Louisiana game ranch extravaganza this weekend

NEWS RELEASE



October 13, 2009







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



STATE YOUTH TO TAKE PART IN LOUISIANA GAME RANCH EXTRAVAGANZA THIS WEEKEND



Event Co-Sponsored by Louisiana FFA and Southeastern Game Ranchers Association to be hosted at Juneau Safari Camp in Moreauville



(Moreauville, LA) – More than 200 youth from across the state and as far away as Missouri will "get back to nature" on Saturday, October 17 at the first Louisiana Game Ranch Extravaganza co-sponsored by the Louisiana FFA of the National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America) and the Southeastern Game Ranchers Association (SGRA). The extravaganza is being hosted by the Juneau Safari Camp, a unique Louisiana game preserve with more than 600 birds and animals (64 different species of animals and 48 species of birds) native to Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.



“The extravaganza will afford us the opportunity to expose hundreds of (young junior and senior) high school students to the beauty of nature and animals not normally seen in Louisiana,” said Stewart Juneau, who along with his wife Juli are the philanthropists strongly supported by the entire Linus Juneau family of ten brothers and sisters behind the 600 acre sanctuary designed as an "African experience for the children of Louisiana".



The event will feature seminars on Wildlife Management, Artificial Insemination and Antler Scoring as well as giving the students, many of them from urban areas, up close and personal interactions with species of animals not encountered in this part of the world.



“Saturday gives the Louisiana FFA the chance to ‘practice what we preach,’ “said Ronald Mayuex, former Superintendent of Education of the Avoyelles Parish School who currently serves as Executive Secretary of the Louisiana FFA which has nearly 10,000 members in 47 parishes (counties) across the state. “Thanks to the generosity of the Juneau Safari Camp and the SGRA, the Louisiana FFA will be able to provide an important supplement to our members’ educational process as well as give them a unique safari-like adventure.”



The Juneau family has strong ties to the FFA, with all five brothers ( Mark, Mike, Stewart, Ronnie and Neil) have served as presidents of the Bordelonville chapter of the organization. Mike served as State Treasurer and Ronnie served as Parish President as well. Saturday’s extravaganza will also have the backing of the region’s premiere game ranchers’ group, the Southeastern Game Ranchers Association.



“One of our primary areas of concentration over the past few years has been the introduction of Louisiana students who are members of the FFA to the game ranching industry,” said Scott Heinrich, Sr. Executive Director of the SGRA. “Our participation in the Louisiana Game Ranch Extravaganza will afford us the chance to get our message in front of kids from all over the state and get them interested in game ranching as a lifelong activity.” "Along with our efforts, The North American Deer Farmer's Association, The Exotic Wildlife Association and The Whitetails of Louisiana will also be supporting the event". "It should be a blast for all who attend".



The Louisiana Game Ranch Extravaganza will be held Saturday, October 17 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.



JUNEAU SAFARI CAMP – The Juneau Safari Camp, located in Moreauville, LA is located in the 1500-acre Lake Juneau Conservation Area. The facility, designed as an African Bush Camp, plays hosts to hundreds of inner-city youth each summer through a program operated by the non-profit Housing and Education Foundation (HEF). The mission of the camp is to provide a unique opportunity to underprivileged inner-city youth who might not otherwise be able to experience such an outdoor experience.







LOUISIANA FFA – The Louisiana FFA Association was chartered by the National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America) in 1930. The Association has a current membership of 9,884 members in 191 chapters. FFA chapters are established in 47 parishes, 2 independent school districts, and 1 parochial school. FFA is found in both rural and urban areas with chapters being located in or very near the cities of Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Monroe. Collegiate chapters of FFA are chartered at Louisiana State University and A&M College, Louisiana Tech University, and McNeese State University. Louisiana FFA is at the forefront of preparing students for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success in agriculture and many other industries.



SOUTHEASTERN GAME RANCHERS ASSOCIATION -

The Southeastern Game Rancher's Association was established in April of 2006. The Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, is dedicated to the expansion and promotion of responsible industry activities that support game ranching. The Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association is made up of members interested in commerce and conservation of both native and non-native game species.



DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO JUNEAU SAFARI CAMP

From Baton Rouge:

1. I-10 W over the Miss River bridge to Lobdell exit

2. Go right on LA 415 to LA 190, left on 190 (merges)

3. Take LA 190 to LA 1, right towards New Roads / False River (watch for sign past Erwinville)

4. Take LA 1 to New Roads, left on Hospital Rd

5. Left on LA 1 to Morganza

6. Take LA 1 through Morganza and Simmesport towards Marksville

7. After Simmesport, look for cotton gin on left, sign for Hamburg on right. Follow signs to Safari Camp.



The Juneau Safari Camp is located in Moreauville, LA, approximately 1hr. 45 minutes from Baton Rouge and 1 hour from Alexandria.

All I can say is that this event was a huge success and if you missed it you missed seeing the next generation of deer farmers being born. I will be posting more information about the event as soon as I have time to compile it for distribution.



Huge thanks go out to the Juneau family for hosting the event and NADeFA for supporting and attending the event.

Birth of Future Game Ranchers and Deer Farmers



This past Saturday, the SGRA proudly sponsored the first annual “Louisiana Game Ranch Extravaganza”. The event was also supported by the Louisiana FFA, NADeFA’s Steve and Carolyn Laughlin, SGRA members Jerome and Nadia Foti and the Juneau family of Moreauville, La. who offered their hospitality along with their private Safari Park to host the venue.



The event held mini-seminars in the area of enclosure based wildlife management, antler scoring and artificial insemination of Whitetail deer. In addition to the seminars, there was a fabulous farm tour, and the Juneau’s went the extra mile and “dropped” some of their Whitetail deer in their chute system for all of the attendees to observe.



Lunch for the group was a delicious Elk (harvested at Juneau Safari Park) and Sausage Jambalya, white beans, salad, rolls and dessert. Door prizes were supplied by SGRA, NADeFA, and SGRA Members Doug and Dianne Wade, with the grand prize, a trophy blackbuck hunt provided by SGRA member Tommy Pourrier which awarded to one lucky young lady, Elyce Ebersole from Sulphur La.



This event was conceived from a brainstorming exercise including Scott Heinrich, Sr., Executive Director of the SGRA, Ponchatoula High School FFA Advisors Mrs Donna Jean Heinrich and Mrs. Alice Dubois, and the Louisiana State FFA President, Ms. Tess Morse, with the support of Ronald N. Mayeux, Ph.D.,Executive Secretary,Louisiana FFA Association.



The objective of the event was two-fold in that it introduced Louisiana Alternative Livestock Farmers who were not familiar with the SGRA to the Association, with the primary focus of the event to introduce Louisiana FFA students to our world of game ranching and deer farming.



The FFA is a national organization that promotes agricultural education and introduces students to the many careers in the agriculture industry. The relationship between the SGRA and the FFA was the brain-child of Mrs. Donna Jean Heinrich. In 2007, Donna and I were discussing the many challenges facing the game ranch industry. As is usually the case ,when someone not “in the trenches” becomes aware of the issues, they see the issues from different altitude than that of the “boots on the ground” folks.



Donna made me aware that many of the issues the SGRA faced were being debated and discussed with people and agencies whose representatives already had an opinion about the subjects. She witnessed the SGRA’s relentless efforts to shape legislation and get rules and regulations changed that better suited our industry needs. One evening, out of the blue she looked at me and said (you had to be there to see my face) “y’all are fighting your industry battles on the wrong level.”



Naturally, I looked at her like she was touched in the head, and said “Huh?????” She went on to explain that our efforts to change the minds of those that regulate us although a necessary evil, would be much easier in future years if the ones that became the regulators, politicians, State Veterinarians, etc. had a better understanding of our industry.

My reply was “huh???” (I’m not too swift as you can see) She began to lay out the scenario of introducing FFA youths to our industry. ( Can you see the light go on in my brain now???…….. I said I was slow, but I ain’t stupid!!!) FFA students are a wonderful resource to help ensure industry’s future. If we get FFA students involved in the game ranch industry and its career opportunities, then these future industry regulators, politicians, State Veterinarians, biologists, etc. would have a better appreciation of our industry.





Most of us in the game ranch and deer farming industry know the satisfaction and joy of witnessing an AI fawn being born. That birth, is generally the culmination of countless hours of preparation, much hard work, for lack of a better explanation, when all of the planets become aligned!



This past Saturday, I watched as over 100 students became enthralled with the workings and careers of the game ranch and deer farming industry. Without a doubt, I saw that “twinkle” in the eyes of several of the students……….. you know……that “twinkle” that only a fellow deer farmer understands, the one that demonstrates the wonder and amazement that fuels the fire in our souls to be part of the passion we call deer farming. I truly believe that this past Saturday, at Juneau Safari Park, I witnessed the birth of the next generation of game ranchers and deer farmers.

I believe this is as good as promotion gets. Seeing is believing, especially in the eyes of young people. You can bet they will talk and dad will listen.

This week in Indianapolis, the FFA is holding their National Convention. Each year 50,000 students attend the event. The convention began yesterday and already the game ranch industry has been a topic of many discussions. Carolyn and Steve Laughlin will be hosting the NADeFA booth in the career show exhibit hall tomorrow through Friday. I hope they brought plenty of handouts because interest in our industry is growing.

After we agreed to lead the artificial insemination class I wondered what we had gotten ourselves into.



It's the fall and I need to be sorting my does for AI ing, scheduling AI sessions with other farms, vaccinating our deer, mailing necessary goods to farms we will be AI ing over the next 90 days, planting my pastures and tending to a whole assortment of odds and ends that I have put off for weeks.



Well, we honored our committment to the SGRA and packed up our teaching materials and headed off to the extravaganzaq



Boy I am glad we did, it was terrific, those kids are awesome and we were the ones on the receiving end!



After one seminar , I overheard one FFA highschool student talking to his dad and he said" Dad we got to look into this whitetail deerfarming, did you know it's considered alternative livestocK?



There is a common saying that is sometimes found on T-shirts:" You wouldn't understand"



Now , we "Understand"



Jerome and Nadia Foti

Oh yea.......A very special thanks to Carolyn and Steve Laughlin. Carolyn made a great speech to the kids and Steve saved our bacon by volunteering to conduct the antler scoring seminar when at the last minute our scheduled instructor had to honor a family committment. How did Steve do??? Well out of the 92 score sheets the kids handed in for the contest, the total of inches "missed" was only 42". That's less than an average discrepency of 4/8" per score card. WOW!!! taking green kids, handing them an antler, showing them the correct way to score it and then having them score their antlers so close to the official score, is a testiment to Steve's ability to clearly explain how to do it! By the way, the winning score was 1/8 over the official score, so those kids listened and learned well. Thanks Carolyn and Steve, your participation was a great asset to the event.

Photos from the Extravaganza



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WOW...Looks like a great place and a great time...

What a great learning experience!

Watching kids light up as they "get something" for the first time is so rewarding isn't it.

I am sorry We all missed out!

GREAT JOB!!!

Scott, thanks for the kind words. Carolyn and I consider taking time to explain our industry to young people the most valuable thing we deer farmers can do to help ensure the future of our industry. We believe that even if we do not bring all these kids into the industry, we are at least getting a chance to educate them about it and, hopefully, they will remember the message when they are old enough to vote. As we all know, the animal rights groups have taken to initiating ballot issues with the idea of making it too expensive for animal agriculture to do business. It is very hard to reach voters with our message when our budgets are measured in hundreds and thousands and our opponents have millions to spend. Targeting young people now can make a difference in the future.



This extravaganza was the best thing for reaching out to young people we have seen from the industry since we have been part of it. It would be great to see this happen in every state. By the way Scott, you should thank Jerome and Nadia for having the foresite to inform me that I had "volunteered" to do the antler scoring seminar as we pulled in to park. I never even had time to get nervous. To all involved in the preparation of this event, and to the entire Juneau family, thank you for an outstanding job!



PS: for all you Ohio readers, MAKE SURE YOU VOTE ON NOV. 3 AND VOTE FOR ISSUE 2 WHICH WILL CREATE AN ANIMAL CARE BOARD FOR OHIO. LET'S KEEP HSUS AND PETA OUT OF OHIO ANIMAL CARE RULES.

Just an Update for those following the convention. The Ponchatoula High School FFA Chapter (SGRA's adopted FFA Chapter) Has won the honor of being named the best FFA Chapter in the Nation in the area of student development. This makes the second year in a row for this most prestegious award. Congrats to Donna and Alice for their relentless support of their students and innovative ideas that make their program the best in the nation.

Another update from the FFA convention, The Ravenna FFA Chapter receved a Silver in the AG Sales competition, There subject was to sell a Whitetail Deer Hunt on a Preserve.

Congrats to Ravenna. I love it when the kids support game ranching and learn something in the process!