st. martin parish profile - lsu agcenter/media/files/stmartinprofile.pdf · master gardener...
TRANSCRIPT
Program Highlights
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Agriculture is a well-diversified $100 million industry vital to
economic health of St. Martin Parish. Plant enterprises lead
the way, accounting for $62 million, in part due to a 31,000-
acre, $40 million sugarcane crop. Nearly 11,000 acres of soybeans, over 3,200 acres of rice, 1,600
acres of grain sorghum and 370 acres of wheat account for the rest of the field crop total. Other
major commodities include aquaculture and wildlife valued at $24 million and animal enterprises
including horses and cattle estimated at 13.6 million. In the past few years educational programs
emphasis has been on best management practices for all commodities, including Master Farmer and
Master Gardener programs. This varied clientele are served through advisory committees, producer
organizations, commodity meetings, field days, recycling programs and newspaper articles.
4-H Youth & Family Development
Hands to Larger Service: In December 2012, 4-H Club members were asked to participate in a 4-H
Day of Service. Several projects were held. Cecilia Jr. High and Teche Elem. held an animal shelter
drive initiated by two 4-H members; students brought in items for the animals, raising $902. Breaux
Bridge Primary raised $220 for the Louisiana Organ Procurement Association fundraiser, holding a
staff jean day. 4-H Clubs visited nursing homes, played bingo with residents, brought goodie bags
and Christmas cards and sang Christmas carols. St. Bernard collected coats for those in need.
Annually 4-H members collect pull tabs and donate them to our parish office. Approximately $346
was donated to the Ronald McDonald House from St. Martin Parish 4-H’s pull tab recycling
program. We have donated a total of $2,928.64 since inception of project in 2005. Approximately 8
clubs participated in the annual Food for Families food drive, and several clubs helped sort food
during. Over 2,000 pounds of food was donated by 4-H Clubs, and over 10 hours were given
throughout the day of the collection.
Family, Nutrition & Health Nutrition, obesity and healthy living are important issues in our parish. A comprehensive nutrition
education program is offered to our parish schools through the EFNEP program. The Expanded
Food and Nutrition Education Program is federally funded and provides nutrition education to
limited-resource families and youth. Nutrition classes are also offered to other interested individuals.
Topics covered include Diabetes Awareness, Choose My Plate and Safe Food Preservation.
Clientele are reached through classes, demonstrations, phone calls, news articles and fact sheets.
St. Martin Parish Profile
St. Martin Parish
Extension Office
Address:
114 Courthouse Street
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Phone: 337-332-2181
Fax: 337-332-2870
Email:
Website:
LSUAgCenter.com/stmartin
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Stuart Gauthier
County Agent/Parish Chair
Chris Robichaux
County Agent
Jan Coussan
FCS & Nutrition Agent
Sonya Pierre
Nutrition Educator
Hope Guidry
4-H Agent
Laura Brumbaugh
4-H Agent
Deborah O. Cormier
Administrative Coordinator
Programs:
– Agriculture & Natural
Resources (ANR)
– 4-H, Youth & Family
Development
Citizenship/Leadership
Science, Engineering &
Technology
Healthy Living
– Family, Nutrition & Health
Smart Portions
Smart Bodies
Healthy Beginnings
Community Nutrition
January 2013
Who we reach.
42,875 Youth (includes 970 4-H
members, 36 school 4-H Clubs, 1
community club and 3 special interest
clubs)
5,443 Adults (includes 5,300 Ag &
Natural Resources and 143 Family &
Consumer Sciences)
How we reach them: 4-H Clubs Class series
School enrichment Demonstrations
Field days Workshops
Newsletters Websites
Publications Social media
Expanding our efforts:
300 Volunteers – 4-H, Master Gardeners,
Family & Community, Master Horsemen,
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Report to St. Martin Parish Stakeholders
Parish Facts
LSU AgCenter county agents provide
research-based information on plant,
aquaculture, wildlife and animal enterprises
to St. Martin Parish clientele. The 2012 total
dollar amount from these commodities were:
– Plant enterprises – $61,936,554
– Aquaculture and wildlife – $24,508,464
– Animal enterprises – $13,696,753.
Data from the Louisiana Ag Summary
Web site: LSUAgCenter.com/agsummary
Population – 52,726
Land area (square miles) – 737.65
Persons under 18 years old – 25.6%
Persons 65 years old and over – 12.5%
Median household income – $40,358
Persons below poverty – 18.1%
Local Issues & Plans for this year.
1. Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana Agriculture.
– Conduct sugarcane field day.
– Commodity meetings: rice, soybeans, crawfish.
– Write news column, agriculture seminars, farm & home educational visits.
– Yearly pesticide recertification classes.
2. Promote the wise use of natural resources and protection of the environment.
– Conduct commodity meetings and Master Farmer, Master Gardener and sugarcane field days.
– Tire recycling program.
– Sugarcane burn management.
3. Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H youth development.
– Develop and implement service -earning projects throughout the parish.
– Conduct educational opportunities for youth through parish Junior Leader Club.
– Adult volunteer training and continue to increase volunteers through recruitment efforts.
– Continue community service projects among members.
– Youth Wetlands program.
4. Strengthen families and communities
– Clientele will be offered nutrition lessons through EFNEP.
– Participate in health fairs promoting nutrition education.
– Conduct workshops of safe food storage.
– Clientele will receive information on diabetes awareness.
*Local Funding Parish Consolidated Government Parish School Board
January 2013