The Lirette brothers – Evan, 8, Joshua, 6, and Colin, 10 – get ready to enter the LSU AgCenter AgMagic exhibit at the State Fair of Louisiana where they will learn about Louisiana agriculture as well as science, engineering and technology, archery, wildlife, camping and water safety. AgMagic is located in the Agriculture Building on the State Fair grounds in Shreveport and will be open through Nov. 8. (Photo by A. Denise Attaway)

News Release Distributed 11/02/15

SHREVEPORT, La. – It’s not just your normal walk in the woods where bugs and wildlife rule. It’s a journey through a world where youth can learn healthy eating from super heroes who teach about nutrition, watch chicks hatch, look at soil through microscopes, as well as learn about science, engineering and technology.

It’s the LSU AgCenter’s AgMagic, an interactive exhibit about Louisiana agriculture. And it’s back at the State Fair of Louisiana.

Alicia Lirette’s children were some of the first to visit the exhibit this year.

“I believe this is a great opportunity for my children to learn about agriculture in the state,” said Lirette, who is from Shreveport and home-schools her children. “They get to see things and experience things they may not otherwise get to if they weren’t able to participate” in AgMagic.

Kim Hennigan, of Robeline, said she and other parents who home-school their children use what they learn by visiting AgMagic as a “springboard for science.”

While AgMagic does provide learning opportunities, it also allows visitors to have fun.

Mikaylah Kennedy, 13, and Yasha Jones, 14, both from Youree Middle School, got to “drive” a combine when they visited the crops section of AgMagic. The combine does not actually run. Instead, it has a monitor with views of a field that give students the feeling they are driving the combine while harvesting a cotton crop.

“This is fun,” said Kennedy as she moved the gear shift back and forth. “It feels like we are really driving it.”

“Yeah,” agreed Jones. “I have never done anything like this.”

Having fun while learning about Louisiana agriculture is a main goal of AgMagic, said Karen Martin, an LSU AgCenter 4-H regional coordinator. The exhibit gives visitors experience with hands-on interactive exhibits and activities that highlight different aspects of agriculture and commodities in Louisiana.

“We believe it is important for young people to learn about the importance of agriculture to the state of Louisiana,” Martin said. “AgMagic gives them an opportunity to see for themselves the crops and animals that provide the food and fiber that we need in our daily lives.”

AgMagic is located in the Agriculture Building on the State Fair grounds and includes eight stations.

The Louisiana 4-H section highlights science, engineering and technology programs. Young people can learn about archery, wildlife, camping and water safety. Louisiana 4-H is an educational program of the LSU AgCenter designed to help young people develop leadership, citizenship and life skills.

In addition to crops, AgMagic presented seven other exhibits.

– “Walk in the Woods” illustrates the abundance of natural resources found in Louisiana. It also offers an opportunity for visitors to stroll through a mock forest, where they can learn to identify trees, fish and wildlife. Activities include making paw prints. Visitors also can learn about ATV safety.

– “A Bug’s World” focuses on the world of butterflies and the role they play in agriculture and the environment. Visitors are able to view butterflies in their habitat with magnifying lenses.

– The “Crops” station allows visitors to “drive” a combine. This station provides information on major crops grown in Louisiana, including corn, cotton and soybeans and how they are used to make multiple products.

– At the “Horticulture” station, people walk through a home setting where they can identify the various types of plants grown in home gardens. Visitors can dig for crops and look through different types of soil through microscopes.

– The “World of Super Heroes” highlights nutrition and the importance of eating healthy. Educational information allows visitors to learn about and identify “super” foods.

– At the “Animals” stop, visitors have an opportunity to see chicks hatch from eggs inside the incubator and hold the baby chicks. Baby ducklings also are on hand for viewing.

– The “Mini Farm” is open only for school tours. It includes multiple animals for the students to pet and interact with, including chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, dairy cattle, beef cattle and horses.

AgMagic will be open through Nov. 8. The hours for this free event are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Click here for more images from AgMagic.

A. Denise Attaway