BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The LSU AgCenter says the PotashCorp fertilizer plant in Geismar has given $50,000 to expand cash awards for showmanship at the annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.
The new endowment will provide $125 awards for intermediate and junior showmanship champions in eight categories — dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, exhibition poultry, broiler poultry, sheep, breeding goats and market goats.
PotashCorp gave $40,000 last year to set up an endowment for senior champion awards of $250 in each category.
Other livestock contests are judged mostly on animals' performance. Showmanship contests focus on exhibitors' presentation and sportsmanship.
PotashCorp and Gerry Lane Enterprises are co-presenting sponsors of the 2017 Livestock Show Feb. 11-18 at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
The AgCenter says the show is Louisiana's largest agriculture event, bringing 4-H and FFA students from around the state.