LSU’s Agriculture Center and LSU School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences (SPESS) presented the 22nd annual Baton Rouge Spring Show at the John M. Parker Coliseum this past weekend.

The LSU AgCenter was established in 1972 by the LSU Board of Chancellors with the intention of giving the university system’s agricultural programs their own distinct identity. Today, the agricultural research center boasts 20 research stations across the state and extension service offices in all 64 parishes. Research and extension programs aim to support Louisiana’s agriculture industries, enhance quality of life and safeguard the environment.

This three-day event took place from Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 9 and featured vendors from all over the state. Attendees show out each year to purchase common, exotic and crop plants, gardening books and paraphernalia for their gardens. Another fan favorite was the speaker series of experts on a variety of topics related to gardening, such as caring for your lawn and growing your own vegetables.

LSU and Southern students were able attend the show for free by presenting their student ID at entry. Children were also invited to come along for free to do arts and crafts at the kids’ activity center, check out the petting zoo and eventually convince their parents to buy them ice cream from the LSU Dairy Store.

LSU’s Horticulture Club was also on site selling ornamental plants cultivated on campus at the Hill Farm Teaching Facility greenhouse. The club puts on the sale each year to raise money for club operational expenses and activities for its members.

Opportunities for learning offered by the LSU AgCenter include publications, workshops, field days and seminars like the speaker series hosted at this year’s garden show. The Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show is one example of many LSU AgCenter program events created to serve and connect with the general public.

Dr. David Picha is the chair of SPESS and a horticulture professor at LSU. Dr. Picha says the ultimate goal of events like the Spring Garden Show is to increase community engagement and create opportunities.

“LSU AgCenter’s Spring Garden Show is our premier event,” Picha explained. “It generates revenue for scholarships, teaching activities at Hill Farm, and enhancing the student learning experience in horticulture.”

The garden show’s positive impact is felt by the vendors who participate in the event year after year.

“It also has a positive economic impact on our local horticulture industry and elevates the reputation of the LSU AgCenter,” Picha said. “We thank the LSU community for patronizing and supporting our event and look forward to seeing it become bigger and better on an annual basis.”

The LSU AgCenter will be hosting its next event, the Spring Garden Fest ft. EBR Master Gardeners Plant Sale, at 4560 Essen Ln, Baton Rouge on Saturday, March 29. To keep up with the LSU AgCenter, you can follow them on Instagram @lsuagcenter.