LSU Ag Center extension office highlights agriculture, 4‑H programming and robotics teams’ championships

Blair A. Bear, County Agent and Parish Chair for the LSU Ag Center Extension Office, gave the council an annual update April 8 describing the parish’s agricultural economy and education outreach. He said sugarcane remains a leading industry (an estimated $140 million in value locally), noted strong harvest recoveries and described research and seafood lab work at the Iberia Research Station in Jeanerette.

Bear and 4‑H agents also described youth programming: the parish’s 4‑H program serves roughly 700 members across grade levels and offers summer camp, STEM and robotics opportunities. Assistant 4‑H agent Janna Broussard and Patrice Kehi told the council that two robotics teams — the Circuit Breakers and the Spark Plugs — qualified for world championship competitions in Houston and Fort Worth later this month.

Council members asked about home‑school participation and site visits to research facilities; Bear invited council members to tour the Iberia Research Station.

The update was informational; no council action was required.