Joan was an 8-year 4-H club member that led her to choose 4-H as a career. She began as a 4-H agent in St. Tammy Parish in 1969, was promoted to Area 4-H agent working with 10 parishes and later became state 4-H Assistant Specialist. She retired as a tenured professor of the Department of 4-H Youth Development in 2005. Joan developed significant 4-H publications, including the Handbook of Louisiana 4-H Awards, 4-H Commodity Cookery Handbook and Coordinators Kit, and Oh The Places You Can Go With 4-H. She developed the Guidelines for Developing Advisory Committees to help faculty build a productive advisory committee that included 4-H youth and was instrumental in developing the new advisory process for the state.
Joan promoted developing leadership in 4-H members. She facilitated changes in the State Teen Leader Conference, which attracts 200 teen members, to increase the involvement of youth in planning and presenting. She involved the Executive Committee in the annual 4-H University program that reaches about 1600 4-H members age 13 and older. Joan was known nationally as a 4-H records expert. Under her leadership, more quality records were completed and judged for national competition, with approximately 50 national winners selected from LA. She served on the 2000 After School Care Committee, National Strategic Planning Conference, National 4-H Congress Planning Committee for 3 years, and judged National Scholarship and Records for 3 years.
