District Judge Alonzo Harris grew up on a family farm in Washington, Louisiana. From the time he could work with animals as a small child, he has raised and bred cattle with his father and brother.

"Over the last 20 years, we've had more than 500 or so heads of cattle," said Harris. The proud father of five has a special honor this year as his children, Valencia, 17, Alonzo Jr., 13, and Ashley, 10, win at cattle competitions at Southern University Ag Center's 65th Annual State Livestock Show.

Harris' oldest daughter, Valencia was named the show's overall Grand Champion and also placed first in several dairy competitions for her 1,400-pound commercial cattle. Her brother, Alonzo Jr., and sister, Alexis, won reserved champion titles in dairy after showing a 400-pound and 900-pound cattle, respectively. The third generation Harris ranchers are the only African-American youth raising and showing cattle in St. Landry parish, said Harris. "This teaches them responsibility."

The trio individually won cash prizes, silver plates, and state ribbons for their showmanship. More than 500 youth, like them, showcased animals they have raised for years. Some presented lambs, goats, hogs, and steers to be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder.

More than $100,000 was awarded to prizewinners, and 75 hogs, 35 goats, 35 lambs, and 18 steers were purchased for consumption. This year, the Ag Center's livestock show programs director Renita Marshall and Gina Eubanks, vice chancellor of extension, determined to take the contributions further.

"We had donors who wanted to support the program but did not want or did not need a large quantity of fresh meat in their homes," said Marshall. The solution was to partner with donors and contributors to purchase meat and reward the young herdsmen and to also give to a need in our community, said Eubanks.

Now that the show has ended and the cattle sold, the youth return to farm life and the auctioned meat goes to feed a family-by individual or collective purchases. The Southern University Ag Center purchased and donated 800 pounds of fresh meat, froze it, and delivered the meat in two truckloads to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

"Southern is taking a leadership role in large meat donations," said Amy Sellers, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank food procurement coordinator. "The (Ag Center) is being proactive in combating hunger and servicing the need." According to Sellers, a donation of this magnitude provides 1,667 meals. With families that have school-age children receiving free breakfast and lunch at school, only one meal has to be provided in the home. So, meals from the food bank containing this meat could stretch for months.

"(The meat donation) lets kids know that someone is assisting them in the community, and by raising animals it may encourage them or their parents to one day, hopefully, they would show an animal and contribute back to society," said Harris, who is judge in St. Landry where 43 percent of the population lives in poverty.

The number of adults and children in Louisiana who are hungry is disturbing, said Michael Manning, executive director, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Not only are these people hungry, they are also poor. They are unemployed, suffering hard times, disabled, or even part of the working poor. Because of their poverty or limited incomes, many Louisianans have to choose between a healthy meal of protein and vegetables or a quick meal to take away hunger pains. "When money is a factor, a low income person usually chooses the most inexpensive meal which is also usually the unhealthiest," said De'Shoin York-Friendship, assistant specialist-nutrition at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. "Instead of buying fresh fruits and vegetables they opt for more processed foods that are generally less expensive but higher in calories and lower in healthy nutrients."

"It's a tough choice," said Sellers. "Feed my family or buy medicine? Feed my family or buy gas or winter coats?" These are common struggles that workers at the Bank and its 120 meal sites see on daily basis across 11 parishes. Sellers said it is donations like the Ag Center's that help families stretch their meals and their money. This month's donation of more than 800 pounds of frozen meat to be dispersed to the Bank's meal sites.

The total experience of raising livestock, showing and auctioning them helps youth develop work habits and entrepreneurial skills that could prevent them from being the next generation of poor Louisianans. Young ranchers from across the state traveled to the M.A. Edmond Livestock Arena annually to showcase animals they have raised yearlong.

They vied for the top title of Grand Champion and hoped to win prize ribbons and silver plates in the show ring. As youth learning to care for livestock, these young exhibitors showcased animals they raised, groomed, and trained for this annual competition. Here, they presented their leadership and showmanship skills in a competitive, family-friendly setting.

The Grand Champion Market Steer prize went to Tangipahoa Parish; St. Mary's Parish took home the Grand Champion Market Hog; Winn Parish won the Grand Champion Goat prize; the Grand Champion Market Lamb prize went to Lafourche Parish.

During this year's show, the livestock exhibitors showcased their best stock for evaluation by judges. The poultry show component was re-introduced in this year's event. Other show activities attracted more than 1,500 area pre-schoolers who participated in guided tours, face-painting, a Barn Yard display, magic show, prizes petting zoo, and Louisiana Hall of Agriculture featuring educational materials and real commodities like cotton, sugarcane, pecans, crawfish. Agriculture commissioner Mike Strain participated in the Awards program and junior auction sale.

"The youth learn to become our state's leaders, our business managers, policy makers, and hard workers," said Marshall. "We are excited to be able to provide a direct, tangible aid for Louisiana hungry." Marshall said the Ag Center plans to continue donating meat from the annual livestock show as contributors continue to give.

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