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This Week In Louisiana Agriculture is a weekly show created to connect Louisiana farmers, ranchers, and fishermen with consumers across Louisiana and around the world. Each week, we’ll share the show here and take a look behind-the-scenes of This Week In Louisiana Agriculture, one of the longest-running television programs in Louisiana.
Setup Tariffs
{SOT}
TRUMP - FOR DECADES OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN LOOTED, PILLAGED, RAPED AND PLANNEDDERED BY NATIONS NEAR AND FAR AND FRIEND AND FOE. AMERICAN STEEL WORKERS, AUTO WORKERS FARMERS AND SKILLED CRAFTSMEN, THEY SUFFERED GRAVELY AND WATCHED IN ANGUISH AS FOREIGN LEADERS STOLEN OUR JOBS AND CHEATERS RANSACKED OUR FACTORIES AND SCHAV AND ENGINEERS -- WE HAD AN AMERICAN DREAM YOU DON'T HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT.
{AVERY}
THE TRADE WAR CONTINUES TO RAMP UP AS NEW TARIFFS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED NEARLY EVERY DAY, BOTH BY THE U-S AND ITS TRADING PARTNERS.
{KRISTEN}
MANY FINANCIAL EXPERTS SAY AGRICULTURE WILL BE ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT INDUSTRIES AS COSTS COULD RISE AND MARKET PRICES COULD DROP.
Welcome
{KRISTEN}
HI. I'M KRISTEN OAKS-WHITE.
{AVERY}
AND I'M AVERY DAVIDSON.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK IN LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE.
TARIFFS
{KRISTEN}
ABOUT SIXTY-PERCENT OF ALL U-S GRAIN EXPORTS ARE SENT DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY FROM LOUISIANA. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE U-S-D-A.
{AVERY}
THAT'S WHY LOUISIANA IS ON THE FRONT LINE OF ANY DISRUPTION IN TRADE. FARMERS SAY THE BEST FRONT LINE DEFENSE WOULD BE FOR CONGRESS TO PASS AN UPDATED FARM BILL A-S-A-P.
TARIFFS
{VO}
BRIGHT GREEN CORN PLANTS SWAY IN THE WIND ON DONALD SCHEXNAYDER'S FARM IN ERWINVILLE. IT'S AN INVESTMENT MADE NOW TO PAY OFF AT HARVEST. SCHEXNAYDER HAS SIMILAR FEELINGS ABOUT TARIFFS THE U-S HAS PLACED ON OTHER COUNTRIES AND THE RETALIATORY TARIFFS THAT FOLLOWED.
{SOT}
we might see a, short term effect. Long term, I think we better off with it.
Corn's up.
Bigger than I was planning.
On it.
{VO}
ANDY BROWN IS THE NATIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU. HE SAYS SCHEXNAYDER SHARES THE SAME SENTIMENT OF MANY LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS.
{SOT}
our members are supportive of this effort.
And, they know that they've been facing unfair trade practices. Not the same playing field when it comes to costs or labor or regulations. So, certainly, it wasn't, sunshine and rainbows. It wasn't just, big time money and farming before these negotiations. So at least our members, and Louisiana Farm Bureau is excited to see somebody going to bat for them to try to get them, you know, a better deal at the end of this.
{VO}
TRADE DISRUPTIONS CAN CAUSE COMMODITY PRICES TO GO DOWN... CURRENT FUTURES PRICES WOULD HAVE SCHEXNAYDER SELLING HIS CORN FOR ABOUT 4-DOLLARS 40 CENTS A BUSHEL AND SOYBEANS FOR JUST LESS THAN 10 DOLLARS A BUSHEL. BOTH ARE ALREADY LOW PRICES WHEN COMPARED TO THE COST OF GROWING A CROP.
{SOT}
Two years ago, we had the drought year during the summer that really affected. Now, on top of the cost of the inputs going on, it really hit us hard on that year.
Obviously soybeans are going to get hit the worst when you look at tariffs, especially with China.
{VO}
GREG FOX IS A GRAIN MARKETING SPECIALIST WITH THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU MARKETING ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS IF RETALIATORY TARIFFS CAUSE COMMODITY PRICES TO FALL IN THE SHORT TERM, THERE'S TIME BEFORE LOUISIANA FARMERS WOULD BE AFFECTED.
{SOT}
Hopefully when we do get into Louisiana harvest, August, September, that we see some change with China, and see that kind of open up, because they're not going to buy from us right now anyway.
They're typically looking at South America. South America's in the 80%, harvest range already. So they're they're cutting their bean crop. They're going to have a bigger crop than last year. They had more acres than last year. And so China is looking to buy from them regardless. So, you know, we're going to be looking into summer fall where, you know, China is going to come back to the table for Louise or for us soybeans.
And then that's where is going to impact us the most.
{VO}
FOR BROWN AND SCHEXNAYDER, THAT JUST UNDERLINES THE REASON WHY FARMERS NEED CONGRESS TO PASS AN UPDATED FARM BILL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
{SOT}
updating some of these numbers gives us, a relief to say, hey, we got something.
To fall back on to help out the whole industry.
We need a viable safety net and a no matter if it's a trade war, weather event or just, the market doing what the market does, farmers need some protection from that. And currently we sit, without much of that all together, we have outdated reference prices. We have, big needs and improvements to crop insurance.
All these things compound to just make this another, another thing that's a challenge to our farmers and that we're fighting to help them come back.
TARIFFS
{AVERY}
AGRICULTURE DOT COM REPORTS THAT SOME AG INPUTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS LATEST ROUND OF TARIFFS. THAT WOULD INCLUDE POTASH, CERTAIN HERBICIDES, LUMBER PRODUCTS AND CERTAIN PHARMACEUTICALS USED FOR LIVESTOCK. HOWEVER, MANY OF THOSE PRODUCTS COME FROM CANADA AND ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE 25 PERCENT TARIFFS ALREADY IN PLACE ON MEXICO AND CANADA.
SOTVO ROLLINS ON TARIFFS
{KRISTEN}
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE BROOKE ROLLINS SAID RECENTLY IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT PATIENCE AND RESILIENCY WILL BE REQUIRED AS THE TARIFFS RAMP UP, BUT SHE SAYS THAT THOSE IN AGRICULTURE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOTH.
{SOT}
FOR OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE A SHORT TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, BUT FOR THE LONG HAUL AS WE RESTRUCTURE THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND OUR PRIVATE SECTOR WITH THE GOVERNMENT PLAYING A ROLE IN THAT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VISION OF USING TARIFFS. AGAIN, I'M NOT SURPRISED THERE'S SOME COMPLAINING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS PRESIDENT IS PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST AND AS PART OF THAT ARE OUR FARMERS AND OUR RANCHERS.
{VO}
ROLLINS SAYS THAT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, FARMERS AND RANCHERS WILL HAVE BETTER NEGOTIATING CAPABILITIES WITH THEIR EXPORTS.
Crawfish Prices
{KRISTEN}
CONGRESSMAN CLAY HIGGINS WAS HAPPY TO SEE TARIFFS FOR THE STATE'S AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY TO HELP KEEP FOREIGN CRAWFISH OUT OF OUR STATE.
{AVERY}
WITH THAT IN MIND, WE BRING YOU THESE CRAWFISH PRICES FROM AROUND THE STATE.
{AVERY}
IN BATON ROUGE, THE WINN DIXIE ON SIEGEN HAS LIVE CRAWFISH FOR TWO-79 A POUND. AND BOILED IS THREE-49 A POUND.
{KRISTEN}
IN LAFAYETTE, COASTAL FIRE AND ICE HAS THEM LIVE FOR TWO-99 A POUND AND BOILED FOR THREE-99 A POUND.
{AVERY}
AND IN SHREVEPORT, CHECK OUT BROOKSHIRE'S GROCERY WHERE A POUND OF LIVE IS THREE-29 AND A POUND OF BOILED IS THREE-99.
{KRISTEN}
THESE CRAWFISH PRICES ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LOUISIANA CRAWFISH PROMOTION AND RESEARCH BOARD, WHICH REMINDS YOU TO ALWAYS EAT LOUISIANA CRAWFISH... AND TO MAKE SURE, ASK BEFORE YOU EAT.
CORN PLANTING
{AVERY}
AS TEMPERATURES FIGHT TO WARM UP, CORN FARMERS ARE SWAPPING OUT THEIR PLANTERS FOR IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT.
{KRISTEN}
IT COULD BE A GOOD YEAR FOR THE CROP, AS ACREAGE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL INCREASE. CRAIG GAUTREAUX REPORTS FROM NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.
CORN PLANTING
Corn planting across Louisiana started a little later than usual because of lower soil temperatures. But once conditions got right, farmers quickly got their seeds into the ground. Market conditions have producers planting a few more corn acres this year in Louisiana.
Shelly Pate Kerns: Last year, we were about 440,000 acres, and we do think we're going to have an increase in that due to market outlooks and supply chain demand.
Favorable weather conditions in the second half of March allowed much of the corn to be planted, and warmer weather should help the corn emerge.
We're going to see a slight increase in soil temperatures over the next week, which is going to increase our chances of good germination.
Pate Kerns was planting one of her hybrid research plots, which are valuable to farmers regarding future planting decisions.
That's to test different hybrids that are coming out from companies to test how they perform in different areas of the state, under different environmental conditions, soil conditions so that growers have that information available to them at the end of the year before they purchase seed for the next season.
The U.S Department of Agriculture also sees corn acreage increasing nationally nearly 5% to 94 million acres. Farmers would also like to see the passage of a new farm bill, which would help them make more informed planting decisions.
Hopefully, with the passing of a new farm bill, things will be put into place as far as a stable foundation for the agricultural community moving forward.
One area of concern that farmers are watching is the ongoing tariff issues between the U.S. and other countries that import U.S. grain products. With the LSU AgCenter, this is Craig Gautreaux reporting.
CORN PLANTING
{KRISTEN}
PETE KERNS SAID EARLIER IN THE YEAR, SOME FARMERS WERE CONSIDERING GRAIN SORGHUM INSTEAD OF CORN, BUT MARKET CONDITIONS CHANGED, AND MANY ABANDONED THE IDEA.
Jay on River Levels
{AVERY}
MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THE DRAMATIC VIDEO OF HEAVY FLOODING IN KENTUCKY. ANYTIME THERE'S FLOODING UP NORTH, PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA KNOW ALL THAT WATER EVENTUALLY COMES DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI.
STATE CLIMATOLOGIST JAY GRIMES SAYS BECAUSE OF ALL THAT FLOODING, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COULD REACH ITS HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE 2020.
THOSE WON'T BE RECORD LEVELS, BUT THEY ARE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR OYSTER FARMERS AND CRABBERS BECAUSE IT COULD MEAN UTILIZING SPILLWAYS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON THE RIVER.
JAY ON RIVER LEVELS
{SOT}
JAY 03;57;50;36 03;58;14;22 Now, for most folks, that's not going to be a real problem. But we will see occasions for sand boils and some nuisance problems along the lower Mississippi when that water level gets up to that kind of a level. Now down there around, Lake Marple and Pontchartrain. Yeah. Opening even a small or partial opening of the Bonnie Carey can have some impacts there.
{VO}
GRIMES SAYS THE RED RIVER UP AROUND SHREVEPORT IS HIGH AS WELL. THE HIGH WATER LEVELS IN THE RED AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS CAN LEAD TO FLOODING ALONG THE ATCHAFALAYA.
Rescue Tube Presentation
{KRISTEN}
THANKS TO EFFORTS BY LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS, THERE'S NOW A NEW GRAIN BIN RESCUE TUBE AVAILABLE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
THIS TUBE WAS PRESENTED TO THE WELSH FIRE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK. IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH FARM BUREAU.
THESE RESCUE TUBES ARE VITAL TOOLS FOR RESCUING SOMEONE WHO'S BECOME TRAPPED IN A GRAIN BIN.
FOR A LIST OF ALL RESCUE TUBE LOCATIONS, CHECK OUT TWILA-TV-DOT-ORG.
MARK SHIRLEY PROFILE
{AVERY}
IF YOU'VE EVER SPENT TIME AS A 4-H KID PLANTING MARSH GRASS AND HAVING MUD FIGHTS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, CHANCES ARE YOU KNOW MARK SHIRLEY
{KRISTEN}
THE LONG-TIME AQUACULTURE SPECIALIST AT LSU HAS RETIRED, BUT AS TWILA'S NEIL MELANCON TELLS US, HIS LEGACY WILL LAST MANY LIFETIMES.
MARK SHIRLEY PROFILE
HE'S OFFICIALLY RETIRED, BUT MARK SHIRLEY IS OUT CHECKING TRAPS AND WATER TEMPERATURE IN A CRAWFISH POND. THE LONGTIME LSU AQUACULTURE SPECIALIST SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FARMERS TO GET THIS INFORMATION DURING THE SEASON. HIS RETIREMENT CAN WAIT, AS HE STILL WANTS TO HELP THE INDUSTRY HE DEVOTED HIS CAREER TO.
I've kind of enjoyed working with farmers over the years because now I'm starting to see their kids, you know, the second generation, almost third generation, you know, working in the crawfish industry. And, a lot of it's just basic aquatic animal husbandry, okay? They need good water quality. They need a food supply. If you flooded at the right time, you can improve.
AS AN AQUACULTURE SPECIALIST, MARK WAS INVOLVED IN BOTH CONSERVING AND MARKETING ALLIGATORS. HE ALSO HELPED CONSERVE SMALL ALLIGATOR TRAPPERS, DEVELOPING A MARKET FOR THEM IN THE 80'S, EVEN AS THE LARGER INDUSTRY BEGAN TO MARKET TO MAJOR OVERSEAS FASHION HOUSES.
At the livestock barn where we have our full range, livestock shows and stuff, we turned into a big alligator sale. So we had, a couple of big corporations come with their hundreds of, tags, one hundreds of hides. But we also had, probably, 100 or so smaller landowners that brought their five skins or ten skins or 20 skins. And, everybody got a bid from different buyers. And, it results in a little bit higher price for everybody.
WHILE HE HAD OFFICIAL DUTIES, ONE OF HIS PASSIONS WAS HELPING THE 4-H PROGRAM. EVERY YEAR, THE PROGRAM HELD ITS SWAMP MANEUVERS, WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE BOUNTY OF LOUISIANA'S NATURE FIRST HAND AND OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
that program, I guess I've enjoyed the most, it's been a lot of fun exposing, these young people to coastal wetlands, actually crawling in mud, plantain, marsh grass. If you have, and ask any of those, kids, you know, even years later, you know, what do they remember about Marsh maneuvers? They'll they'll talk about, you know, crawling in a mud and marsh grass, playing marsh volleyball in that mud, late night shot and alligators, catching crabs. You know, those guy experiences stick with those kids for many, many, many years. And I guess I'm old enough. I've actually seen kids have kids. So some of that first generation that, came to camp, the first 5 or 10 years, I've seen some of their kids come through the program.
AND WHILE HE'S CONTINUING HIS EFFORTS AT LSU ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STATE HIRING FREEZE, MARK SAYS HE IS GOING TO GO ENJOY HIMSELF, EVEN AS HE WANTS TO STAY INVOLVED IN AG.
we all kind of consider this job as a vocational kind of thing. It's a way of life. And, we enjoy what we're doing. We're helping people, as agents, located in the parishes, here in Vermilion Parish. You get to know the families. You go to church with them, you go see them at the grocery store.
three grandkids that, between soccer and swim and, I'll be doing some of that. And, my wife and I. Yeah, we do plan on doing some, traveling. So, yeah, fun times are ahead.
MARK SHIRLEY PROFILE
{NEIL}
MARK'S OFFICIAL DATE OF RETIREMENT WAS MARCH 31, BUT HE'S STILL AROUND THE OFFICE TYING UP LOOSE ENDS. AND YES, HE WILL STILL BE VOLUNTEERING AT THE 4-H SWAMP MANEUVERS EACH YEAR.
MARK SHIRLEY PROFILE
And, guys, of course, you saw on the video Mark smiling. And one of the things I really couldn't show was his sense of humor.
For instance, we went to lunch afterwards and he ordered the, the the pork po'boy. And then he turned to the me and said, and my grandson here will pay for it. It's it's just he's constantly joking and, but that's a wonderful personality that I really hope he continues that volunteer efforts because he's been indispensable across South Louisiana for so many years.
Yeah. And that personality would come out on social media. I mean, he was great at posting these short little instructional videos about crawl fish, and I even had some friends comment on them about, oh, did not know that like one way explains what the fat really.
Is, right? Yeah. And of course, another thing we didn't talk about in the story was his involvement in the whooping crane restoration, which is part and parcel of south Louisiana, and that that's a hugely successful effort that's paralleled with the recovery of the American alligator.
Well, that's a high compliment from you to say that somebody has a good sense of humor because you're very picky about your your humor, and it will also a great story. Thank you.
Tease 1
{KRISTEN}
STILL TO COME ON TWILA...
WE'LL TRAVEL BACK TO THE SUNFLOWER STATE TO SEE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHALLENGES FACED BY CATTLE RANCHERS IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND.
{AVERY}
PLUS, FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE GETTING SOME VERY IMPORTANT FACETIME WITH THEIR LOCAL LAWMAKERS AHEAD OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SOT BUMP OUT
YOU'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK IN LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE. THE ONLY T-V SHOW BRINGING LOUISIANA FARMERS AND CONSUMERS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK.
BEEF TOUR PT 2
{AVERY}
THIS WEEK WE'RE CONTINUING OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2025 LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU BEEF TOUR OF KANSAS. THE CENTRAL PLAINS ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE GULF COAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHER.
{KRISTEN}
STRONG, SEEMINGLY ENDLESS WINDS ARE THE NORM, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR, KANSAS ALSO DOES NOT GET ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH RAIN AS LOUISIANA. AS TWILA'S JOSH MEEKS EXPLAINS, THAT MAKES IT A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE TO RAISE CATTLE.
BEEF TOUR PT 2
In the wide-open Flint Hills of Kansas, the wind never rests, and neither does Trey Hinkson. He and his father are continuing a legacy that spans generations--and states.
So we have a registered seed stock operation here in the Flint Hills of Kansas. We've got about 3000 acres here on our ranch. And, we raised registered Angus cattle. Have since, about 1960, I believe, is when, my granddad kind of started that operation. And so, that's what we do. We're out here in the middle of the Flint Hills.
The Hinkson family's journey began in the Texas Panhandle, but water issues and changing circumstances sent them north. In 1985, they packed up and started fresh in Kansas--with just 100 cows and a lot of faith.
it was kind of a tough time a little bit, because, you know, land prices were down, which was good, but interest rates were off the chart. And so there was a lot of land for sale. It's just if anybody had any money or if they had a banker that was going to allow them to, to make those purchases.
Today, the operation spans 3,000 acres of rolling grassland. But raising cattle in Kansas--especially in yearling country--comes with its own challenges. Feeding costs, unpredictable weather, and tough competition are constant hurdles.
there's not a perfect place to, to have cattle. I mean, there's always things that you struggle with or, you know, things that could be improved on or made better, but you're it.
Hinkson Ranch calves in the fall, meaning they feed a lot during Kansas winters. But despite the hardships, Trey's commitment to the land and his customers never wavers.
"Customer service is pretty big. We're confident in our genetics because we're we're investing back in that by buying customer's calves and, you know, showing them that we're in support of them. And, and when your customers are doing good, that's the main, you know, that's the main thing
Hinkson has two daughters. The oldest has a master's degree in counseling, but his youngest has shown interest in the family business.
And I think in the next 2 or 3 years she wants to come back and help. And she's got a little cow herd of her own. And so, you know, the future looks good, around here. And, and I'm going to be more than happy for her to come back and and help out.
"You gotta love what you do. It's a great way to raise a family--and a great life."
Reporting from Central Kansas for This Week In Louisiana Agriculture, I'm Josh Meeks.
KS Feed Lot
{KRISTEN}
ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KANSAS CATTLE AND LOUISIANA CATTLE IS THE USE OF FEED YARDS.
LOUISIANA IS PRIMARILY A COW CALF OPERATION, WHERE CALVES ARE BRED AND SOLD. AT FEED YARDS,THE FOCUS IS RAISING BIGGER, HIGH QUALITY CATTLE.
AT HY PLAINS FEEDYARD, THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE SCIENCE OF CATTLE. THAT INCLUDES BUILDING THE RIGHT DIETS FOR BETTER QUALITY, AND STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF METHANE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
IN THEIR STATE OF THE ART RESEARCH CENTER, MANAGER TOM JONES SAYS THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
KS FEED LOT
We we look at we look at the consumer and and what they think of feed yards. They obviously don't have the entire story, about us. You know, one of the first things is, is animal care and animal health and things like that. And, and, and it being production agriculture today on the beef side of stuff, you know that animal health and treating the cattle right starts from starts from there. It starts from day one or born. And that's why we have a veterinary group on staff with here. So we help these people make sure they understand that they're they've got the right vaccines for their cattle.
{VO}
HY PLAINS IS LICENSED FOR AROUND 50-THOUSAND HEAD OF CATTLE TO SUPPORT THEIR ROUGHLY 300 CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
St Martin Ag Appreciation Dinner
{AVERY}
THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE WILL BEGIN ITS REGULAR SESSION ON MONDAY, APRIL 14TH. THAT'S WHY THIS IS A PERFECT TIME FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO MEET WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS BEFORE THEY REPORT TO BATON ROUGE.
{VO}
THE INAUGURAL ST. MARTIN FARM BUREAU FARMER APPRECIATION DINNER SET THE STAGE FOR FOLKS INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE TO INTERACT WITH THEIR LAWMAKERS. STATE SENATOR BLAKE MIGUEZ, ALONG WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES MARCUS BRYANT AND CHAD BOYER MINGLED WITH FARMERS AND RANCHERS AT THE POCHE BRIDGE COUNTRY CLUB IN BREAUX BRIDGE. LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT RICHARD FONTENOT SPOKE TO THE CROWD OF NEARLY 100 ABOUT HOW THE STATE'S LARGEST GENERAL FARM ORGANIZATION WORKS FOR THEM. LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU SECRETARY-TREASURER AND ST. MARTIN PARISH SUGARCANE FARMER MIKE MELANCON SAYS IT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS.
ST MARTIN AG APPRECIATION DINNER
{SOT}
I think we need a refresher course.
We need to make people know what the Federation's all about, that we're, we work for agriculture every day in the state, and and they're they benefit by that. And we want them to help us, do work. Help us with voter voice and those issues. And an issue comes up. Really, we want them to come here, have a good meal, have nice drinks, great atmosphere and just relax and meet other folks. And hopefully this can become an annual event that we can bring all these commodities together in one spot.
{VO/AD}
AT THE EVENT, MELANCON RECOGNIZED LONG TIME ST. MARTIN PARISH FARM BUREAU MEMBER MICHAEL ALLEN THERIOT WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD. ALLEN IS QUITE THE CHARACTER AND DESERVING OF THE AWARD.
Tease 2
{AVERY}
STILL TO COME ON TWILA...
WHERE CAN YOU PET A GOAT AND A HISSING COCKROACH UNDER THE SAME ROOF?
{KRISTEN}
THAT'S QUITE AN ODD COMBO, BUT WE'LL SHARE THAT MAGICAL EXPERIENCE NEXT.
STAY WITH US.
AG MAGIC
{AVERY}
MANY WHO LIVE IN THE HEART OF BATON ROUGE MAY SAY THAT LIFE IN THE CITY HAS ITS PERKS..BUT IN OUR OPINION IT DOES HAVE A PRETTY MAJOR DRAWBACK -- YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE HEART OF BATON ROUGE.
{KRISTEN}
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS NEXT EVENT SO SPECIAL. AG MAGIC IS HOSTED EACH YEAR ON THE CAMPUS OF L-S-U. TWILAS KARL WIGGERS VISITED THIS YEAR AND FOLLOWED A TODDLER THROUGH THE EVENT TO SEE HOW THIS EVENT BRINGS THE FARM TO TOWN.
AG MAGIC
"HANDS-ON LEARNING" CAN SEEM A BIT CLICHE, BUT FOR KIDS LIKE BRADY - AND THE MANY PARENTS - HERE AT AG MAGIC, THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IS JUST THAT--MAGIC.
daddy!!! I touched...
FOR LOUISIANA 4-H AGRICULTURE LITERACY SPECIALIST HANNAH DEVALL, THIS EVENT IS ALL ABOUT BRINGING THE FARM TO MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS ON L-S-U'S CAMPUS WHO MAY NEVER STEP FOOT ON A FARM.
They've gotten an interactive, hands on learning experience where they were able to really delve right in and learn a little bit more about Louisiana agriculture. So our goal for this event is just to showcase Louisiana agriculture and bring that awareness to those students who maybe don't understand where their where their food come from, where their clothes come from, and what commodities that make Louisiana agriculture so rich.
WHILE BRADY HAS A FAMLIY FARM TO VISIT IN NORTH LOUISIANA, GETTING HIS HANDS ON AN ALLIGATOR OR LEARNING ABOUT CRABS CAN ONLY HAPPEN HERE!
it's such a special event when you can see students, they just have those moments of what livestock animals look like or what corn on the cob looks like versus what it's grown and what kind of equipment it takes. We have a combine here and they can see what that process looks like as it's being harvested, and just really bring that awareness of the agriculture programs and systems throughout Louisiana.
DEVALL SAYS WITH RECORD NUMBERS OF GUESTS ATTENDING OVER THE WEEKEND, THE VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THE EVENT RUN SMOOTHLY ARE THE REAL HEROES. SHE SAYS AG MAGIC PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING KIDS UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, AND CONNECTING WHAT THE SEE IN BOOKS AND ON TELEVISION THROUGH THESE FIRST-PERSON EXPERIENCES.
it's just so incredible to be able to be a part of bringing what students read about or see on TV, or whether it's all McDonald's has a farmer when they watch videos on YouTube and be able to bring that to life for them, for their being able to have that first person own narrative of being able to experience that here at our event is just such an incredible opportunity to be part of bringing that to the people of the greater Baton Rouge area.
REPORTING FROM THE LSU CAMPUS, I'M KARL WIGGERS FOR THIS WEEK IN LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE.
Until Next time
{KRISTEN}
THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF TWILA. BE SURE TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK WHEN WE'LL TAKE YOU FEASTING ON AGRICULTURE WITH CRAWFISH FRONT AND CENTER ON THE MENU.
{AVERY}
UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN WATCH ALL OF OUR STORIES ONLINE AT TWILA-TV DOT ORG AND BE SURE TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK. YOU CAN ALSO FIND ALL OF THESE STORIES AND MORE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE AND TURN ON THE NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU KNOW WHEN WE PUT OUT NEW CONTENT.
{KRISTEN}
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT TWILA, THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK.