Curtis, Beauregard Parish

Reserve Champion: Hayden Holtzclaw, Webster Parish

2010 Market Lamb Division     
 Lamb Showmanship Only
Terrance Marshall, Superintendent

Category:  Lamb Showmanship

Champion: Maggie Brakeville, Bossier Parish

Reserve Champion: Thomas Bearden, Bossier Parish

2010 Market Hog Division
Swine Showmanship Only
Terry Washington, Superintendent
Category:  Swine Showmanship

Champion: Makayla Conner, Calcasieu Parish

Reserve Champion:Parker Bevel, Caddo Parish


Contact: Livestock Show Programs, Southern University Ag Center, 225-771-2242 

Show dedicated to Turnley, Quebedeaux

This weekend's 67th Annual State Livestock Show was dedicated to former Rep. Richard “Dick” Turnley Jr., a native of Plaquemine, and to the memory of Danny Quebedeaux, an educator, mentor, and teacher in Thibodaux.

Richard “Dick” Turnley Jr.
Turnley became CEO and Treasurer of the Southern Teachers and Parents Federal Credit Union in 1959, the oldest black-owned financial institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1972, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives where he served until 1984 when he was elected to the Louisiana Senate. While in the senate, Mr. Turnley played a key role in organizing the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. His public service was not limited to his immediate area as he served as a volunteer consultant for the World Council of Credit Unions for the South Africa Credit Union Movement, where he was very instrumental in the development of credit unions there. Under Mr. Turnley’s leadership, the Southern University Teachers and Parents Federal Credit Union has supported the Southern University Ag Center's Livestock Show Programs by purchasing the Grand Champions and Reserve Champions. (Eldridge Etienne, assistant manager, Southern University Teachers and Parents Federal Credit Union, accepts recognition)

Danny Quebedeax
Quebedeax spent more than 34 years teaching agriculture and sponsoring the FFA organization and other programs at his school. In his years of teaching, he touched many lives in and out of the classroom. Working with students brought him tremendous joy and that passion was evident throughout his career. Most students, who enrolled in the agricultural program, had no idea what it was about. He prepared junior high students to compete against high school students. His students, in many of the contest, came back home to Thibodaux with championship trophies. He trained these students to be winners and would not accept anything less. (Quebedeax's family accepts recognition)

They are here!

Louisiana’s young farmers and ranchers are exhibiting animals this morning at 8am until 7pm at the 67th Annual State Livestock and Poultry Show hosted by the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

The two-day competition is happening at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Show Arena on Highway 61N in Alsen, LA. Judges will name the state champions in various breeds of beef and dairy cattle, hogs, sheep, lamb, and goats.  The show features animals that have been showcased or have won in parish competitions.

The all-time favorite mini-farm, featuring a variety of small farm animals, will open today at 9 am to 1 pm. Tour guides will discuss different animals, their food sources, farming and how agriculture affects everyone’s lives. The show will also have face painting, food, craft booths, and the Hall of Louisiana Agriculture, for local school groups.

Winners will receive premiums, rosettes, ribbons, and silver platters. An awards presentation for exhibitors of champion market animals in the show will be held Saturday, March 13, at 8 am and will be immediately followed by the Junior Auction Sale at 10:30 am. Prize meats (beef, lamb, pork, and goat) are available for sale.

Workshops explore livestock harvesting, marketing

Livestock harvesting and marketing workshops will be held in north and south Louisiana for county agents, agriculture professionals, and livestock producers across the state.   These are important topics to ensure compliance with regulations as more farmers transition to home  harvest, processing and marketing of  meat from their grass fed cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens.

Workshop speakers will present:

§  “Meat Inspection: Compliance with the Regulations” by Jim Jenkins, Program Manager, Meat and Poultry Inspection, Office of Animal Health and Food Safety, Louisiana  Department of Agriculture & Forestry

§  “Identifying and Utilizing Non-traditional Markets for Meat” by Stuart Gardener, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

§  “What the End User Wants” by Louisiana Chef Bobby Williams

§  “Further Processing/Added Value/Ethnic Markets” by YaSin Muhaimin, Louisiana producer

A workshop will be held in north Louisiana on Tuesday, April 6, at the LSU Calhoun Research Station on 321 Hwy. 80 East in Calhoun. The workshop will be repeated April 14 at the LSU/SU Breaux Bridge Extension Office at 114 Courthouse Street in Breaux Bridge.

The workshop is free but pre-registration is required. Contact James McNitt at james_mcnitt@suagcenter.com, or (225) 771-2262 x 270, Carl Motsenbocker at cmotsenbocker@agcenter.lsu.edu or (225) 578-1036, or Natalie Levy NLevy@agcenter.lsu.edu or (225) 578-1037 for more information or to register.

The workshop is sponsored by the Louisiana Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program, LSU AgCenter, and SU AgCenter. 

Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference

Small business owners and contractors are invited to participate in the Sixth Annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference, March 23, 2010, at the Southern University Smith Brown Memorial Student Union in Baton Rouge.

The conference continues to bring together potential and existing contractors, entrepreneurs and government agencies in position for business match making. Small enterprises are provided an opportunity to meet contracting officers and purchasing agents.

Attendees will receive information on the new Disadvantaged business Enterprise American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Bonding Assistance Reimbursable Fee Program, as well as SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program which can now be guaranteed for up to $5 million. GSA federal supply schedules and USDA food commodity contracting opportunities will be explained. According to organizers, conference participants will also gain a sure-fire plan to finally become proactive in marketing their businesses.

Representatives from the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing will answer questions from individuals on programs like the Hudson and Veteran initiatives, which help small businesses contract with State offices.

The conference is hosted by the Southern University Ag Center, the Center for Rural and Small Business Development, Louisiana Small Business Development Centers in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation.

Registrations forms are available online at http://www.crsbd.com/events/ and be faxed to (337) 482-5837 or e-mailed to prs6182@louisiana.edu.   All registrations must be received by March 18. For more information, call the Small Business Administration at (504) 589-6688.

For more information, contact Gloria London, director, Center for Rural and Small Business Development, or Eual Hall, business development specialist, at (225) 771-2242.

Lastrapes joins Louisiana 4-H Team

Southern University Ag Center area agent Edna Lastrapes joins the six-member team representing the Louisiana 4-H Youth Development program.

The team was selected to participate in the Building Partnerships for Youth’s Spotlighting Positive Youth Development program offered through a partnership between National 4-H Council and the University of Arizona. According to the Louisiana 4-H Club, the selection for the conference was very competitive with fewer than 15% of applicants being accepted.

“I expect to develop greater knowledge of how positive youth development can address the many issues facing youth in Louisiana with a focus on the issues faced by youth in the Southwest Center's service region,” said Lastrapes.

The effort will provide the team with an opportunity to learn ways to coordinate efforts of deliberate incorporation of positive youth development into programs and policies. According to Louisiana 4-H, the overall goal of the program is to produce a systems-level impact that supports youth throughout the state.

“With this knowledge, our team will design a plan to build greater capacity by forming a coalition and offering a youth development conference for youth and adult teams throughout the state, which will include students and adults who I am currently working with,” said Lastrapes who organizes the youth programs of the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives’ 10-parish region.

“By creating a coalition and facilitating collaboration, the goal will be to engage youth in positive youth development experiences with caring adults yielding a better informed, healthy, and supported youth,” she said.

Members of Louisiana’s team are:

•        Eve Franchebois, Collegiate 4-H
•        David Free, Collegiate 4-H and Pastor, Memorial Baptist Church
•        Lanette Hebert, Regional 4-H Coordinator, Louisiana 4-H, LSU AgCenter
•        Edna Lastrapes, Area Agent, Youth Development, Southern University
•        Trey Williams, Department of Social Services, State of Louisiana
•        John Wyble, Louisiana CASA Association

The team will participate in a three-day kickoff conference held in Chevy Chase, Md., in February. The conference will be followed with monthly, Web-based conferences throughout the year.

The Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives is a satellite entity of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Its mission is to promote socioeconomic development within a 10-parish region. For more information, please contact Lastrapes at (337) 943-2410.

For more information http://cals-cf.calsnet.arizona.edu/fcs/bpy/index.cfm.

West Feliciana high wins 3rd livestock quiz bowl

Five teams of future farmers participated in the 3rd Annual Livestock and Poultry Quiz Bowl last November at the SU Ag Center. The teams included FFA Chapters from Clinton, West Feliciana, Church Point, Northwest and North Central high schools.


Each team consisted of four players and an alternate who answered questions about livestock management, business, and terminology. The teams competed in several rounds, but Clinton and West Feliciana high schools dominated the championship round. West Feliciana was named this year's champion after three intensive rounds of questions. West Feliciana team was coached by Jason McCray a graduate of Southern University A&M College.


"The contest is growing every year, and we look forward to it every year,” said Renita Marshall, DVM, livestock show programs director.


West Feliciana High—1st place winner (pictured above)
Clinton High—2nd place winner

Join Southern University, Ag Center in Haiti Relief

The January 12 earthquake in Haiti devastated that nation and has many people wondering what they can do to help. In the years since Katrina, the process for managing donations has become more efficient, effective, and secure.

Southern University and the Ag Center have had a long history with Partners of the Americas, and many of our faculty and staff have travelled with them on many development projects in El Salvador, Louisiana's southern partner. Retired animal scientist James McNitt has worked in Haiti to develop a rabbit project which now involves more than 700 rabbit farmers.

If you want to make a donation to the Haitian Disaster Relief with assurance that it will be used properly, McNitt suggests donating to Partners of the Americas  http://www.partners.net/donate.

Southern University and A&M College professors Warner Anderson, Kristan Gordon and Ernst Pierre have started the Southern University Haiti Disaster Relief Drive. Items that are desperately needed by the Haitian children are:

Items needed are:

• Book bags
• Suitcases
• Clothes (for warm weather)
• Footwear
• Sanitizer
• Repellent
• Baby formula
• Thick blankets
• Toilet paper
• Female sanitary items
• Baby wipes
• Pampers
• Soap
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Caps

All donations can be brought to Southern University’s Center for International Education, Room 1100 in T.H. Harris Hall, located on Elton C. Harris Drive. A receipt will be given to all individuals making financial donations for the Haiti Disaster Relief Drive.  Contributions are tax deductible. 

Through the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana has offered the U.S. State Department and FEMA resources to assist in the Haitian disaster response efforts, including more than 65,000 MREs and thousands of bottles of water being donated by Lipsey Mountain Springs Water.

Businesses that want to donate equipment and large-scale commodities to the Haiti response efforts can donate through:

•  Department of State Global Partnership Initiative: http://www.state.gov/s/partnerships/
• USAID: http://www.usaid.gov/

Cash donations from individuals or the private sector can be made through the following websites:

• Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund: www.yele.org
• InterAction: http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
• AidMatrix: http://www.aidmatrix.org/haiti.htm
• ALAN: http://www.aidmatrix.org/alan/about.html
• CIDI: http://www.cidi.org/
• American Red Cross: https://american.redcross.org
• Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf

Visit FEMA http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/howtohelp.shtm for a listing of other legitimate organizations and methods of donating.

Those seeking information on colleagues, friends, and loved ones missing in Haiti will find help at http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/earthquake/index.htm for important public information from the United States Department of State or call 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording).

For more information on Southern's Haiti Desaster Relief Drive, contact Anderson, Gordon or Pierre at (225) 771-2613.

For more information on the rabbit farm project, contact McNitt at (225) 771-2262 or email james_mcnitt(at)suagcenter.com

Hard Earned Land: The Kimble Family Farm

By LaShounda Anderson, Ph.D.
Alcorn State University

COLFAX--When we say America was built from ancestor’s blood, sweat and tears, this statement cannot be truer than for the Kimble Family of Colfax, Louisiana. Colfax is a small city built by slaves and their descendants. Located in Central Louisiana’s Grant Parish, Colfax became a city in 1869. Before that, it was a 14,000 acre plantation called Calhoun’s landing.

Original land deeds prove that the 74-acre Kimble family farm was a part of the historic 14,000 acre plantation. Grandfather Kimble is believed to have purchased the farm in the 1930s from the Calhoun family.

Granddaughter Diana Kimble (pictured at right) retired from Texas Instruments in Dallas and returned home to Colfax. She had a new life mission: environmentally conserve her grandfather’s land while serving the community of Colfax.

She has established Kimble Organics on a small section of the farm. The organic garden is bordered by a beautiful bayou with large cypress trees that seems to hide it from the rest of the world. The garden is filled with herbs and vegetables including hibiscus, strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes. She is looking forward to preparing a hibiscus tea recipe she received during a visit to the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge, where she is currently participating in the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute.

Kimble composts and recycles materials on-site for use in the organic garden. She is currently composting branch and trunk shredding from trees just cleared off the land. Her unique method of recycling plastic pail tops is to place them at the base of plants to ward off plant diseases and harmful ground insects. She says organic gardening will provide a way to grow safe and affordable food for the Colfax community and for central Louisiana.

The desire for future generations to appreciate agriculture, environment and history runs deep in the Kimble family. The family farm is the future site of an African-American history, agriculture and cultural center. The family purchased a building from a local Catholic church for one dollar and plan to convert it into a community center. The center will have workshops on topics such as organic vegetable production and African-American history’s role in establishing worldwide agricultural practices. The center’s classroom will be named for a relative who had a calling to become a nun, but was unable to fulfill her calling because of health issues.

The Kimbles credit the Ag Center’s Cash for Conservation Workshop for sparking their interest in how to make alternative farm income through native grass and wildlife conservation and production. Since attending the workshop, the Kimbles are working to get their farm involved in available USDA-NRCS Conservation Reserve Programs and upcoming SUAREC Native Grass Producers Initiatives. With four generations involved in revitalizing the farm, it will be viewed as a priceless family treasure.

To get more information on USDA Conservation Programs, contact your local USDA-Farm Service Agency Office or USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Office.

For information on the upcoming Southern University Agricultural Center and Research Center Native Grass Producer Incentives, contact Adell Brown, Ph.D.,  vice chancellor for finance and administration, at 225-771-2242. For information on the Leadership Institute, visit aginstitute.suagcenter.com

67th Annual State Livestock Show starts March 11

School groups, families, meat buyers welcomed

Young farmers and ranchers from across the state are gearing up for the 67th Annual State Livestock and Poultry Show hosted by the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, March 11-13.

They are grooming, weighing, and even breeding their champion animals in preparation for the two-day competition to be held at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Show Arena on Highway 61N in Alsen, LA. 

The show features animals that have been showcased or have won in parish competitions. During the two-day event, judges will name the state champions in various breeds of beef and dairy cattle, hogs, sheep, lamb, and goats. The all-time favorite mini-farm, featuring a variety of small farm animals, will open Friday, March 12, 9 am. Tour guides will discuss different animals, their food sources, farming and how agriculture affects everyone’s lives. The show will also have face painting, food, craft booths, and the Hall of Louisiana Agriculture, until 1 pm Friday for local school groups.

Winners will receive premiums, rosettes, ribbons, and silver platters. An awards presentation for exhibitors of champion market animals in the show will be held Saturday, March 13, at 8 am and will be immediately followed by the Junior Auction Sale at 10:30 am. Prize meats (beef, lamb, pork, and goat) are available for pre-sale now, as well as during the auction.  

Weigh in for animals and contestant check in begin March 11. School groups and families are invited to attend this free event.

To pre-order meat or register a group, visit www.suagcenter.com.

Vice Chancellor to serve as Louisiana Role Model, featured on WBRZ

The 4^th Annual New Orleans Style Jazz Brunch, held December 12, 2009 honored nine outstanding Louisiana Role Models. Among the honorees was Gina E. Eubanks, Ph.D., SU Ag Center vice chancellor for extension, who was selected by Baton Rouge Chapter of The Links Incorporated to serve as Louisiana Role Models for one year effective December 2009. 

The Links Inc. is a national organization of accomplished, dedicated women who are active in the community. Links are role models, mentors, activists and volunteers who work toward the realization of making the name "Links" not only a chain of friendship, but also a chain of purposeful service.  


Eubanks’ dedication to mentoring is also found in her service to the Big Buddy Program. On January 4, WBRZ Channel 2 reporter Dana Hackett sat down with members of the Big Buddy program in Baton Rouge with an invitation for the public to get involved.  Eubanks and her Big Buddy service were featured on the Channel 2 morning show, 2une In, see the broadcast at http://www.wbrz.com/news/big-buddy-program-promotes-mentoring-on-2une-in/  

USDA's Hawkins visits SU Ag Center

The Southern University Ag Center welcomed Clarence W. Hawkins, the new Louisiana State Director of USDA Rural Development, to the campus on December 17.  

Hawkins told the crowd that his task "is to pick up the baton and carry on, to change the paradigm, and make the philosophy a reality.  Our task is to change the negative perception of rural communities and it’s just that simple.  I’m serious about accountability and I’m serious about service. Service is the rent I pay to stay here.  We must build co-operations and collaborations.  My hope is that Southern University continues to grow and to serve,” said Hawkins. 

The former Bastrop, Louisiana, mayor was appointed director by President Barack Obama in September 2009. In this capacity, Hawkins is responsible for the direction and delivery of the agency's rural development programs in Louisiana. 

SU Ag Center chancellor Leodrey Williams showed his support, saying, “we must do everything possible to give the people who are qualified and happy to live in rural parishes opportunities to thrive there.” The Southern University community including system president Kassie Freeman along with representatives from the system and community showed their support for Hawkins and USDA. 

Pictured are Southern University Ag Center specialists Eual Hall, Center for Rural and Small Business Development director Gloria London, USDA state director Clarence Hawkins, Southern University Alumni Affairs officer Robyn Merrick, and Ag Center chancellor Leodrey Williams. Photo by Christopher Rogers II.

Supermarket Savings Tips

By Celia Jackson

SU Ag Center

Nutrition Educator

The key to stretching your food dollars is planning and awareness.  Taking the time to plan your family’s meals, budget your food dollars, and write out a grocery list can save your family money on the grocery bill.  The following tips are things you should think about before making that trip to the supermarket. Remember, changing habits is hard!  Try one or two of these tips during each supermarket trip.  Soon you’ll see some relief in your grocery bills.

 1. Plan your menus.  Remember to consider what you have on hand, your family’s food preferences, your time schedule and MyPyramid when planning meals. 

2.     Keep a grocery list.  Creating a grocery list saves you time and money at the supermarket.  Keep your grocery list where it’s easily accessible, such as on the refrigerator, this will help you to keep an on-going list of items as your supply becomes low. Remember to stick to your list.


3.     Know the regular pricing of items you normally purchase.  Keeping tabs on pricing of common items you purchase can save you money by recognizing savings or price increases.


4.     Be alert for unadvertised specials in the store. 


5.     Be aware of supermarket advertising gimmicks.  For example buy one get one free deals.  Pay close attention to price of the items, this deal usually includes a price increase for one item to compensate for the free item.


6.     Compare prices of different sizes and brands of the foods you’re buying.  Find the best priced item by comparing the unit prices.  Unit pricing is located on the shelf tag.  The shelf tag shows the total price (item price) and price per unit (unit price) for the food item.


7.     Ask for rain checks.  If a specially priced item is sold out, ask for a rain check.  It allows you to purchase the item at the sale price at a later date.


8.     Check expiration dates.


9.     Buy the store brands.


10.  Shop in season.  Fresh produce tastes better and costs less when it’s in season.


11.  Avoid convenience foods.  The cost is higher for individually packaged items, such as 100 calorie packs.  Cut cost by buying in bulk and making individual packets using plastic snack or sandwiches bags.


12.  Invest in staple foods when the price is right.  Foods such as canned goods can last an extended period of time on the shelf; so, stock-up when the price is right.


13.  At checkout do a quick inventory of your cart.  Remove any impulse items, such as magazines or candy bars.


14.  Check receipt for correct prices.


15.  Do not shop when hungry!  Shopping when hungry encourages impulse buying of foods that are not on your grocery list.

Contact:  Celia Jackson, MPA, LDN, RD, Southern University Ag Center, FF-NEWS Nutrition Educator, East Baton Rouge and East Feliciana Parishes, celia_jackson@suagcenter.com

Grants, loan guarantees available

USDA Rural Development is taking loan guarantee and grant applications for the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, for projects to be awarded in 2010.

USDA Rural Development's Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) offers grants, guaranteed loans, and combination grant/guaranteed loans to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. 


In  2009, producers and businesses in Louisiana received $308,273 in REAP grants for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies, and energy audits.

Businesses and producers in rural Louisiana looking to create renewable energy or make energy-saving improvements may be able to finance up to 75 percent of eligible project costs through the program.  Stand-alone grants can be awarded up to 25 percent of total eligible costs.

To qualify for financial assistance through REAP, project costs must be greater than $6,000 for energy efficiency projects and $10,000 for renewable energy projects.

Details are available online at:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/la/REAPinfo.htm or by contacting the Renewable Energy Coordinator Kevin Boone at (337) 262-6601 extension 133.

USDA Rural Development provides a full range of rural development credit services in rural Louisiana.  Area Offices are located in Monroe, Natchitoches, Lafayette, and Amite; and the State Office is located in Alexandria.  For more information on USDA Rural Development's loan and grant programs, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/la.