Work Location: The extension office is in Alexandria, Louisiana. The area to be served is Rapides Parish, which is located in Central Louisiana with a population of approximately 125,877 residents. Youth in Rapides parish are educated through public, parochial, private, homeschool, charter, and virtual school programs, creating a broad network of learning opportunities for students across the parish. The parish has 49 public schools, 11 private schools, 3 parochial schools, and a robust homeschool program initiative. Currently, Rapides 4-H has 35 to 42 organized clubs and approximately 1,100 4-H members. All youth are encouraged and allowed to participate in 4-H regardless of their school setting. According to the US Census there are approximately 18,000 potential youth to serve from age 9-18. Project clubs include livestock, shooting sports, gardening, culinary club, and junior leaders. The goals of the 4-H Youth Development Program include increasing youth leadership development and community service learning; strengthening the partnership between 4-H and formal education; and expanding volunteer involvement to increase contact hours per youth. Agricultural commodities in the parish include forestry, corn, cotton, grain sorghum, soybean, sugarcane, and horticultural crops and forage and livestock production.