Southern University Ag Center Vice Chancellor Named to Board

Southern University Ag Center's Vice Chancellor for Extension, Dr. Gina E. Eubanks, was appointed to the board of the Big River Economic & Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA) during one of the organization's recent board meetings.

BREADA began in 1996 when Chris Campany recruited a group of farmers to start Baton Rouge's first farmers market as part of his Master's thesis at Louisiana State University. From that group, the Red Stick Farmers Market was created and the first farmers market was held the same year. BREADA also received its 501 © 3 non-profit organization status in 1996 and began working to increase economic opportunities for small farmers.

BREADA entered into a partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the State of Louisiana to open the Main Street Market, which serves as an incubator for small businesses. To date, the organization has established a mobile farmers market that provides access to fresh fruits and vegetable to limited access neighborhoods and a kids club that teaches healthy lifestyles to children.

BREADA has a mission of, "building healthy and strong local food systems; increasing the sustainability of independent local farmers, fishers and food producers; and to foster stewardship of land and community through public markets."

As a member of the board, Eubanks and the other 15 board members will oversee the policies implemented by the organization to assist small farmers and promote the idea of purchasing locally grown food.

In May of 2013, Eubanks was named Associate Vice Chancellor and Program Leader for Nutrition and Food Sciences at the Louisiana State University AgCenter. She currently serves in a dual appointment at both the SU and LSU Ag Centers.

She received a B.S. degree in clothing and textiles from Southern University in 1977. Eubanks earned an M.S. degree in clothing and textiles merchandising in 1978 and a Ph.D. in home economics in 1987, both degrees are from Oklahoma State University.