This page includes a listing of activities and events held during the club year, including program goals and enrollment information.

As families are forced to cut back and downsize or relinquish their homes, keeping a pet becomes much less affordable or even impossible.

This issue of the Junior Leader Chatter will include the following information: Dates to Remember, Jr. Leaders Geaux Green, Jr. Leader Meeting, Candle Sale, Food Festival, Shoppe D' Noel, Natchitoches Christmas Festival and Meet a Junior Leader.

The November 2009 Issue will include the following information: Dates to Remember, Parish Rules, Dr. Clint Depew DVD, 4-H Enrollment & Emails, Officer Election

The November 2009 issue of the Livestock Chatterbox will include information on Dates to Remember, Entry Forms, LSU Broilers, Market Animals, Southern University Livestock show, State Livestock Show, 4-H Enrollment, Camper Spots, Acadiana District & State Premier Exhibitors, Parish & District Show Dates.

Pecan variety recommendations for yards and small, unmanaged plantings.

The St. Landry Parish Fall Activity Day is an event open to 4-H'ers who would like to exhibit their plants, National 4-H Week posters and pets.

Growing your own fruit can be profitable and satisfying, and many fruit trees can add beauty to your landscape. But you can't expect to grow quality fruit without caring for the plants. This publication explains how your success will depend largely on variety selection, soil management, pruning, fertilization, pest control and other cultural practices.

The most important cultural practice the homeowner with pecan trees needs to consider is proper fertilization. This publication includes information and guidelines for fertilizing pecan trees.

The flowering dogwood (Cornusflorida) is native to much of the eastern United States. Dogwood is a very versatile ornamental tree. This publication includes information on plant selection, watering, fertilization, disease and pest control for dogwoods.

The selection, planting and care of urban trees in Louisiana. Includes full-page poster of native landscape trees, their leaves, tree height and spread comparisons. 16 pages.

Energy bills soar right along with temperatures, but shade trees in your landscape can help you keep cooler while lowering your utility bills.

This publication includes information on the planting, fertilization, pruning, failure to flower, insects and diseases and varieties of crape myrtles.

Louisiana Sweet Potato News aims to update and inform all who are associated with or interested in Louisiana sweet potatoes.

In this Novemer 2009 issue, you will find the following information: a calendar of events, 4-H Museum, Key Club Award, Award of Excellence, Records Contest, Jim Bowie Livestock Show, Jr. Leader Meeting, Jr. Leader Recycling Project, Elementary Workshop Day and Food Festival.

St. Landry 4-Her’s have worked all year long on their livestock projects. Please take the time to support our 4-H'ers.

The 4-H Key Club Award recognizes 4-H'ers who have shown outstanding leadership in their club and parish.

The 4-H Award of Excellence is awarded to junior 4-H members who have been in 4-H for at least two years.

You'll find advice from financial experts.

Eighteen chapters cover everything including the biology of a cow, replacement heifer selection, nutrition, stocker cattle, management tips, record keeping and cattle handling facilities. Use the order form to order your hard copy. The cost is $25 plus tax and shipping.

In addition to flowers, bedding plants may be grown for their colorful foliage or interesting forms or textures. With proper selection, they can be used to provide color throughout the year. Use this publication to help you with bedding plant selection and proper care.

This information will help you to become resilient in protecting yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.

Plant-parasitic nematodes can damage plants in many ways and are considered to be a serious threat to sweet potato production in Louisiana. This publication describes problematic nematode species and management strategies available for these pests.

It would be hard to find a flower more universally loved than the rose. Over humanity’s long history with this plant, the rose has found its way into our gardens, cuisine, medicine, art and cultures. It is easier than ever to find undemanding, reliable roses that will enhance your landscape. This publication will help you decide what types of roses to grow, as well as explain how to plant and take care of them.

You'll find suggestions on appropriate dress for an interview.

This comprehensive publication covers the importance of harvesting techniques, as well as curing and storage conditions, that will promote quality and extend the storage life of sweet potatoes. It also includes information on packing line sanitation, product safety, certification standards and USDA grade standards for sweet potatoes. (Produced by North Carolina State University and the LSU AgCenter -- PDF Format Only)

You'll find examples of what to discuss with your new college student.

Be prepared for the possibility of a hurricane in your area.

Begin teaching kids about money at an early age.

In this October 2009 Issue, you will find information on Dates to Remember, Ryegrass Planting for Horses, Louisiana 4-H Museum, Master Horseman and 4-H Enrollment.

What impact does a Federal Reserve rate cut have on you, the consumer? We hear and read about rate changes, but we don’t always understand how they affect us as consumers, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Gloria Nye.

You'll find suggestions that will help you prepare and research various avenues in finding an affordable answer.

You'll find suggestions on how to approach kids on the topic of money.

In this October 2009 Issue of the Livestock Chatterbox, you will find information on Dates to Remember, Project Possession/Hardship, New Exhibitors, Louisiana 4-H Museum, Market Animals, State Fair of Louisiana and 4-H Enrollment.

In the October 2009 issue of the 4-H Chatterbox, you will find the following information: October/November calendar, National 4-H Week, Officer Installation, Yambilee Festival, Spirit Awards, Jim Bowie Livestock Show, Livestock Exhibitors Possession Dates, Junior Leader Meeting, Club Dues, Rice Festival, Fall Activity Day and Elementary Workshop Day.

Visit the Louisiana 4-H Museum where you can explore the history of 4-H in the state.

You will find information on dates to remember, possession/hardship, state entry fee increase, cattle festival and state fair.

St. Landry Parish 4-H'ers who have registered to show livestock animals will receive this newsletter, which will inform them of upcoming activities as well as provide helpful suggestions for caring for their animals. This August 2009 newsletter contains information about dates to remember, project possession and hardships, new livestock exhibitors, Sugarcane Livestock Show, 4-H enrollment, state entry fee increases and the State Fair of Louisiana.

You will find the dates and times of the beef breeding, steer, commercial heifer, dairy, market goat, breeding goat, market lamb shows along with the jackpot and pee wee showmanship.

St. Landry 4-H Junior Leaders conducted session on team building for Camp Azzie participants.

You will find a monthly breakdown of the 4-H activities that St. Landry Parish 4-H will participate. The 4-H Calendar will also list district, state and national activities that you may inquire about.

This is a quarterly newsletter from the LSU AgCenter's Family and Consumer Sciences Division.

The 4-H Chatterbox is the monthly newsletter for St. Landry Parish 4-H. You will find a schedule of upcoming events as well as details relating to contests and events. Anyone in grades 4-12 may join their local 4-H Club. Topics covered included: National 4-H week, Spirit Awards, officer installation, executive committee, information for livestock and horse exhibitors, junior leader meeting, fall activity day, pennies for 4-H, rice festival and club dues.

This is a quarterly newsletter from the Horticulture Division of the LSU AgCenter's School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences.

The LSU AgCenter tests soil, potting mixes, water and plants for farmers and home gardeners. These samples are tested and evaluated for nutrients and minerals in the soil, along with the soil pH, and the results are customized for whatever crop or plant that is to be grown.

Starting in October 2009, the LSU AgCenter will be conducting a Master Horseman Program for adults in St. Landry Parish. The Master Horseman Program is designed to improve the overall knowledge and skills of horse people so they can serve as 4-H Leaders.

The 2009 4-H University was held at LSU Baton Rouge the week of June 23-26. See information about St. Landry 4-H'ers who participated.

4-H Day at the Capitol was held June 3, and 4-H'ers got a chance to show appreciation to our state legislators.

The St. Landry Parish 4-H Horse Show took place on June 12-13, 2009, at the Ag Arena in Opelousas. Friday night events consisted of Breakaway Roping, Tie Down Roping, Barrels, Poles and Stakes. Saturday events consisted of Hunter Under Saddle, Working Hunter, Halter, Showmanship, Trail, Reining, Western Horsemanship and Western Pleasure. A total of 22 St. Landry 4-H'ers took part in the parish show.

This article answers questions for homeowners who purchased Chinese drywall especially during the shortage following the recent housing boom and hurricane seasons.

As a nation, we have developed what I call a “drive through window” mentality. We want everything fast, and we’ve had the money to pay for the convenience. But “fast” costs more than just money. Fast takes extra resources and it creates extra waste. Think about this statement, “resource conservation begins at home, and it begins with me.”

The St. Landry Parish 4-H Junior Leadership Club selected Louisiana wetlands as their service learning project this year.

A character education program was conducted at St. Ignatius Elementary School in St. Landry Parish on Thursday, March 26, 2009, to address bullying.

St. Landry Parish 4-H Achievement Day was held on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Opelousas High. Here are a listing of the various 4-H Achievement Day contests and winners along with scholarship winners and other award recipients.

You'll find a schedule of training classes along with registration information.

A sewing workshop will be open to 4-H'ers in grades four through eight May 30, 2009, at Port Barre High School.

The Horse Show will be Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Ag Arena in Opelousas (Yambilee Fairgrounds.) There will be events such as halter, showmanship, poles, stakes, break away, etc . Come out and enjoy.

St. Landry 4-Her’s have worked year long on their horse project. The St. Landry 4-H Horse Program hosts a Open Benefit Horse Show in which proceeds from this show will help with awards and supplies needed for the show season. Along with the benefit show, 4-Hers put together an advertising book through selling ads. Please take the time to support our 4-H'ers.

St. Landry 4-H'ers exhibited their communication skills by participating in a mock job interview. The participants submitted their resumes and answered questions asked by the judges. This article will list the overall winners.

What can you do to survive in tough economic times, especially when you have lost your job? Although you may want go on with life as usual, stop spending immediately while you identify and prioritize what you must spend for needs and greatly reduce or eliminate what you spend for wants.

Attention Senior 4-H Members! If you're interested in applying for one or several of the 4-H scholarships, complete the enclosed application. Read the requirements for each and check off the scholarship(s) that relates to your accomplishments and/or goals. Awards range from $100 to $1100. There's also the Scott Truck Company scholarship in which two (2) students from St. Landry can receive $750 each. Parish deadlines: 4-H Scholarships (March 2) / Scott Truck Co. (Feb. 26).

The show will be January 30-31, 2009 at the Ag Arena in Opelousas (behind Yambilee Grounds on Hwy. 190). Interested persons can view the flyer listing the schedule of events, sponsors, exhibitors and special thanks.

4-H youth from championed their culinary skills by preparing cooked dishes to exhibit at the 4-H Food Festival held at St. Ignatius School.

Check out this newest addtion to the LSU AgCenter's 4-H Youth Department.

This conference will be held at the Lod Cook Conference Center on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. It will be March 6-7, 2009. Interested 4-H volunteers can complete and return the registration slip.

Horse owners really need tips on how to cut horse maintenance costs in order to be able to keep their horses.

Sweet potatoes are not very sweet or moist when first dug. It takes six to eight weeks of proper curing and storage before they have the sweet, moist taste and texture desired when baked, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.