Welcome to the Real World 4-H’ers

John Jarreau, II gets some help from Keith Miller with The Cottonport Bank to open his checking and savings account. He is also advised how much he should put into a savings account while Drew provides assistance to other 4-H’ers.

To culminate a year of 4-H club programs on financial management, the 4-H Agents organized this year’s 4-H Junior/Senior Focus Day to offer 7^th – 12^th grade 4-H’ers an opportunity to participate in the Welcome to the Real World simulation. This is a research-based career and money management curriculum that help youth understand career exploration, decision making, budgeting, saving, credit, insurance, check writing, and more.

Katherine Robillard, Junior Leader Club President called to order the Focus Day while Junior Leader Vice President Maddie Olinde led the American and 4-H Pledges. Taylor Frey, Catholic High 4-H’er, gave the Invocation. After Miles Brashier, County Agent, gave part of the Welcome the 4-H’ers heard from Dr. Glen Bowman, CHSPC Principal, and Sheriff-Elect Bud Torres. John Jarreau, II was awarded the State Award of Excellence and Justin Delatte and Maddy Olinde were recognized as the 2008 Key Club Award Winners. The Outstanding 4-H’ers awards were then presented to the following: Kate Short, Junior Girl 1^st Place, Maddy Barbay, Junior Girl 2^nd Place, and Allison Delatte, Junior Girl 3^rd Place. The Senior Girl winners were: Alanna Williams, 1^st Place, Ciara Collins, 2^nd Place, and 3^rd Place Jana Plauche while the Senior Boy winners were Andre St. Romain, 1^st Place, Justin Delatte, 2^nd Place, and Ben Cline 3^rd Place.

After the 4-H’ers participated in a check writing lesson they were given a career and monthly salary for that career and moved through the Real World simulation, deducting taxes, determining a savings amount, and spending their monthly “salary” on the necessary and luxury items that reflect the career and lifestyle they chose. Students also learned how to balance their checking and savings while budgeting and developing a spending plan. Youth visited with Drew Maciasz and Keith Miller bankers from The Cottonport Bank, Mary Ann Pourciau and LaTonya Jones bankers with Guaranty Bank,

Trisha Jarreau with Peoples Bank advises Justin Delatte as he opens a “checking” account and puts money in savings as Angel Chang, Tony Guarino, and Andre’ St. Romain

and Trisha Jarreau and Robin Cashio bankers with Peoples Bank to open their checking account and determine how much to put into savings. They then rotated through seven stations including: Housing, Transportation, Insurance, Utilities, Clothing, Food, Entertainment, and Deck of Chance to make purchases. Several 4-H’ers had to re-visit the bankers to move money from their savings to their checking account to cover their expenses.

The 4-H’ers also participated in a Financial Jeopardy Game and Who Wants to be a Millionaire led by Monica Olinde and Sheri Fair, FCS Agents with the LSU AgCenter. The keynote speaker for the Junior/Senior Focus Day was Drew Maciasz with The Cottonport Bank. Having been a 4-H’er in Pointe Coupee, Drew shared the road he took from 4-H’er to banker. He also showed the 4-H’ers his old 4-H recordbooks and 4-H Short Course Blue Ribbons. Before returning to school, Alanna Williams, Junior Leader Secretary provided the closing remarks.

When asked on the evaluation how has your view of life in the future changed as a result of participating in The Real World Program, we received the following comments: “It made me realize how tough life can be!”, “It made me take a better look at the future.”, “I learned that life is expensive.”, “I will use and spend money more carefully.”, “That saving now can really help me in the future.”

Special thanks to: Deborah Cross, FCS Agent, for he

Carolyn Pichon works with Taylor LeJeune to select the best automobile for his budget

r help in planning and conducting the event, Devin Williams, FDIC, for his financial management resources, Claire Loup, Federal Reserve, for the shredded currency and books, Pointe Coupee Parish Farm Bureau and Regions Bank for pencils and pens, and Pointe Coupee Electric for their plastic bags. We also extend a huge thank you to the volunteers who “manned” the stations. They were: Lisa James, Dr. Walter Morrison, Carolyn Pichon, Mary Jarreau, Michelle Jewell, Ann Arceneaux, Liz LeJeune, Rita LeBlanc, Missy Cline, Fran Major, Chip Peroyea, Merle Shoemake, Nancy St. Romain, Doris Jewell, Elaine Delatte, Cindy Steib, Maxine Olinde, and Mildred Kimball. Thanks also goes out to our bankers, Drew Maciasz, Keith Miller, LaTonya Jones, Mary Ann Pourciau, Trisha Jarreau, and Robin Cashio. We could not have had such a successful educational event without the help of these community members.