DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 1, 2026
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Area parishes fastest growing in state Ascension not far behind Livingston in growth rate
latest U.S. Census population estimates. Between the last U.S. Census in 2020 and July 1, 2025, the federal agency found Livingston is the fastest growing parish in Louisiana, expanding its population by 9%. That BY CHARLES LUSSIER equates to almost 13,000 more residents. Staff writer Ascension is not far behind, growing its Livingston and Ascension parishes con- total number of residents by almost 7%, or tinue to lead the Baton Rouge region when 8,600 people. That’s the third fastest pace of it comes to population growth, though the growth in the state. The parishes have the ninth and the 11th pace of growth has slowed, according to the
Darlene Denstorff
largest populations out of the state’s 64 parishes. Comparatively, Louisiana as a whole declined in population over that five-year span by almost 1%, or nearly 40,000 people. Similarly, only 14 out of those 64 parishes added residents overall since when the Census was administered in April 2020. Andrew Fitzgerald, a senior vice president with the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership, formerly the Baton Rouge
Area Chamber, said the latest population estimates reflect national trends. “Suburbs have been growing,” Fitzgerald said. “It was happening before COVID. COVID accelerated that trend.” Those growth rates slipped between 2024 and 2025, to 1.2% in Livingston and 0.8% in Ascension. Over that year, the state population was flat, growing less than a tenth of a
ä See GROWING, page 4G
Sorrento celebrates with egg hunt BY WENDY LOUP
AROUND ASCENSION
Contributing writer
Garden Club flower show set
Children carrying wicker baskets and colorful buckets ran across the Sorrento Community Center’s grass Saturday collecting eggs during Sorrento’s Easter egg hunt. The Sorrento event had the help of more than 20 volunteers, the Sorrento Volunteer Fire Department, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office and Boucherie and Balloon Festival representatives. “We started the easter egg hunt in 2019,” Assistant Town Clerk Kay Prado said. “We did not have any egg hunts during the COVID years, but it’s become a popular event for us.” Sorrento, located in Ascension Parish, has a population of around 1,500. The town typically hosts three major family-friendly activities throughout the year: a fall event around Halloween, Christmas and Easter. Each event features activities for children such as indoor and outdoor games, craft activities, pictures with Santa Claus and egg hunts. “The egg hunt has become popular for us, thanks to residents spreading the date by word-ofPHOTO BY WENDY LOUP mouth,” Prado added. “We have a resident who is a teacher, and
The Gonzales Garden Club will present a flower show April 8-10 at the main Ascension Parish Library branch on Irma Boulevard. This Garden Inspiration Exhibit, “Flora and Foliage,” will include traditional floral arrangements, container plants and horticulture specimens for public viewing. People’s Choice Awards will be selected by popular vote in the categories of floral design, container plants and horticulture specimens. A two-segment program will be presented to the public from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 8. Leigh Prather and Elisa Tubbs from the West Baton Rouge Garden and Civic Club will discuss native plants and the Louisiana Certified Habitat Program. The Ascension Parish Library staff will explain details of the Seed Library, which is a collection of complimentary seeds that library cardholders can pick up from all locations during the warm and cool growing seasons. No registration or fee is required.
Outdoor Market opens The Highway 621 Outdoor Market, 39275 La. 621, Gonzales, opens at 8 a.m. April 11. Shop vendors’ booths and purchase locally grown produce. The market is open every Saturday until the end of July.
Children of all ages participated in the town of Sorrento’s Easter egg hunt Saturday. The family-friendly event also featured inflatables and other children’s activities.
Dutchtown, St. Amant students sell plants, host farmers market
BY WENDY LOUP
Food distributions set
Contributing writer
Ascension Parish’s commodity distribution is set for the second Tuesday of each month in Donaldsonville and the second Wednesday of the month in Gonzales. Distributions are from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Frank Sotile Jr. Pavilion in Donaldsonville and the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. All recipients must be prequalified by visiting the Ascension Parish Health Unit, 1024 E. Ascension Complex Blvd., in Gonzales or the Donaldsonville courthouse, 300 Houmas St. Contact Layne Melancon at (225) 450-1006 or layne.melancon@fmolhs.org.
Dutchtown High School and St. Amant High School both proudly displayed flowers, carpentry and vegetation Saturday during their plant sales and farmers markets. The St. Amant High School Farmers Market & Plant Sale also featured 28 arts and crafts vendors, pictures with the Easter bunny and a petting zoo. The Dutchtown FFA Plant Sale & Farmers Market sold vegetables, plants, flowers, herbs, succulents and student-built carpentry items. Both schools’ proceeds will go directly back into their school’s FFA organization. For St. Amant High School, proceeds help pay for activities and supplies for future projects, agriscience teacher and FFA advisor Mandy DeLaune, said. Many attendees were attracted to the school’s greenhouse looking for plants, strawberries and other vegetation. “The plants are the most popu-
Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1998; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate. com. Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday.
ä See HUNT, page 3G
lar thing we sell,” DeLaune said. “People come specifically looking for plants.” DeLaune, who has taught agriscience for 19 years, said the FFA students learn a variety of lessons while growing plants and building carpentry projects. “Every student in agriscience and carpentry are given the opportunity to participate and learn more about the agriculture business,” DeLaune said. “When those kids start a project, they are pouring into something that will give them pride. “For the plants and flowers, they are taking something that started off little and turning it into something they can see their work paid off.” The St. Amant High student-built wooden swings and chairs sold fast during the event. Gage Mueller, a junior at St. Amant High, built three swings that sold in the morning. “This gives us the experience of building things and learning the process,” Mueller said. “Once you
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Saturday’s Dutchtown High School’s FFA Plant Sale & Farmers Market featured flowers, plants and carpentry projects available for the public to purchase. finish, it’s nice because it’s something you can be proud of.” For sophomore Jax Schexnayder, his woodworking class taught him lifelong skills. “I have learned how to build things I can reference in the future,” Schexnayder said. “If I have children, I’ll know how to build furniture.” On the other side of Ascension Parish, the Dutchtown High School’s event is hoping to grow bigger with each year. This year was the fifth year for the plant sale, but the first to fea-
ture a farmers market, according to agriscience teacher and FFA sponsor William Wolf. “We are trying to expand,” Wolf said. “We are taking suggestions of what plants people would like to purchase. “We have the physical room to grow the event on campus, so we would like to feature food trucks and more vendors.” Emily Ginn, Dutchtown’s FFA sponsor and agriscience teacher, said the plant sale and farmers
ä See PLANTS, page 3G
Dutchtown baseball … consistency and tradition Troy LeBoeuf
ASCENSION SPORTS
Chris Schexnaydre was on the baseball staff when Dutchtown High School opened; he became head coach in year five and has led the program ever since. That level of consistency and having an experienced staff has helped the program be a mainstay atop the Divi-
sion I nonselect rankings. “Having a strong staff to surround the team has been invaluable,” Schexnaydre said. “Troy Templet has been our pitching coach for the last six years. He has our guys prepared and gives attention to everyone on the staff. He has 30 years of experience; this is a
huge part of our program.” John Michael Collins joined the staff to work with infielders and hitters. He has head coaching experience and helps organize practices. Max Richter is in his eighth season, coaches the outfielders and helps with everything, Schexnaydre said.
“Johnathan Kohn is in his first heard and coaches our freshmen team,” Schexnaydre said. The Griffins are 19-8 (at press time) and ranked third in the power rankings. The Griffins started out 0-3, but
ä See LEBOEUF, page 4G