Allen Parish Profile

About the LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter is dedicated to providing innovative research, information and education to improve people’s lives. Working in a statewide network of parish extension offices, research stations and academic departments, the LSU AgCenter helps Louisiana citizens make the best use of natural resources, protect the environment, enhance agricultural enterprises, and develop human and community resources.

Program Highlights

Nutrition and Community Health

Nutrition and Community Health agents and educators are improving the overall health of residents by helping to reduce chronic diseases which are related to poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles and improving the health outcomes in which Louisiana has traditionally ranked so low. In Allen Parish, the food and nutrition score is 48/100, indicating a significant need for improved access to healthy food options and better nutrition education. The general nutrition program aims to promote health and prevent chronic diseases through education classes, radio and news programs as well as youth culinary education classes partnering with 4-H.

4-H Youth Development

Allen has over 500 youth enrolled in 21 traditional 4-H clubs having an active club in all parish public schools. The Allen Parish 4-H Youth Development program strives to build youths’ feelings of belonging through experiential learning opportunities. During the club year, strategies are utilized to build a sense of connection among club members, their peers, adult volunteers, leaders, and 4-H faculty. We offer club meetings, various contests, officer training, shooting sports, award trips, 4-H camps, workshops, livestock projects and junior leadership club.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Rice, corn, soybean and crawfish producers are provided with information on production and pest management recommendations to maximize crop performance. Through e-mails, rice field days, newsletters, producer meetings, and farm and home visits. Recommended pesticide storage, use, transport, and application procedures are taught through re-certification programs for private applicators. Homeowners and gardeners are kept informed of LSU AgCenter recommendations on insect disease and management practices through web sites, farm home visits, newsletters, and bulletins.

Whom We Reach:

• 2678 - Youth (includes 500 4-H members & 21 school 4-H clubs),
• 19,589 - Adults, (5,952 through agriculture and natural resources and 13,637 through family consumer sciences)

How We Reach Them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, class series, website, social media and workshops

Expanding Our Efforts:

300 volunteers from 4-H, family, and community. 75 youth volunteers

Parish Facts:

Allen Parish is located in Southwest Louisiana. The total land area of Allen Parish is 775 square miles or 496,000 acres. There are three major towns in the mostly rural parish: Kinder, Oberlin, and Oakdale. A prison and illegal alien detention center are located in Oakdale. A state medium security prison is located between Oberlin and Kinder. A major wood-using industry manufacturing lumber is in Oakdale. There are several small sawmills and cross tie mills in the parish. A small manufacturer of boating safety devices is in Kinder.

Local Issues and Plans for this Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• Promote the wise use of natural resources and protection of the environment
• Commodity production meetings for rice, soybeans, forages and livestock
• Cooperate with Farm Bureau, Cattleman’s Association, Rice Growers Association, FSA, NRCS, LDAF, and Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

Promote the wide use of natural resources and protection of the environment

• Promote natural resources.
• Conduct home and farm site visits using Research based LSU AgCenter information to make sound production and management recommendations

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Service learning will be the focus in our Junior Leadership club along with teaching leadership skills and team building techniques
• The topic of the club meeting programs for 2024-2025 is financial literacy. Youth will have opportunities to participate in a variety of programs to promote engagement in learning, mastery of a project, and a sense of belonging
• 4-Hers will work with caring adults in a safe environment

Strengthen families and communities

• Nutrition and Community Health clients receive training on feeding their families nutritionally on a budget
• Conduct workshops on disaster preparedness, grab and go boxes, storm cleanup and house cleaning after a storm
• Teach classes to pregnant women or parents of infants to strengthen parents’ understanding of childrearing

How is Extension Funded?

• Federal funding from the USDA/ NIFA
• State general funds from the Louisiana Legislature
• Local support from parish government, including police juries and school boards
• Self-generated funds

What Role Do You Play?

Our stakeholders at the parish level are the local supporters and beneficiaries of the LSU AgCenter cooperative extension programs. Their support keeps these critical programs in their communities.

Each Parish Offers Programming In:

• Nutrition and Community Health
• 4-H and Youth Development
• Agriculture and Natural Resources