Clover Connections is a newsletter with information from the State 4-H Staff. New editions will be available each quarter.

EMI Music is partnering with National 4-H Council to create this first-of-its kind music compilation of hits from country’s biggest stars who all got their start in 4-H. It includes Grammy-winning songwriter Hillary Lindsey’s “The Clown,” exclusively recorded for the album, and a song by Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, who performed at the 2007 NAE4-HA Conference in Atlanta, Ga.

The Rovin' Clover is a quarterly newsletter written and produced by 4-H members from across Louisiana. Articles are truly engaging and are written by youth for youth.

Do you have a special 4-H story you’d like to share? An editorial team is collecting stories for a book from the entire 4-H family including members, volunteers, agents, state staff, donors, family members and others.

(Distributed 06/19/08) Louisiana youth took home honors as state contest winners and alternates as the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H U concluded Thursday night (June 19) on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 06/19/08) Ten adults were recognized for their contributions to the Louisiana 4-H program during an awards banquet and other ceremonies this week as part of the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H University program on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The honorees included four 4-H alumni who continue to show active support of the youth development program, two school superintendents, two professors on the LSU AgCenter faculty and two secretaries from LSU AgCenter offices.

(Distributed 06/19/08) The Louisiana 4-H Museum is seeking items for its collection to show the history of 4-H – the state’s largest and long-running youth development program. The museum is calling for photos, ribbons, certificates, trophies, documents, handcrafted projects, demonstration materials, record books and more to be used in exhibits, traveling displays, presentations and archives.

(Distributed 06/19/08) Winners of 4-H scholarships were among those honored during ceremonies at the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H University July 17-20. The young adults from across Louisiana were credited with excelling in project work and recordkeeping, serving as club officers or otherwise distinguishing themselves during their years in 4-H.

4-H Day at the Captial 2008 - June 5, 2008

Ever wanted to see professional bull rider, Chris Shivers? He’s coming to Baton Rouge for the Gerry Lane Invitational PBR and 4-H’ers can purchase tickets to this family event at special prices. Click here for more information.

(Distributed 05/23/08) More than 1,500 young people from across the state will gather on the LSU campus June 17-20 for the 94th annual 4-H University. There will be an array of educational activities including competition for scholarships, educational trips, saving bonds and other prizes.

(Distributed 05/19/08) A Louisiana native and former 4-H member, Kent Desormeaux and his horse Big Brown scored impressive victories at the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

(Distributed 05/28/08) You can find interesting stories almost anywhere you look, but Louisiana 4-H has produced some gems since its inception in 1908.

4-H Day at the Capitol Video

More than 1,600 4-H’ers and volunteer leaders from Louisiana's 64 parishes will converge on the LSU campus to participate in competitive activities and learning experiences June 17-20, 2008. This marks the 94th year of 4-H University but the 100th year of 4-H in Louisiana.

(Distributed 06/10/08) Young people from across Louisiana will compete in the 39th annual Louisiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Show July 8-12 in West Monroe.

Calling all past and present Louisiana 4-Hers, leaders, parents, volunteers, agents, and staff!! Help us fill the Louisiana 4-H Museum collection with your memories.

Directions to LSU Campus AgCenter 4-H Facilities. Map included for reference. Directions for eastbound and westbound travelers on I-10 are provided. Directions for 4-H Camp Grant Walker are also listed.

The Louisiana Pelican Parle is the quarterly newsletter for the Louisiana Association of Extension 4-H Agents (LAE 4-HA). The newsletter is the responsibility of the Association Reporter and is distributed to all association members and 4-H Agents across the state of Louisiana.

(Distributed 05/19/08) More than 350 Louisiana 4-H regional shooting sports winners participated in the state competition held May 2-3 in Southeast Louisiana.

The Louisiana 4-H Camp Grant Walker Web site has recently undergone a complete redesign. The site has a better look, easier navigation and a lot more content for 4-H members and other users.

More than 75 4-H club members and volunteers participated in the annual 4-H Food & Fitness Camp held Feb. 23 & 24 at Camp Grant Walker. The theme for the camp was “Birthday Bash of the Century,” and camp participants were treated to hands-on educational experiences focused on the 100th birthday of 4-H, reports Lois Brister, Rapides Parish 4-H agent.

An 18-year-old 4-H’er from Ouachita Parish, Lauren Ogles, was invited to do a guest interview in New York City for celebrity chef Rachael Ray’s Web site.

4 H’ers plant irises and pitcher plants in low-lying areas of the LSU AgCenter’s Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center near Pollock, La. as a project for Youth Wetlands Week, March 31-April 4.

The New Orleans Hornets invited Louisiana 4-H members to participate in the sixth annual 4-H/New Orleans Hornets game Friday, February 22nd.

The 4-H centennial marketing fund received a $1,300 donation March 15 in a unique location -- on the ice, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs hockey team ice. ReAzalia Allen, state 4-H secretary-treasurer, presented the check to Renee Castro, centennial coordinator, at 4-H Day at the Mudbugs.

4-H members had the opportunity to be on court, participate in group photos, meet players, and also assist with celebrating the 100th anniversary during the New Orleans Hornets game against the Houston Rockets.

National 4-H Conference is a working conference and requires youth and adults who are focused and committed to preparing themselves for the conference, working during the conference, and applying newly acquired skills back in their communities. For more information about the conference, contact an Extension agent in your parish and visit the conference Web site at: http://4hconf.4-h.org/

(Distributed 03/05/08) The Louisiana Association of Extension 4-H Agents touted accomplishments and expressed appreciation to those in attendance at the annual Louisiana School Boards Association Board of Directors and Superintendents’ Breakfast during LSBA’s 71st convention Feb. 29.

Blue Bell Creameries' new flavor - Centennial Cupcake - is now being sold throughout stores in Louisiana. Pick up a carton today and support 4-H Youth Development.

“Fun for a week – Memories for a lifetime!” That’s the theme of the summer 2008 4-H camping experience at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center near Pollock, La. The fun starts with the first of 10 weeklong camps, May 26-30. But the preparations and sign-ups are going on now.

(Distributed 01/25/08) More than 2,200 first and fourth graders along with 200 teachers and school personnel from eight northeast Louisiana parishes participated in the fourth annual Ag Alley as part of the Ag Expo at the Ike Hamilton Exposition Center in West Monroe Jan. 17-19.

(Distributed 01/29/08) Thirteen people from Northeast Louisiana were the first group to be inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame. The 4-H Hall of Fame has been established as part of the celebration of 100 years of 4-H in Louisiana, according to Dwight Landreneau, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor.

Images of Claiborne Parish 4-H'ers Christopher Burch and Shelby Harper being shot for an "Iron Chef America" segment featuring them cooking alligator dishes. The local segment was shot at Calvary Baptist Church in Homer on Feb. 4, 2006 and aired on the Food Network on Feb. 28.

2008 4-H Commodity Ambassador Contest

Twenty-six teens represented Louisiana at the 86th annual National 4-H Congress, along with more than 1,000 other delegates from throughout the United States and its territories, in Atlanta during the Thanksgiving weekend.

The LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Department hosted the top shootersmar from across the state at the Grant Walker Educational Center for a statewide “shoot out.”

Southwest Louisiana 4-H Club members gave Gov. Kathleen Blanco a check for more than $50,000 at Saturday’s (Sept. 23) commemoration of Hurricane Rita’s first anniversary.

Jambalaya, ice cream from the LSU Dairy Store and numerous door prizes were among highlights of the tailgate party held for 4-H members before the Sept. 15 football game against Middle Tennessee State.

Donny Moon from Winn Parish is the new president of the Louisiana Association of Extension 4-H Agents. He assumed the presidency at the agents' annual meeting in Alexandria Aug. 22-24, 2007.

Ten youth and seven adults were part of this year’s Louisiana 4-H State Fashion Board trip to New York City from July 21-25, 2007. Following are some highlights of the trip from Tanya Walker, an instructor in the 4-H Youth Development unit and coordinator of this board.

Teach the young about the value of Louisiana’s coastline and marshes, and they’ve learned a lesson for a lifetime. That’s the philosophy behind the LSU AgCenter’s annual series of Marsh Maneuvers camps. They’re unique opportunities to mix fun with education – and in the end, help save our coast.

Each month, the Board of Supervisors features an LSU System unit with remarks from its students. It was 4-H’s turn during the October 29th meeting.

4-H’ers from 22 parishes attended the LSU AgCenter 4-H Food and Fitness Camp January 24-25 at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center near Pollock. This year’s theme was "The Wonderful World of 4-H," borrowing from Walt Disney movies and characters, according to LSU AgCenter nutrition expert Catrinel Stanciu, advisor to the 4-H State Food and Fitness Board.

Don’t give up was the message from one state’s 4-H’er to those in Louisiana who were affected by the recent hurricanes. To stress that message, 4-H’ers from across North Carolina collected school supplies, toiletries and stuffed animals for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The items were packed into "Boxes of Hope" that arrived in Louisiana Monday (Oct. 17).

LSU AgCenter coastal resources agent Mark Shirley had hoped to bring a group of students back to a plot near Holly Beach where they had planted marsh grass during the 4-H Marsh Maneuvers program in July. But, after driving for several miles on La. 82 between Holly Beach and Johnson’s Bayou last weekend, Shirley gave up on his hope to find the transplanted grass, which apparently fell victim to Hurricane Rita’s wrath.

(Distributed 02/10/06) Two members of the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H program will show America they can be "Iron Chefs” when a show featuring the teens cooking alligator dishes airs on the Food Network Feb. 28. Claiborne Parish 4-H'ers Christopher Burch and Shelby Harper, students at Haynesville High School, were taped Saturday (Feb. 4) and said they enjoy everything about being in 4-H, including learning beneficial life skills.