PAULINA —Janie Leblanc, Kenneth “Wop” Foret, Rene “T-Black” Millet and Willy Martin Sr. were the big winners at LSU AgCenter’s St. James Parish Home Vegetable Garden Contest.

The competition was judged May 18, and the winners were announced and awards presented last week at the 6th Annual St. James Tomato Field Day.

East St. James Parish Farm Bureau donated $50 cash awards for first place winners, and West St. James Farm Bureau donated plaques for first, second and third place winners.

Eight adults and six 4-H Youth participated. Judging was conducted by Ascension Parish Master Gardeners and criteria included record keeping, insect control, weed control, disease control, productivity, site selection and varieties recommended by the LSU AgCenter.

Organizers said record keeping is a critically important step in gardening because it allows producers to provide information to extension agents, chemical company representatives or LDAF agents if problems arise.

Additionally, gardeners can refer back to their records from year to year to anticipate what problems to expect and when to expect them. It is also good to have records about which varieties of vegetables performed well and which ones didn’t.

2015 St. James LSU AgCenter Vegetable Garden Contest winners:

4-H Youth Gardens

1st Place – Janie
Leblanc

2nd Place – Elaina Ruiz

3rd Place – Teryn Lockett

Adult – Small Gardens

1st Place – Kenneth “Wop” Foret

Adult –

Medium Gardens

1st Place –
Willy Martin Sr.

2nd Place – Erwin “Boolee” Roussel

3rd Place – Rene & Gidget Oubre

Adult – Large Gardens

1st Place – Rene
“T-Black” Millet

2nd Place – Terry Louque, Dean Louque, Clifton Williamson

3rd Place – Eric Louque