News Release Distributed 12/14/11

WEST MONROE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host an exhibit called Ag Alley to help people learn about agriculture as part of the 30th annual Ag Expo at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center on Jan. 20-21 and two days before, Jan. 18-19, for first- and fourth-grade students in the area.

Ag Alley is a combination of several "alleys" filled with information about different commodities grown in Louisiana, according to Richard Letlow, extension agent and exhibit coordinator.

The school children will tour by appointment; arrangements have been made with their respective schools, Letlow said. But the exhibit will be open to the public from 2 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 20 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan 21.

“The experience will be an interactive, visually stimulating environment that will link food and fiber products we use every day to the forests, field crops and livestock produced by Louisiana farmers, ranchers and forest landowners,” Letlow said.

Featured crops will be displayed in various stages of development, and the importance of interaction between agriculture, the environment and society at large will be highlighted. The alleys include soybeans, rice, cotton and sweet potatoes.

Another alley will feature raised-bed school gardens. Curriculum materials will be available to assist teachers in integrating school gardens into the formal educational experience.

Master Gardeners will be on hand as part of the exhibit to answer horticulture questions, Letlow said.

Ag Expo is sponsored by the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council in cooperation with the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and Goldman Equipment.

For more information, contact Letlow at 318-281-5741 or rletlow@agcenter.lsu.edu.