By Lanette Hebert and Ali LeJeune

Thanks to community partnerships, a shared commitment to agricultural education and the leadership of the West Baton Rouge Extension Office, Brusly Elementary has transformed from a small 4-H Cloverbud program into a hub for hands-on learning through its new Brusly Barnyard. Located on the school grounds, the Brusly Barnyard features an outdoor classroom, chicken coop, incubation stations and vegetable production beds. These outdoor learning labs serve as interactive learning tools for students, integrating agriculture into the elementary curriculum in meaningful and age-appropriate ways. The project was made possible by collaboration among school staff, 4-H volunteers, local sponsors and the leadership of their 4-H agent.

A key contributor to the success of this project has been Jeannette Thomason, a generous local sponsor who invested $45,000 in its development. Her support made possible the construction of a 25-by-25-foot covered pavilion, raised garden beds, a storage shed, fencing, gardening tools and other essential materials. The pavilion now serves as a dedicated space for outdoor learning, allowing students to engage with agriculture and nature throughout the year.

Thomason, a lifelong resident of Erwinville and a proud graduate of Port Allen High School, is a former student of the old Devall School. Though she did not attend college, she has long been an advocate for education and personal growth. Alongside her late husband, Allen, she founded several successful businesses and has remained a committed supporter of her community and youth development programs such as 4-H. Her generosity reflects a deep desire to give back to the place that shaped her.

“I hope students in the Brusly community will enjoy the gardens and chicken coop for many years to come, finding inspiration and learning through hands-on experiences in agriculture,” Thomason said.

Brusly Elementary is also participating in the Seeds to Success: Louisiana Harvest of the Month program, which provides free, standards-aligned resources for students in kindergarten through second grade. These materials help educators incorporate produce-based lessons into their classrooms, further enriching the agricultural experience.

“I wanted to see children connect with the land, nurture life and learn where their food comes from. It is truly rewarding to use the Brusly Barnyard to help lay down that foundation,” shared teacher and 4-H club leader Stephanie Timble.

Allison Decell, an LSU AgCenter Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, has been working in close partnership with the Brusly Barnyard initiative to enhance youth gardening education in West Baton Rouge Parish. Through their collaboration, they have utilized the parish greenhouse and Master Gardeners to provide transplants for school and community gardens. This joint effort has enriched the educational experience for participating youth and fostered a deeper understanding of plant science, sustainability and food systems.

Future enhancements to the Brusly Barnyard are already in motion, with plans to introduce a native pollinator garden. Students will learn about host plants that attract a variety of butterfly species and will have the opportunity to observe the metamorphosis process firsthand using butterfly enclosures in their classrooms.

What began as a small Cloverbud initiative has quickly evolved into a parishwide effort. Expansion plans are underway to bring Cloverbud programming to additional primary schools across West Baton Rouge Parish, offering hands-on agricultural lessons tailored to each school’s unique needs and interests. The success of the Brusly Barnyard is a testament to what can be achieved when schools, volunteers, sponsors and educational programs work together. It’s not just a farm — it’s a growing community of learners, leaders and partners planting seeds for the future.

Through the dedication of our BES staff, 4-H extension agents and community partners, the Brusly Barnyard has become more than a school project. It’s a living lesson of teamwork, growth and the power of learning by doing for our kids. This project has brought joy to the BES campus and kids are excited to learn.

— West Baton Rouge school superintendent Chandler Smith

Barnyard lessons are reinforced with classroom lessons.

Students enjoyed meeting barnyard animals.

Barnyard lessons are reinforced with classroom lessons. Photos by Stephanie Trimble