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| The dedication of the C. Woodrow DeWitt Sr. Livestock Show Facility took place Sept. 5 at the LSU AgCenter’s Dean Lee Research and Extension Station in Alexandria. Left to right are Robert Cavanaugh, Chancellor Emeritus of LSUA; John Barnett, LSU AgCenter Central Region Director; Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter Vice Chancellor and Extension Director; David Boethel, LSU AgCenter Vice Chancellor and Research Director; Robert Joyner, president of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association; Rep. Charlie DeWitt Jr.; LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson; Rouse Caffey, interim chancellor of LSUA; Bob Felknor, executive director of the Louisiana’s Cattlemen’s Association. (Photo by John Chaney) (Click on photo to download larger image.) |
News Release Distributed 09/07/07
ALEXANDRIA – More than 125 people gathered for a ceremony at the LSU AgCenter’s Dean Lee Research and Extension Station on Sept. 5 to dedicate the new livestock show facility there to the late C. Woodrow DeWitt Sr.
The naming of this facility was initiated by Sen. Joe McPherson of Woodworth through a legislative resolution approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors, according to Dr. Bill Richardson, LSU AgCenter chancellor. DeWitt Sr. was the father of current Louisiana legislator Rep. Charlie DeWitt Jr.
“Thanks to the dedicated support of Rep. Charlie DeWitt Jr. and the Rapides Parish Police Jury, we were able to build this livestock facility,” Richardson said. “With the facility being located in the center of the state, it is convenient for the agricultural community to use.”
Charles Woodrow DeWitt Sr. was a successful farmer, cattleman, horse rancher and rodeo producer, Richardson said.
“Mr. DeWitt resided in Rapides Parish all of his life and was a beneficiary of Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station results made available through our Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service,” said Dr. John Barnett, director of the LSU AgCenter’s Central Region.
The DeWitt facility includes 69,000 square feet and consists of an arena and stalls to accommodate horse and livestock shows, an air-conditioned sale area that seats 200 people, office space and classrooms to be shared with the LSU-Alexandria campus. The facility is also available for other educational events
For more information or to schedule an activity in the facility, contact Danny Coombs at (318) 473-6520 or Matt Martin at (318) 767-3968.
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Contacts: Bill Richardson at (225) 578-4161, or brichardson@agcenter.lsu.edu
John Barnett at (318) 427-4424, or jbarnett@agcenter.lsu.edu
Writer: John Chaney at (318) 473-6589, or jchaney@agcenter.lsu.edu