About the Program
Three people were instrumental in the development of the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program. In the mid-1980’s, Mr. Pete deGravelles of the American Sugar Cane League approached then LSU AgCenter Chancellor Dr. H. Rouse Caffey about the idea of an agricultural leadership program. After much discussion, Dr. Robert Soileau of the LSU AgCenter was asked to develop a curriculum for the program and become the first director.
Created in 1988 to enhance leadership in rural Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program is a highly successful two-year course of study that prepares men and women, dedicated to agriculture, for the leadership challenges of the future.
The Agricultural Leadership Development Program includes seminars with experts, on-site tours, personal skills improvement, meetings with business and government leaders. The founders of this program believed investing in people is one of the keys to maintaining Louisiana’s vibrant agriculture.
“This program is successful because of the quality participants from all aspects of Louisiana agriculture. We strive to help class members become better informed spokes people in all aspect of agriculture, forestry, natural resources and agribusiness.”
Bobby Soileau, Ph.D.
Director, Agricultural Leadership Development
Ag Leadership Class XVIII
MEET THE STAFF
Click below to learn more about our program!
Ag Leadership Class XVIII
Bracy's Nursery
Green House at Bracy's Nursery
Zen-Noh Grain on the Mississippi River in Louisiana
Zen-Noh Grain
Senator Bret Allain and Dr. Soileau
Sugarcane Research Facility in Houma, La
John Deere Facility in Thibodaux, La
Commissioner Mike Strain
Louisiana Agriculture Facts
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Louisiana Agriculture Facts *
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produces 25% of all seafood in our country? Louisiana is #1 in producing crawfish, shrimp, alligator and oysters.
Capital: Baton Rouge
Population: 4,410,796
Founded: April 30,1812 (18th)
State Bird: Eastern Brown Pelican
State Tree: Bald Cypress
State Flower: Magnolia
Number of Parishes: 64
Largest City: New Orleans, 1 million
Nickname: Pelican State
Number of Farms: 30,000
Average Farm Size: 269 acres
Total Farmland: 8.1 million acres
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Louisiana has many commodities. These are some of the top producing ones in the state.
Louisiana forestlands cover 48% of the state. That is 14 million acres. It is the #1 crop in Louisiana.
Soybeans: Did you know that Soybeans are used to make crayons? 1 acre can make 82,368 crayons!
Rice: Louisiana is the 3rd largest state to produce rice.
Sugarcane: Louisiana has harvested sugarcane for over 200 years. Sugarcane has 30 teaspoons of sugar & 6 teaspoons of molasses.
Cotton: The world uses cotton more than any other fiber. The invention of the cotton gin helped in the harvesting of the crop.
Sweet Potatoes: This crop dates back as far as the 1500’s but did not become popular until after WW 1. The Beauregard variety was developed in 1987 for Louisiana’s unique soil and climate.
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Louisiana’s state capital building is the tallest one in the USA.
The original La territory purchased in 1803 is now divided into 13 states.
Baton Rouge is the site of the only battle outside the 13 colonies during the Revolutionary War.
Louisiana has Parishes not Counties.
Louisiana is known as “the boot” due to the shape. It also looks like an L (geaux LSU)
New Orleans is 8 feet below sea level.
Conrad Rice Mill is the oldest owned rice mill in the country still being operated. It is located in New Iberia.
The Causeway bridge over Lake Ponchartrain is the longest continuous bridge over water.
The Brown Pelican is the state bird. The Magnolia is the state flower. The insect is a honey bee and the Catahoula leopard dog is the state dog.
