News Release Distributed 05/15/15
CROWLEY, La. – Students from across south Louisiana met May 12 at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station to learn about career opportunities in agriculture.
Students at the Southwest Region Ag Career Day heard from several presenters who talked about their work in agriculture.
LSU AgCenter regional 4-H coordinator Lanette Hebert said one of the main objectives of the event was to increase interest in agricultural careers and to sustain the agricultural industry with an educated and well-skilled workforce.
Reid Boudreaux, a Cecilia High School student, said he was considering work in farming or the environmental field. “I came here today to learn something about rice and agriculture,” he said.
His mother, Crystal Boudreaux, said he learned at the field day that land ownership is not essential to starting a farm.
“He always talked about being a farmer but he thought you had to own the land,” Crystal Boudreaux said.
The field day exposed the students to a variety of career options. “I was happy the kids were able to be introduced to all these different kinds of things,” she said.
Haydn Rivere, of Napoleonville, said he’s been considering a business raising rodeo bulls. His grandfather raises show dairy cattle.
Garret Gaspard Jr., of Welsh High School, said he’s leaning towards becoming a rice farmer. “I might be,” he said. “I’m not sure.”
He said he has worked with friends whose fathers are rice farmers. “I do just about everything. Drive a combine, trucks and a tractor.”
He said it was interesting for him to learn at the field day that developing a new rice variety requires several years. “I didn’t realize it took so long.”
Several exhibitors at the field day included farm lenders, seed companies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, USA Rice Federation, LSU AgCenter extension and 4-H representatives, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
LSU student Kasie Dugas said she’s getting her master’s degree in environmental education, but she’s not certain what career path she’ll pursue. “It’s definitely going to be in agriculture.”
Christian Banda, a ninth-grader at Iowa High School, said he plans to raise 4-H show pigs. “It probably wouldn’t be my full-time job.”
McKaila Darden, of Centreville High School in St. Mary Parish, said there are no farmers in her family, but agriculture is something she will consider for a career.
“I might think about doing it more after today,” she said. “I was thinking about majoring in ag business.”
Jade Herpin, of Kaplan High, said he’s going to going to get a bachelor’s degree in ag business and work on his family’s Braford cattle operation.
LSU Vice President for Agriculture and Dean of the College of Agriculture Bill Richardson said agriculture will depend on technology. “The science in agriculture is going to be needed to feed the world.”
The LSU College of Agriculture aims to help students, Richardson said. “The College of Agriculture is the most student-friendly college at LSU.”
Leslie Blanchard, assistant dean of the College of Agriculture, said the agriculture field is among the top five career choices. Companies often called the college looking for potential candidates to fill job openings.
“Dr. Richardson has made it a priority to make sure scholarship money is available,” Blanchard said.
Rice Research Station director Steve Linscombe and AgCenter agronomist Manoch Kongchum talked with students about their work at the station during field tour where students saw research plots.
The two told about their decisions to make a career out of agriculture.
Linscombe said as a high school graduate, he had uncertain plans for a career. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” he said.
He recalled working in rice fields as a boy in the Gueydan area. “I thought the last thing I wanted to do was work with rice all my life,” he said.
But he said his decision to stay with agriculture has been fulfilling. “I can tell you if I had it to do all over again, I’d pretty much do it the same way,” he said. “It’s a very, very rewarding career.”
Kongchum said he grew up among rice fields in Thailand, and he came to the U.S. for advanced degree work in agriculture. “I’m very proud to support the farmers, and I’m happy with my career,” he said.
After the field tour, students heard presentations on careers in the private agricultural field, ag engineering, aquaculture, ag extension and wildlife research.
AgCenter fisheries agent Mark Shirley told students about job opportunities in aquaculture and aquaculture research.
David Savoie, of Quality Equipment, a John Deere dealership, told students about job opportunities in the private sector. And AgCenter engineer Randy Price demonstrated a drone flight to show how technology is becoming more important in farming.
Hilton Waits, AgCenter county agent in Vermilion Parish, said extension work requires good speaking and people skills. “I like working with people, and I enjoy the interaction.”
Bethany Elder, AgCenter 4-H agent in Iberia Parish, said working with youth is meaningful. “We’re developing leaders. This is a job you can make a difference every day in some way.”
AgCenter wildlife specialist Don Reed said working in the wildlife field is not for anyone who prefers to work inside. “If you like being in the outdoors, you are in the right career.”
AgCenter fisheries agent Thu Bui said wildlife research is often fun. “It’s a job that doesn’t even feel like a job.”
Bruce Schultz