Learning about land

• By RELMA HARGUS
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Aug 12, 2008 - Page: 1E - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Learning to identify common wildlife foods,  judge quality of wildlife habitat from aerial photos and recommend wildlife habitat management practices  might not sound like preparation for a medical career.

But Lindsey Tassin sees the connection.

Tassin, a St. Joseph’s Academy 2008 graduate, belonged to a 4-H team who placed second at the national Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program in July.

Unlike the other 17 state teams at the event, the Louisiana one had never competed together before the meet.

In the other states, teams compete at the state level for the right to go to the national competition; in Louisiana, individuals compete while attending 4-H University.

The top four Louisiana contestants are dubbed the “All-Star Team” and sent to the national competition.

“New Mexico’s team starts a year in advance,” Maggie Brakeville said.

The Benton High School sophomore was the youngest member of the team.

Carlin LeDoux, a home-schooled junior who lives in DeRidder, and Eric Smith, a home-schooled graduate and Sulphur resident who will attend McNeese this fall, completed the team.

The four studied individually, but also met twice at the Wildlife and Fisheries Building in Forest Hill.

Because of scheduling conflicts, only three people were there each time although everybody came at least once, Tassin said.

The result: They had to learn to work together at the five-day competition itself rather than during the preceding months.

During the contest, the teams compete as individuals in three events and together in two.