Agriculture

The Zachary High FFA Chapter celebrated National FFA Week Feb. 20-27. Lead Out Loud was the theme this year as members pledged to show off what made them premier leaders in their schools and communities. More than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels.

East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H Livestock Club held a fundraiser at Tractor Supply Company store in Zachary to help fund the East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H Livestock show in January. Garrett Wood, EBR 4-H Reporter, and the other 4-H club members, would like to thank Tractor Supply for letting them have their fundraiser at the store. Back row, from left: Jared Michelli, Garrett Wood, Garrett Venable, Zana Langley, Cody McDowell, Ethan Downs, Ashley McDowell and Jonette Parish. Front row, from left: Amber, Alisha, Alexis, Bruce Langle and Takayia Moore.

Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse requires attention to detail, said Dr. H.Y. Hanna, a researcher in charge of the greenhouse tomato project at the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station.
A record audience of 94 attended Hanna’s 14th annual Greenhouse Tomato Seminar on Feb. 26.
Among the topics were cutting costs without reducing yield, a new root media recycling method that saves money, research tips that produce results, productive greenhouse varieties and growing your own vegetables in a hobby greenhouse.

The theme for National Nutrition Month this March is Nutrition From the Ground Up, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames.

This year’s campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, she adds.

National Nutrition Month is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association.

“We can build healthier diets and start down a path of health and wellness by choosing nutrient-rich foods that provide the most nutrients per calorie,” Reames says.

This Saturday, Feb. 27 at Zachary Youth Park is the Zachary's Farmer's Market from 8 am until noon. Come out and support area farmers!

The 5th grade January 4-H meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and the 4-H pledge led by Thomas Dunaway and Alyssia Johnson. The 4-H Club at Copper Mill has been quite busy. The latest 4-H project was titled, “Teaming Up with Haiti” and was a huge success. All students who chose to make a donation to help the earthquake victims in Haiti, were allowed to wear their favorite team’s jersey to school recently. This project raised $1600 to be donated to Haiti.