Game On! Game Recipes for the Big Game
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Game on! Game recipes for the big game. VOL. 91, No. 2 www.ldaf.state.la.us January 17, 2008 New Commissioner no stranger to agriculture, forestry Strain has extensive background in veterinary medicine, lawmaking Getting to know Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. Hometown: Covington Family: Susan Searcy, wife; Melissa and Michael, children Education: Covington High School, Louisiana State University and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Career: Owner and operator of a veterinary animal hospital; involved in family cattle busi- ness; former State Legislator Professional/civic involvement: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserves; St. Tammany Parish Fire District 12 Commissioner; Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, for- mer president; Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, former parish president and state board member; Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, parish officer Agriculture & Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., took office Jan. 14 during inaugu- ration ceremonies at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. ike Strain is used to extra work. al power at the 5825 Florida Boulevard ag and forestry M He took on a big duty January 14 when he was headquarters in Baton Rouge. sworn in as Louisiana’s 18th Commissioner of Phrases like “hard work” and “tremendous opportu- Agriculture and Forestry. nity” epitomize what the Strain family is all about. “I bring a lot of drive, energy and experience in a His father, Butch Strain, a Teamster truck driver, variety of fields to the job,” Strain said. “I have a sci- earned the family’s living traveling the highways and ence and technology background, a farmer’s back- byways of Louisiana and America. ground, a government background and a small busi- Demanding work no doubt, but the elder Strain trad- ness background to bring to the agricultural table.” ed in the big rigs and his stick shift for the challenging His governmental service started when he was elect- life of a Southern cattleman. ed in 1999 to the House of Representatives. The cattle ranch Butch Strain started along with his “State Representative Bill Strain, my second cousin brother, Jack, is still part of the Strain family farm. died in July 1999,” Strain said. “I decided to run for his “My father was an over-the-road truck driver until seat and was elected in October of that year. 1974 when he went full time into farming,” Strain said. “I served from October ‘99 to January in an ‘unoffi- “He still farms the same estate my grandfather had.” cial official capacity’ to help the people of St. Life on the cattle farm, off Highway 36 in St. Tammany Parish until I started my first full term in Tammany Parish, served as a preparatory school of 2000.” sorts for the talented Strain sons, Mike and Chuck. While maintaining a successful veterinary hospital in “My brother, Chuck, started college in 1975 and I Covington, Strain served a second term as state repre- began in 1976,” Strain said. “We were the first genera- sentative for House District 74 before setting his sights tion of my family to go to college. It was a proud on the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry spot. achievement for my family.” Strain was declared the winner of the 2007 election Strain knew exactly what course of study he wanted when former Commissioner Bob Odom decided to to follow at Louisiana State University: veterinary Commissioner Strain is married to the former Susan Searcy retire in October. medicine. (far left) of Hot Springs, Ark. Susan is also a Doctor of Since then Strain has been working overtime behind “Going into veterinary medicine is every country Veterinary Medicine with a degree from LSU. The Strains have the scenes to insure an orderly transition of agricultur- See Commissioner Strain, continued on page 2 a son, Michael (left), and a daughter, Melissa (far right). Page 2 MARKET BULLETIN January 17, 2008 Commissioner Strain, continued from page 1 chosen by the Center for Disease “The average age of the Control in Atlanta as one of only Louisiana farmer is 55,” Strain three Louisiana veterinarians to said. “The average beef farmer is train in bioterrorism awareness 65. after 9-11-2001. And even though “We have to encourage young he is Commissioner of Agriculture people to go into farming to sustain and Forestry, he will still be called agriculture in Louisiana. In order to to train other veterinarians in the do that we have to provide a base state on bioterrorism if the need and atmosphere so they know should arise. they’ll have long-term sustainabili- All of this cumulative experience ty and can make a career out of helped the 49-year-old Strain iden- farming. We have to really push tify the significant agricultural that.” issues confronting the state. The solution, Strain said, lies “With the advent of agricultural with the people of Louisiana. energy, an industry in its infancy, “If you look at the land and the the energy sector for ag will people here who want to farm, we become a major component over have tremendous land and tremen- the next 20 years,” Strain said. “It’s dous opportunity for the future,” just developing now. Strain said. “It’s going to be a diffi- “I see agriculture in the future for cult task. But if we work with our food, fiber and fuel. Energy is constituent organizations, educate going to become a greater sector and encourage young people, and help our farmers achieve a expand our markets for Louisiana greater profitability and diversifi- products, and increase our value cation.” added processing, we’ll achieve a Commissioner Strain and his wife own a mixed animal veterinary clinic in St. Tammany Parish At the same time, Strain said he higher degree of profitability for (above). He is active in the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association and the Louisiana Farm will work with universities, com- our farmers.” Bureau Federation. Strain performs a check up on one of his patients. munity colleges and vocational That’s a tall order, but boy’s dream,” Strain said. “I was he’s not speaking in the editorial Covington. schools to devise ways to attract Commissioner Mike Strain is used good in the sciences and finished in sense of the word; he is including But during the early years of his young people into agriculture. to extra work. pre-veterinary medicine at the top his wife, Susan, in the equation. practice, Strain took on the extra of my class.” Susan Searcy Strain, a native of work he thought necessary to help Strain’s expertise in science and Hot Springs, Ark., earned her DVM the public. He became active with his desire to work hard paid off. He in 1984 from LSU. two political grassroots organiza- finished the pre-veterinary curricu- “Susan and I were dating while tions, the Louisiana Veterinary lum in three years. we were in veterinary school,” Medical Association (LVMA) and “Yeah, I wore boots to class,” Strain said. “We got married after the Louisiana Farm Bureau Strain quipped. “We didn’t wear she graduated. That’s when we Federation. He eventually served too many cowboy hats back then; started building a mixed animal as legislative chair, board member- caps, yes, cowboy hats, no” practice together.” at-large, vice-president and presi- After earning his Doctor of The young couple’s toil to build dent of LVMA. Veterinary Medicine degree from their Claiborne Hill Veterinary He also served on the Farm the LSU Veterinary School in 1983, Hospital practice coincided with Bureau’s board of directors and Strain had no problem finding the economic boom that hit St. remained active with legislative clients for his new practice. Tammany Parish in the ‘80s and issues, including Farm Bureau’s “My office base was my father’s ‘90s. Three additional veterinari- national legislative action plan. cattle farm,” Strain said. “I started ans, Drs. Tommi A. Pugh, Christie Not all of Strain’s extra duty has our large animal practice at the D. McHughes and Laura Poirrier, been in the political field. Because farm.” were brought in to serve the animal of his knowledge of food animal When Strain says “our practice,” needs of the growing town of and production diseases he was Bonnie Plants awards savings bond to prize-winning cabbage grower Lawrence Becnel (right), a fourth grade student at Vacherie Elementary School, was the 2007 winner of Bonnie Plant Farm’s giant cabbage growing contest. Becnel recieved a $1000 U.S. Savings Bond for growing a 27 1/2-pound cabbage that made three meals for his family. Pictured with Becnel (at left) are: Charlie Trussell, Bonnie Plants representa- tive; Lona Waguespack, third grade teacher; Becnel; and Luke Theriot, former confidential assistant for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. January 17, 2008 MARKET BULLETIN Page 3 Louisiana Agriculture & Forestry Today Activities planned for 2008 Louisiana Arbor Day With Louisiana Arbor Day only a Forestry and the U.S. Forestry They will plant a number of eries have been busy harvesting day away, Agriculture and Forestry Service was able to give the parish a seedlings in a growing station and seedlings for sale to the public. Commissioner Mike Strain DVM grant to help replace trees lost to move them to new locations when "Our tree nurseries have been tak- advised residents to make family Hurricane Katrina." they grow out. ing orders since last August," Strain time to plant a tree this weekend. Strain said the parish chose to plant Call 318-219-1888 for more infor- said. "The orders are being shipped January through March is the ideal 20 Little Gem magnolias at mation. right now and landowners are plant- time to plant new trees in Louisiana, Chalmette High School and an addi- New Orleans' Parkway Partners ing pine and hardwood seedlings all Strain said.