The Yount family, David, Iris, Rena and Abi, are featured in a Microsoft 2010 video to launch the new software. The company was impressed with their use of technology on their farm in Coushatta. Rena and Abi are in the LSU AgCenter 4-H program. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell)

Yount family members Iris, Abi and Rena were given a tour of New York, courtesy of Microsoft. At left is Iris's sister, Ramona Deville from Deville, La.

News Release Distributed 07/15/10

A Natchitoches Parish family, including two 4-H’ers, is featured in a promotional video produced by Microsoft Corporation on how they integrated the new Office 2010 software into their farm and 4-H record-keeping systems.

The mother, Iris Yount, said she learned about the Microsoft Office Real Life Stories program at Fairview Alpha Elementary and Junior High School in Fairview Alpha, La., where she is a music teacher, yearbook sponsor, Natchitoches Junior Livestock Committee treasurer and 4-H Club leader.

Yount sent in an application on how she uses Microsoft on their Coushatta, La., farm. She then had an interview with Microsoft personnel from Seattle and told them about the 4-H activities of her daughters – Abi Yount, 17, a senior, and Rena Yount, 14, a sophomore, both at Lakeview High School in Campti, La.

“They were intrigued with the farm,” Iris said, adding that the girls participated in a teen initiative to review Microsoft 2010. Rena called the software “awesome.”

“It came out of the blue,” Abi said. “2010 has so much more, and it is user-friendly.”

The Younts were among 50 families or individuals selected from 12,500 applicants over two recruiting periods, said Krista Ulatowski, spokesperson for Microsoft.

The Younts tried out the Office 2010 “beta,” or test, version and provided feedback to the development team, Ulatowski said.

Microsoft visited the farm in April and filmed for 13 hours. “I served them five to six gallons of tea,” Iris said.

The family was invited to the Microsoft launch party of the new software on June 15 in New York City at the Glass House. The family spent four days in the city and went on a tour in a chauffeured convertible, courtesy of Microsoft.

“They want us to continue sharing how we use Office with others,” Iris said. “I don’t think there is a farm, no matter what size, that can operate without having knowledge of how to deal with technology.”

Iris said the girls’ 4-H projects are like a small version of a farm. “They learn farm management from computer data of calves they’ve grown and sold. They developed a PowerPoint from their leadership activities.”

The girls feed and milk goats and cows, said their mother. “We keep financial records where you can break expenses into categories,” she said.

The Yount girls have won many awards with their animals. At the recent parish awards banquet, Rena received the State 4-H 7th/8th Grade Achievement Award and Abi was the National Dairy Conference state winner. She is also Spanish Club president and a delegate to Girls’ State.

“It is such an honor to have two fine outstanding girls in the Natchitoches Parish 4-H program,” said Gwen Fontenot, LSU AgCenter agent. “Abi and Rena have exemplified all the character traits of a great 4-H member and have truly pledged their head, heart, hands and health to a better living for those whom they come in contact. “

The video can be viewed at http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/3fcbb3e7-154a-459b-90b5-62b643e3fee1.