By Kathryn Fontenot and Beth B. Putnam
LSU AgCenter
In 2020, while summer activities across the state were slowly canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, LSU AgCenter employees were determined to keep youths engaged in agricultural endeavors. They developed a pumpkin growing contest with the goal of providing children with an activity they could do at home that would teach them about farming. Many young people were stuck at home, so the extra time could easily be spent in the garden.