Creating Butterfly Gardens Across Louisiana through Enhanced Extension Agent Training

County extension agents are constantly under pressure to increase contact numbers. Limited state and federal funding reduce possibilities for new horticulture programming and make maintaining existing programming difficult. An internal innovation grant was received to host an agent training with a butterfly garden focus. The agent training focused on information on butterfly anatomy, butterfly eating habits and host plant and nectar plant selection for southern gardens. Agents were also provided with three lessons related to growing a butterfly garden. Lessons were matched with state educational benchmarks and could be used with elementary-aged students and older students with slight modifications. Lesson topics included: plant propagation of butterfly plants, butterfly life–cycles, and butterfly feeding mechanisms. Agents received a workshop binder with all provided PowerPoints and supplemental publications. Agents also received all materials needed to construct, plant and maintain a four by eight foot raised bed butterfly garden. Agents also received all supplies needed to conduct the three lesson plans with at least 20 students. Twelve extension agents with various responsibilities including: Family Consumer Science, Ag and Natural Resources, and 4H attended the training and participated in pre and post workshop surveys as well as a post year project survey. Agents overall butterfly knowledge increased from the beginning to end of the workshop and was maintained over the course of the year. This training resulted in the initiation of butterfly projects in 13 schools, one camp, and 2 AgDays with a total of 2,088 children participating in the project. Agents reported that the enhanced training and provided supplies enabled them to go back to their respective parishes (counties) and immediately begin new programming. Agents also reported that participation in this program made their jobs easier and lessened anxiety regarding working with students in gardens situations.