Program Highlights

Family and Consumer Sciences

Flavors of Health is an LSU AgCenter community nutrition and health education program.This program is in place to motivate and empower Louisianans to make healthy food and fitness choices in order to live a healthful life.A wide variety of topics will be provided that supports healthy eating, including how to set realistic goals, make small changes in daily behaviors, transform healthy behaviors into healthy habits and select healthful foods. The Flavors of Health Community Nutrition Program will teach basic cooking skills and strategies to increase exercise and physical activity. It will also provide information on healthful eating patterns on nutrients, processed foods, weight management, chronic disease prevention and other food and nutrition issues. .

4-H Youth Development

West Carroll youth have the opportunity to participate in ever growing project clubs like shooting sports, livestock, heathy living, and leadership. Parish schools also participate in enrichment opportunities where the 4-H Agent provides educational curriculum and experiences including embryology, financial literacy, and wetlands. Parish program highlights include sending five West Carroll 4-H’ers to Washington, D.C. to participate in the week-long Citizenship Washington Focus experience during the summer of 2019.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agriculture in West Carroll parish is as diverse as the soil types found in the parish. Production practices, irrigation strategies, and crop varieties that might maximize production in heavy alluvial soils off the Macon ridge will not show the same results as the sandy loam soils of the Macon Ridge. To address these diverse conditions and challenges AgCenter county agents work crop variety trials both on and off the Macon Ridge. .

Horticulture

Horticulture in West Carroll Parish encompasses lawns, ornamentals, home gardens and vegetable production.Approximately 1478 residents currently have home gardens with yields equaling about $600 per year savings in food costs per garden.150 acres are dedicated to commercial vegetable production with a gross farm value of $1,186,707.

River Ridge Master Gardener Association is a group of volunteers trained by LSU AgCenter staff. RRMG’s are dedicated to educating residents on the importance of horticulture and agriculture along with recommendations on how to garden inexpensively and in an environmentally safe manner.

Whom we reach:

1336 youth contacts with 129 4-H members and 4 4-H Clubs

16,616 adults (3,518 through agriculture and natural resources and 13,098 through family consumer sciences)

How we reach them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, class series, website, social media and workshops.

Expanding our efforts:

104 volunteers from 4-H, Master Gardeners, family and community.

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant and animal enterprises to West Carroll Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: Animal enterprises, $5,274,019; plant enterprises, $55,763,585.

Land area — 361 square miles; Population —9,751; Population under 18 years old — 22.3%; Population 65 years old and over — 19.4%; Median household income — $38,500; Persons below poverty — 21%

Local issues and plans for this year

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture.

• Conduct on-farm Corn, Cotton and Soybean variety trials.
• Conduct on-farm irrigation technology demonstrations.
• Plant and harvest Sweet Potato Foundation Seed Plot.
• Write news column, webpage content and seminars on agriculture practices.
• Conduct farm and home educational visits.

Promote the wide use of natural resources and protection of the environment.

• Educate producers on current disposal of pesticide containers and waste.
• Certify producers who use restricted use pesticides.
• Educate producers on Best Management Practices and Integrated Pest Management.
• Educate producers on effective irrigation strategies and the use of innovative irrigation technologies.

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development.

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish focusing on Special Needs Inclusiveness (state-wide initiative).
• Offer programming and opportunities to develop and enhance leadership skills at the local, state, and national level (4-H University, CWF, camps/conferences, project clubs, workshops, contests, etc.)
• Improve knowledge of youth and adult volunteers by increased number of trained volunteers

Strengthen families and communities

• Conduct a series of four programs annually: Dining with Diabetes, Smart Portions, Small Changes/Healthy Habits, and Break Up With Salt.
• Conduct monthly programming throughout the Parish on trending nutrition and health topics.
• Conduct summer youth cooking camps.
  
• Organize a Healthy Communities Coalition to identify needs of the Parish in order to create Policy, System, and/or Environmental changes.
  

How we are funded:

You are the local supporters and beneficiaries in the LSU AgCenter extension programs. Just 20% support keeps these programs in your community. Your parish extension office offers programs in:

• Sustaining Louisiana agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
• Building leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development.
• Family, nutrition and health to enhance the quality of life for Louisiana’s citizens.

LSU AgCenter State Appropriated Funds for FY 2021-2022:

• State general direct: 77.25%
• Federal funds: 12.57%
• Self-generated: 6.58%
• Statutory deductions: 3.6%