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Just Rambling April 2018:

Just Rambling: The Ag-mazing museum opened to the public on March 27th. A special reception was held on March 26 to officially open the museum with Dr. Mike Strain, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry doing the honors. As I stated in our March Ag Trader, my daughter, Velvet, who passed away on October 30, 2018, went before the museum board to get this Ag-mazing exhibit approved. Having forgotten when my daughter was first operated on for cancer I was looking through some notes I had taken in 2012 and I found the date that Velvet was operated on—March 26, 2012. I found this after we had set the opening reception for March 26 which told me that Velvet was still some what in control. Also on Friday, the 22nd, on two different occasions, Velvet’s name and phone number popped up on my cell phone. I told my daughter, Brittany, that Velvet was trying to tell me something or she was telling me that she was still in control of this event. The Ag-mazing museum opening went great. We had a standing room only crowd and Dr. Strain, as usual, did a great job with his opening remarks. As I stated in my introduction of Dr. Strain, I know my Velvet was smiling down on him and the museum opening. She would have been as thrilled to have Dr. Strain handling the opening of the museum as we all were. I cannot thank Dr. Strain enough for flying to Farmerville to open the Ag-mazing museum for us. I also want to thank his pilot, Damian Johnson, his press secretary, Veronica Mosgrove and Fieldman, Kevin Wofford for attending the reception with Commissioner Strain. I also want to extend a big thank you to Dr. Strain’s secretary, Sabrina, for working with me to set up his trip to Farmerville. When we think of a public servant, Dr. Mike Strain should always come to mind. Mike Strain, DVM Commissioner, La Dept of Agriculture & Forestry. Dr. Mike Strain took the oath of office for his third four-year term as Louisiana’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry on January 11, 2016. A native of Covington, Strain earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from LSU in 1983. In 1999, he was elected to the first of two terms as State Representative, where he served on the Agriculture Committee and chaired the Legislative Rural Caucus. He was twice named Legislator of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish Alliance for Good Government. In 2003, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine presented Strain its Distinguished Alumni Award. Strain was awarded the Future Farmers of American's highest national award, the Honorary American Degree, in August 2009, and he was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction in May 2010. Strain was named Conservationist of the Year in January 2012. In January 2013, he was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. He previously served terms as president of the Southern United States Trade Association, the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He holds a commission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Council of Agricultural Science and Technology. Strain is married to Dr. Susan Searcy Strain of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and they have two adult children. Thank you again Dr. Strain and staff for making our Ag-mazing reception so successful. I would like to thank Alan Futch (Dean of Flowers), Brittany Bennett Canterberry and Jean Jones for the marvelous job they did decorating the museum and to everyone who provided pictures and artifacts. We hope everyone will try to come see all the past and present agricultural wonders of Union Parish. Van Bennett The museum is open Tuesday through Friday 10am –4pm and 11am –1pm on Saturday. I think you will really enjoy the Ag-mazing Museum .