Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said a friendly race challenge between Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry accountant Lauren Robillard and State Forester Wade Dubea netted more than 750 pounds of food for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank today.

Robillard, a slim 20-something, challenged Dubea, a somewhat less slim 40-something, to an arduous “pack test.” Successful completion of the pack test is a necessary requirement for U.S. Forestry Service wildland firefighting certification.

Wildland firefighters must be able to complete the pack test by wearing a special 45-pound training vest and finish a three-mile hike within 45 minutes.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry employees were allowed to watch the spectacle by contributing food items like canned goods to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

A 17-lap course was set up in the front parking lot of the LDAF building on Florida Boulevard and Robillard and Dubea Robillard and Dubea surprised the cheering crowd by clasping hands and crossing the finish line together in 42 minutes and 34 seconds.

Strain was the official starter and the racing stewards were Forestry Protection Chief Don Smith and Asst. Protection Chief Bret Lane.

Wildland Firefighter Mike Smith, dressed in full wildland firefighting gear, demonstrated various firefighting hand tools like combi-tools and fire rakes used by all wildland firefighters in the field.

“It was a fun event and we’re glad to have had this opportunity to raise awareness, not only for the Baton Rouge Food Bank, but also our wildland firefighters,” Strain said. “Our crew members do a great job of protecting Louisiana’s forests.”

So far in 2011, LDAF wildland firefighting crews have suppressed 1,117 wildland fires that have damaged more then 13,000 acres.

Erin Swenson, vice president of communications for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank was thrilled with the donation.

“What a great way to bring public awareness to the issue of hunger in our community,” Swenson said. “Of course we are very grateful to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and its staff for participating in this food drive and it looked like they had a great time doing it.”

PHOTO CUTLINE: LDAF accountant Lauren Robillard and State Forester Wade Dubea cross the finish line after completing a wildland firefighter’s pack test, a three-mile hike that the participant must complete in 45 minutes while wearing a 45-pound weighted vest. Robillard and Dubea took part in the activity to draw awareness to hunger in the Baton Rouge community and to collect food for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. LDAF employees contributed more than 750 pounds of food to the Food Bank during the food drive.

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