LSU AgCenter agent retires after 24 years

After 24 years with the LSU AgCenter as the Family and Consumer Science Agent in St. Charles Parish, Deniese Hatty Zeringue has announced her retirement.

"I really enjoyed my time. Every day was totally different. I enjoyed working with all the different people," Zeringue said.

Zeringue is a member of the Louisiana Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (LEAFCS).

Throughout her career she promoted the importance of eating fruits and vegetables at the German Coast Farmers Market and in St. Charles Parish Schools as the nutrition/4H agent.

Zeringue said her work was most rewarding when she saw how she benefitted people’s lives first hand.

"When you go into Walmart and a Headstart child says ‘hey Miss Deniese’ and I tell their parents I teach them nutrition and they say ‘oh you are why they asked me to buy a pineapple," Zeringue said.

During her time with LEAFCS she earned the Distinguished Service Award, the Continued Excellence Award and the Extension Educator of the Year Award, which was given to only two other members.

Deniese earned her Family and Consumer Science teaching certificate and is looking forward to putting her Masters plus 27 degree to good use to continue the promotion of selecting healthier foods.

Because of the budget cuts to higher education, Zeringue will be the last FCS Agent in St. Charles.

"For now I am mostly just staying home taking care of projects that were left for another time," Zeringue said. "I have a very big house and there are quite a few things to do. I have over 1,000 dolls I am big doll collector."

Zeringue has been married to her husband Marion for 39 years and has three children Lacey Z. Doucet (husband Patrick), Brandon Zeringue (fiancé Bayley Crow) and April Z. LeBouef (husband Tony Jr.) and two grandchildren Kyle and Haley-Kate Doucet.

Residents can continue to call the AgCenter office on Paul Maillard Road to get information from Rene Schmit the County Agent and Kali Zammit the 4-H Agent at (985) 785-4473.