A day in the life of LDAF Weights & Measures staff

Agro-Consumer Services intern "weighs" in on what she's learned

My name is Noelle Matthews, I am currently a Senior at Louisiana State University majoring in Agriculture Extension, Education, and Evaluation with a concentration in Leadership and Development. Throughout this semester, I have been interning at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry within the Office of Agro-Consumer Services. This department consists of three divisions: weights and measures, agricultural commodities, and dairy. All of these serve the common goal of protecting the buyer and consumer. My role falls within the weights and measures division. Upon beginning this internship, I was surprised when I realized how little knowledge I had of this particular area of agriculture. Due to this, my supervisor, the Assistant Commissioner of Agro-Consumer Services Dr. Bobby Fletcher has worked hard to ensure that I have been placed in all the areas possible within our division in order to provide me with a vast learning experience. I have had the privilege to see first hand all the moving parts that go into guaranteeing that we, the consumers, are receiving high-quality products for fair pricing when it comes to our purchases.

I have assisted the administration on the professional office side of the job, as well as traded my business casual for boots and jeans to conduct work out in the field. While working with administration, I conducted a variety of tasks to track the various locations that require inspections based on their inventory of scanners, scales, or licensed weighmasters. While out of the office, I have had the pleasure of working side by side with our small and large mass laboratory metrologists, fuel lab technicians and field inspectors. Everyday our metrologists work to certify that weights ranging from .01 ounces to thousands of pounds, scales, and flow meters are properly calibrated in order to ensure that the consumer is guaranteed accuracy. This job is no easy task- it requires heavy lifting, serious math calculations, and forklift driving. Our two lead metrologists are young women powered with determination. I am proud to have worked and learned by their side.

I also spent time in our motor fuel lab, where both fuel and oil samples are tested in a variety of ways to ensure there is no contamination present, such as water. I was able to conduct various forms of these tests. It was so exciting to switch to a laboratory setting, especially because I got to wear my very own lab coat. Our inspectors brought fuel or oil samples into the lab before completing their routine inspections. These routine inspections consist of placing five gallons of fuel into our calibrated j-provers, where the inspectors then determine if there are any issues. These issues could be too much or too little gas is flowing from the pump which can result in a loss of money for either the producer or consumer. I got to try my hand at conducting these inspections as I rode with one of our field inspectors, Mrs. Jennifer Beyl. Mrs. Beyl and I also performed a routine inspection with a local grocery store, where we evaluated the scales and scanners and conducted a package inspection. The scale inspection ensures that scales are accurate when weighing any items that are sold by a designated cost per weight, while the scanner inspection determines that the price of the item displayed is accurate to the price shown upon purchase. The package inspection allows us to ensure that items that are prepackaged in store are priced according to the proper weight. As a consumer, this is SO important and we should be so grateful to our inspectors who work so hard to protect our money!

I most recently have had the opportunity to work with our amazing communications team, I also met with Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, who is a true inspiration to Louisiana agriculture. I watched as our communications team prepared promotional and educational videos that are shared through social media in order to spread education and awareness of Louisiana agriculture. I cannot believe that I am only halfway through this internship. It amazes me how I have already learned so much and had the privilege of working with some amazing individuals–all who have served as mentor roles to me in so many ways as I prepare to begin my professional life as my December Graduation approaches.