A group of Northeast Louisiana farmers and landowners voted last month to move ahead with chartering of a formal organization to promote development of wildlife habitat and nature preserves on marginal farmlands, as an alternative economic resource.
The working name of the group is Delta Outdoors. A slate of directors was elected to begin the formal organization, and to schedule another meeting to continue the project.
Howard Gryder of Winnsboro, a recently retired agent from the LSU AgCenter, was elected acting president, during the six-month organizational period, after which permanent directors and officers will be named.
Other officers are David Polk, treasurer; and Howard Dee Smith, secretary; board members Larry Foster, Randy Upchurch, Wade Bufkin, and Wes Newman.
The group met at the Macon Ridge Research Station in Winnsboro on May 15, to take steps for the formal organization. This was the third meeting in three months, with the group expected to launch a membership canvass as one of its initial activities.
The group's purpose is "to promote and enhance economic development in the delta region of northeast Louisiana by developing natural resource outdoor enterprises, tourism, and related spin-off industries."
In an earlier meeting, the group heard landowners from Arkansas relate how they have developed income-producing enterprises on similar types of land, for duck and deer hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation.
Members of the landowner group have also held meetings with area tourism development agencies to discuss marketing methods.