Kids flock to AgCenter exhibits at Ag Expo

Published 10:00 am Monday, January 28, 2019

WEST MONROE — A host of agricultural exhibits featuring farm animals, gardening, crop production and healthy living offered visitors an array of hands-on activities at LSU AgCenter Ag Alley exhibits and AgCenter Square.

Both events were held Jan. 16-19 in conjunction with the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council’s annual Ag Expo at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe.

“Agriculture is the largest industry in Louisiana, so we emphasize the importance of agriculture to everyone, focusing on youth education for Ag Alley school days and information for adults and families at AgCenter Square during Ag Expo,” said Richard Letlow, AgCenter agent in Morehouse parish.

Ag Expo opened Jan. 18 and drew more than 8,000 visitors to the two-day trade show.

“Ag Alley and Ag Expo provide an excellent opportunity for the AgCenter to provide valuable educational programming as part of our extension outreach mission,” said AgCenter regional director Melissa Cater.

“The LSU AgCenter is dedicated to helping Louisiana residents improve their quality of life through our agriculture, youth and community nutrition programs,” Cater said.

AgCenter experts answered questions at featured exhibits highlighting cotton and corn, bees and horticulture, and nutrition and fitness.

“People were amazed at the number of different products that are produced from cotton — everything from fabric to food products to cotton balls,” said AgCenter extension agent Dennis Burns.

The Hill Country Beekeepers Association and the D’Arbonne Master Gardeners collaborated to host the horticulture and beekeeping exhibit where guests could talk about gardening, landscaping tips and pollinator productivity.

From container-grown weed specimens on display at the exhibit, visitors could see problem weeds and get recommendations and materials to assist with weed control decisions, said AgCenter turfgrass specialist Ron Strahan.

“Interest in our zoysia grass turfgrass samples at the booth opened opportunities to connect visitors with our northeast Louisiana sod farmers that grow several zoysia grass varieties,” Strahan said.

Extension agriculture specialists provided recommendations and information on many topics, such as insects in the garden and recreational ponds and their maintenance, Letlow said.

AgCenter nutrition experts shared the latest publications on diet and health and distributed meat thermometers, pedometers and other health-related items that encourage healthy decision-making.

The baby chicks at the 4-H mini farm drew a constant crowd of excited youngsters, and visitors of all ages could interact with other live animals on display.

Games geared to promote health and fitness at the 4-H Kid Zone offered children a chance to have fun making colorful artwork on a pedal-powered spin-art bicycle or learn about 4-H and agriculture at the Wheel of Fortune.

AgCenter regional 4-H coordinator Ashley Powell said the purpose of the 4-H programs at Ag Alley and Ag Expo is to encourage positive youth development.

“We distributed a variety of take-home activity books and promotional items for youth of all ages, and we’re promoting leadership development with the 35 teen volunteers who have assisted with the stations throughout both events,” Powell said.

Ag Alley hosted about 1,900 school children Jan. 16-17 for activities specifically developed to enhance classroom learning experiences.

At stations like Sam’s Silo, the Delta Farm, Louella’s Dairy and Farmer Pete’s Garden, first-graders connected healthful foods with how agricultural commodities are grown, produced and processed, said AgCenter nutrition agent Cathy Agan.

“Our goal is to help children understand that their food had a story before it ended up in the grocery store,” Agan said.

Children made a seed tape to plant at home, created a living necklace to watch how seeds germinate and took part in simulations to learn where milk comes from and how rough rice is milled into white rice.

“Even in rural northeast Louisiana, many children are unaware of the farm-to-table process and what it means in providing safe, healthful foods to nourish their families,” Agan said.

“My children look forward to this every year,” said Dianne Gill, a first-grade teacher at Old Bethel Christian Academy in Clarks, Louisiana.

Gill said she always introduces an agricultural unit before the event and reinforces the learning experiences when they return to the classroom.

While first-graders enjoyed a smaller version of the 4-H mini farm, fourth-graders focused on the dairy industry at a larger mini farm exhibit.

Students heard about dairy cattle breeds, discussed the nutritional value of dairy products and learned how to make fresh butter.

Anna Caples, a fourth-grade teacher at Sallie Humble Elementary School in Monroe, said her students found the activities relatable to what they are learning in science and social studies.

“In science it is all about hands-on learning, and they just made butter. You can’t get more hands-on than that!” she said.

Students also had a chance to see other livestock species and ask questions.

“This is the first time our kids have actually had an opportunity to see chickens and goats, a real cow and a real horse; our kids don’t get a chance to experience that,” said Janet Ward, of Barkdull Faulk Elementary School in Monroe.

Ward said her fourth-graders had just finished a lesson on pollination and saw firsthand how bees make honey at the horticulture alley. “It really excited them about science,” she said.

Fourth-graders also got a closer look at crop production at the cotton and corn alleys, where they talked about the economic value to the area and heard about many cotton products they use every day.