SU Ag Center staff distinctions

The Lake Providence Senior High School has a much improved football field, thanks to the efforts of Glenn Dixon, associate area agent, East/West Carroll Parish. Football coaches and grounds keepers have learned basic weed control, tillage, fertility and mowing techniques. The renovation was necessary to provide a safe playing surface for sports and physical education activities. Dixon trained and managed 12 volunteers throughout the summer months. During that time, weed control, fertility and tillage programs were established. A new irrigation system was also installed. The renovated field has become a source of pride for the community and a safe play area to the student athletes who will use it this fall.

Also, Dixon helped the Parishes for Farm Prosperity (PFP) group acquire a new Shell-All pea and bean shelter to begin new light processing of local vegetables.

PFP member farmers grow vegetables for local farmers’ markets and road-side stands. The group also sponsors a youth community garden. The new shelter will be used to process southern peas and butter beans to add value and increase sales for the members. In the long run, this will translate into higher profits for the locally grown and processed products.

In August, James McNitt, professor, sustainable animal and plant production systems along with Fatemeh Malekian, associate professor, nutrition and Curtis Chisley, meat and products promotions specialist, presented a seminar on the Armenian Food Safety Project to 22 faculty and staff at the Southern University Ag Center. The seminar highlighted the progress being made on the Armenia research project.

Gloria London, director, Center for Rural and Small Business Development and Eual Hall, small business development specialist conducted business development workshops during August.

London and Hall also conducted a small business workshop, July 23, at the Entergy Low Income Summit, Holiday Inn Select, Baton Rouge; a Financial Workshop for Freedom School, sponsored by Urban Restoration & Enhancement Corporation at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, Baton Rouge in July, and a Non-Profit training, July 26, in Ville Platte, Evangeline Parish.

Mila Berhane, senior research associate, and Erica Mitchell, research associate, involved students of the Freedom School at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, Baton Rouge in jewelry making using plant materials. Students were also taught how plants help reduce pollution. Students planted ivy seedlings to take home.

Owusu Bandele, professor, plant science, made a Power Point presentation at the Freedom School entitled “Our History is All Around Us.” The presentation included contributions of African Americans in agriculture, science, politics, sports and music.

Sarah Sims, extension aide, Madison parish, held a demonstration at Tallulah Farmers’ Market on how to can and freeze produce; held a workshop in which five youth participated in cooking, sewing and etiquette; and conducted youth garden project on youth day at farmers’ market in which they learned how to sell produce.

Fatemeh Malekian, associate professor, nutrition, conducted ServSafe Food Safety training at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in July with eight representatives from different restaurants participating.

She also was invited to serve on a six-member advisory team, and to conduct a nutrition education workshop for a research program titled “YWCA Alpha & Omega Project.” The goal of the YWCA Alpha & Omega project is to focus on the recognition and understanding of negative health implications of psychosocial factors and strategies to alleviate them, enabling people to move from current state of health to a higher level of well-being.

Welcome Aboard

The Southern University Ag Center has hired five new extension staff for different parishes in the state:

Angela Myles, assistant youth agent, St. Helena Parish. A native of Greensburg, she holds a B.S. degree in child development and an M.A. in administration and supervision from Southern University and was a Quad Area Head Start lead teacher and parenting teacher at Southern University AgCenter.

Patricia Lee, assistant area agent, family and consumer sciences. The Shreveport native holds a B.S. degree in food and nutrition from Southern University and was a special education teacher with the Bossier Parish School board.

Hendrix Broussard, assistant area agent, youth development, Orleans Parish. The Thibodaux native holds a B.S. degree in animal science from Southern University and was a receiving clerk at John Deere Company in Thibodaux.

Carol Sensley, assistant area agent, family and consumer sciences. The Lake Charles native holds a B.A. degree in physical education from the University of Louisville, Kentucky and is a former head coach for the women basket ball team at McNeese State University.

Odis Hill, assistant county agent is a native of Bastrop, holds a B.S. degree in agricultural economics from Southern University and was operating controller at International Paper Co. in Bastrop.