Teddy's Bear Festival 2012

 

 

 

Join us to commemorate

 

President Theodore Roosevelt’s successful bear hunt

expedition in Madison Parish where he actually

shot and killed his black bear.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Courthouse Square

Tallulah, LA

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

 

Lots of activities (children’s games and prizes, rock climbing, face and finger painting, fire and safety prevention activities and inflatable rides) for children will be offered. Educational and informational exhibits featuring a wide variety of activities as well as live animals, and information on wildlife, hunting, and fishing will be on display. Booths showcasing many arts & crafts will also be available. Lots of door prizes will be given away along with surprise raffle items. There will be a variety of food booths, and live entertainment featuring a variety of music genres will be non-stop.

 

The festival is headlined by Easy Eddie and the Party Rockers along with Hadley J. Castille, world-renowned Cajun fiddler player, Louisiana Hall of Famer, television and movie performer from Opelousas, Vicki Baker, rhythm and blues singer from Vicksburg, MS and  Dr. Willie Naylor, Jazz trumpeter from Chicago, Illinois. Local talent from in and around the I-20 corridor will include 71254, and old school rhythm and blues group, country and western singer Jessie LaRae, bluegrass, Gospel, Country, Blues, Rock 'n Roll group, Grassfire, and a host of solo, groups and gospel artists.

Cost:     Free

Contact: Tina Johnson

Madison Parish Tourism Commission

 1-888-744-8410    

 

mptourism@att.net

 

Paddler in the News

This is a great news clip about paddler, Jon Soul, and his journey on Bayou Pierre near Shreveport. John's website: Bayou to Bay contains a link to a video clip called, "Journey Back to Nature" which was filmed by KTBS news in Shreveport.

 

Jon, a teacher, is hoping to show his students how what is deposited upstream flows downsteam, a conservation message we all need to be aware of.

 

 

Louisiana Women in Agriculture Conference

 

To reserve a spot
call or e-mail:

(318) 473-7687 oradele.swearingen@la.usda.gov
Those who registered for the August 30, 2012 meeting do not need to register again.

 

Conference location: 

The Delhi Civic Center is located at
231 Denver Street, Delhi, Louisiana. 

 

FREE REGISTRATION INCLUDES MEAL

 

Agencies sponsoring the Louisiana Women in Agriculture Conference include:

• USDA Farm Service Agency
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• USDA Rural Development
• Local soil and water conservation districts

Agritourism Health and Safety Guidelines

The National Children's Center  has excellent resources for agritourism operators. Thier brochures are designed to assist you in offering a safer, more healthy agritourism experience. Click here to learn more.

USDA Certification Needed for Operations Using Animals

Agritourism operators who use animals as part of their agritourism venture are be subject to the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act regulations.

If your agritourism venture charges people to see animals, pet them or feed them you need a license as an exhibitor. If you do not have a license from USDA and are engaging in this practice, you could be subject to a $10,000 fine.

To safeguard your operation, you should call Dr. Lynn Bourgeios, veterinary medical officer with USDA animal care. Dr. Bourgeois can be reached by calling his office at (985) 537-0691 or by calling his cell at (240) 461-9182. He travels the state, so please leave a message. In the event that none of these numbers work call Mike Long at (970) 494-7471 to learn how to become certified. If no answer, call the main number (970) 494-7478 and ask to speak with someone concerning USDA certification under the Animal Welfare Act.

The process requires completion of an application and an inspection. During the inspection, officials will check on husbandry issues, veterinary care program, where animals live and review how animal food is stored.

So, if you have a petting zoo, race pigs, have a goat walk, ride horses, etc. you need to contact USDA and see if you need to become certified.

FREE PADDLING CLASSES

Free classes in canoeing and kayaking will be offered in two locations during the months of September and October. Pack & Paddle from Lafayette will be providing instruction. This event is being sponsored by the LSU AgCenter's agritourism program and participating partners: Friends of the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. Registration is now open. The classes is free. Suggested ages are 18 years and older. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to class time. Participants have a choice between two class times each day. Classes are scheduled for morning (10 am to 1pm) and afternoon (2-5pm) When you call, provide your name, phone number and preferred class time. Saturday, September 29, 2012, Kayak Classes at Poverty Point Reservoir State Park, 1500 Poverty Point Parkway, Delhi, LA 71232. Call Poverty Point Manager Mike Valley to register Phone Number: 318-878-7536 or 800-474-0392. Friday, October 5, 2012, Kayak classes at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, 480 Richland Place Monroe, LA, Phone Number: 318-387-1114, Contact: Ann Bloxom Smith bloxom51@gmail.com Saturday, October 6, 2012, Canoe classes at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, 480 Richland Place Monroe, LA, Phone Number: 318-387-1114, Contact: Ann Bloxom Smith bloxom51@gmail.com

WEED DATING on the Family Farm

Yes, you read that right. People in Idaho are cashing in on the weeds in their garden by inviting singles to come and weed and meet another single. A recent news article in the Shreveport Times on June 28, 2012 tells all. Click here for details. The picture also appeared as part of The Times article.

Agritourism World on Facebook

What is happening across the world in agritourism? To find out like Agritourism World. Learn to grow your own agritourism operation by liking this page on Facebook. This page will link you to others who are enjoying the benefits of agritourism.

Lessons & Ideas for Agritourism Operators from an England Agritour

Join us for a free webinar presented by Megan Bruch, Center for Profitable Agriculture in Tennessee. This webinar scheudled for Tuesday, August 28th will begn at at 1:30pm Central/2:30pm Eastern. E-mail cpa@utk.edu to register by August 26. You will be sent a link and instructions on how to join the session. The England AgriTour took place April 13-22, 2012 and included visits to 12 farm shops/agritourism operations, three farmers markets and several tourism locations. Twenty-six agritourism/direct farm marketing professionals attended the tour making for many networking opportunities. A local guide accompanied the group on the tour discussing agriculture, fishery, historical and cultural information. She returned from the trip with hundreds of photographs, numerous examples of marketing materials and many ideas to share. Join in on this webinar to hear and see some of what I learned.