01. Emotional Wellness Quote

“Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

-Christopher Robin

02. Congratulations and Best of Luck

Join us in congratulating Sarai G. (ESJP) and Bobbi-Shanae J. (STEM) for being selected to represent St. John Parish at this year’s Citizenship Washington Focus program in Washington, D.C., this summer.

Best of luck to our livestock exhibitor Caleigh R. (St. Charles Catholic) at the LSU AgCenter State 4-H/FFA Livestock Show in Gonzales, LA.

03. Beef Poster Contest

Louisiana 4-H is hosting the 2022 Louisiana Beef Industry Council Beef Poster Contest. This contest encourages youth to learn more about the beef industry while promoting the beef industry, products, and nutrition.

This contest is open to all 4-H’ers, 4th-12th grades. Only “22x28” poster boards or digital submissions will be accepted for this contest. All posters must use the theme Beef: A Sustainable Choice and must be the 4-H members' original work using resources wisely.

Posters and digital designs should generate positive images and promotion of beef (not live cattle production) using the indicated theme. Posters should promote beef without projecting negative messages toward other agricultural commodities (chicken, pork, etc.).

Divisions:

• Division I: 4th – 6th grade
• Division II: 7th – 9th grade
• Division III: 10th – 12th grade
• Division Digital – Open division. All grades will compete together

The deadline to submit all posters is February 10, 2023

Official Rules

04. Draw-A-Dairy Billboard Contest

Louisiana 4-H is hosting the 2023 Draw-A-Dairy Billboard Contest. This contest encourages youth to learn more about milk and milk products and their importance to healthy bodies. Through creative and original thinking, participants will develop a visual form of marketing communication to convey thoughts and ideas.

Open to 4-H members in grades 4th – 12th; The youth will be placed within their respective divisions based on their grade level. Posters must be on a 22” x 28” regular poster board ONLY. No digital submission is allowed!

The deadline to submit your poster is February 10, 2023

Official Rules

05. Senior Honor Cords

Graduating seniors, apply to receive a 4-H Honor Cord that you can wear during your commencement! To receive an honor cord, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be an enrolled 4-H member and in good standing
• Must be a graduating senior
• Must have been enrolled in 4-H for at least 3 years of your high school career
• Must have participated in at least one state-sponsored 4-H program in the past 3 years or demonstrated exemplary parish-level program involvement.
• Must complete the online application by Friday, February 10, 2023.

Honor Cord Application

06. Junior Leadership Conference

Glow Your Leadership by attending the 2023 Junior Leadership Conference held at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock, LA. This conference is for 4-H’ers 14 years old and older. JLC is a one-night conference planned and executed by the Louisiana 4-H State Executive Board. Participants can enhance their leadership, communication, and team-building skills in a fun environment. With two (2) sessions being offered, youth can select which session they would like to attend (Mar. 9-10 or Mar. 10-11). The cost to attend is $35, and the youth will be responsible for getting to and from the conference. The deadline to register is Feb. 10, 2023.

JLC Registration

07. St. John 4-H Spirit Shirt

Show your 4-H spirit by purchasing a St. John 4-H spirit show! The shirts will be WHITE with BLACK and GREEN wording. Shirts will only be available in short sleeves. This shirt will be great for those who plan to attend 4-H Summer Camp, 4-H University, or any statewide or national 4-H event. The deadline to submit your order form is Friday, February 17, 2023.

Please complete the online order form if you would like to pay using a debit/credit card. Please know that a 2.9% + 30 cent transaction fee will be applied.

4-H Spirit Shirt Online Order Form

08. Golden Clover Award

Are you 14 years old or younger as of January 1, 2023? Consider applying for the 4-H Golden Clover Award! 4-H members who apply must have at least two (2) years of 4-H Club work, including this year, and score at least 250 points on the application scorecard. 4-H members can only win this award once.

The deadline to submit your application to the 4-H Office is Mar. 3, 2023.

Award Application

09. Emerald Achievment Award

Are you 15 years old or older as of January 1, 2023? Consider applying for the 4-H Emerald Achievement Award! 4-H members who apply must have at least three (3) years of 4-H Club work, including this year, have completed one (1) year of active Jr. Leader work, excluded this year, and scored at least 360 points on the application scorecard. 4-H members can only win this award once.

The deadline to submit your application to the 4-H Office is Mar. 3, 2023.

Award Application

10. Louisiana 4-H Mental Health Retreat

Calling all superheroes in training! Join the Louisiana 4-H Citizenship Board on a top-secret mission to conquer your inner villains. Journey through the valleys and mountains of feelings – the highs of joy, the lows of sadness, the raging rivers of anger, and much more.

This retreat is open to 4-H members in grades 6th through 8th and will take place Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Port Allen, LA. The cost to attend is $10. If you are interested in participating, complete the online registration by February 24, 2023. Transportation will be provided but is limited and given on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Mental Health Retreat Registration

11. 2023 4-H Related Scholarships

College can be expensive, and 4-H would like to assist youth involved in its program to continue their education. St. John 4-H has two (2) scholarships that can be awarded to a graduating senior, the Scott Truck & Tractor Scholarship and the Louisiana State 4-H Scholarship.

The Scott Foundation, over the past 32 years, has awarded scholarships in 75 parishes and counties in Louisiana and Arkansas. The Scott Truck & Tractor Scholarship can be awarded up to $500 depending on the number of applications submitted. 4-H offers a wide array of activities, and this scholarship can be awarded to any eligible 4-H member.

There are several scholarships within the Louisiana 4-H scholarship, but applicants need all signatures on the application, transcript of grades, copy of ACT/SAT scores and a letter of recommendation from the academic advisor on school letterhead.

The deadline to submit your applications to the 4-H Office is Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

4-H Scholarships

12. 4-H Achievement Day

The 2023 St. John 4-H Achievement Day will take place Friday, March 17, 2023, at East St. John High School. All 4 H club members from across the parish will convene together for a fun-filled day of friendly competition and recognition. Only those 4-H members who have completed their enrollment in 4-H Online will be allowed to attend Achievement Day.

4-H Club Leaders must complete the Achievement Day Registration Form and submit it to the 4-H Office by Friday, February 24, 2023. Forms can be emailed, mailed, hand delivered to the 4-H Office or during your February club meeting.

13. Louisiana 4-H Food Challenge

The Louisiana 4-H Food Challenge competition which challenges teams of 4-H members to create a dish using only a key ingredient and access to a “grocery store” of other ingredients. From the ingredients, team members are challenged to create a healthy dish while practicing proper food safety, food preparation, and communication skills. Following the dish preparation, teams then present to a panel of judges who will further test their culinary and nutrition knowledge with a question-and-answer segment.

Stater Contest Date & Location:

Wednesday, April 25, 2023 – State Evacuation Shelter, Alexandria, LA

Age Divisions:

• Division 1: 4th-6th graders
• Division 2: 7th-8th graders
• Division 3: 9th-12th graders

Contest Eligibility:

• St. John Parish 4-H is permitted to enter TWO (2) TEAMS PER DIVISION
• Must be an enrolled 4-H member
• Each team must consist of 3-4 members

Official Rules

Interest Form

14. 4-H Gardening Contest

4-H’ers put your gardening tools to the test and participate in the 4-H Gardening Contest. This is a fun opportunity to grow your own produce and learn about the process.

Rules

1. The garden must be worked primarily by 4-H members. Adults may assist with spading, rototilling, and control for insects and disease problems.
2. Gardens may be individual plots or be connected to a family garden. If connected to a family plot, rows must be marked off (stakes, string, etc.) and maintained by the 4-H member.
3. Gardens may be flat, raised, or container-grown. Gardens with rows should have at least 2 rows that are 4-8 feet long each.
4. Each garden MUST have the following four (4) vegetables planted in them: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and beans.

Judging will take place in late May/early June. The deadline to register for this contest is Friday, Mar. 3, 2023.

Official Rules & Registration

15. Project Books

All 4-H Project Books and Guides are due to the 4-H Office by Friday, March 3. Please note that this is not the 4 H Record Book. Those who complete the book or guide will be recognized at Achievement Day. If you did not get one and would like one, don't hesitate to contact the 4-H Office.

16. 4-H Vet School Day

Is your dream to one day become a veterinarian? Do you know what it takes to become one? No worries, the St. John 4-H Program is heading to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Thursday, April 13, 2023, and we would love for you to join us. Participants will be able to interact with doctors, tour the animal hospital, and learn about the various opportunities available should they wish to become a veterinarian. After visiting the Vet School, we will head to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum to engage with interactive art and science galleries. Space for this event is limited! This opportunity is open to 4^th-7^th graders and is FREE. There are a limited number of spots.

The deadline to submit your registration is Mar. 3, 2023.

Registration Site

17. 4-H College of Agriculture Day

It is never too early or too late to begin thinking about plans after graduating high school. Join the St. John 4-H Program for our 4-H College of Agriculture Day on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Participants will tour the LSU Campus and the LSU Diary Store, hear from current students and professors, and tour Tiger Stadium on this day. This opportunity is open to 8^th-12^th graders and is FREE. There are a limited number of spots.

The deadline to submit your registration is Mar. 3, 2023.

Registration Site

18. 4-H Visual Arts Competition

Art can come in many different shapes, sizes, and mediums. The St. John the Baptist 4-H Visual Arts Competition aims to promote the 4-H Arts Program and allow 4-H’ers to display their artistic abilities. This contest allows you to showcase your artistic skills, from traditional paintings to scrapbooking. A 4-H member can submit only one (1) piece.

The deadline to submit your artwork is Mar. 3, 2023.

Official Rules & Registration

19. Spring Cookery Contest

Calling all inspired chefs! Participate in the Spring Cookery Contest. This contest will feature Beef, Egg, Louisiana Commodities, Poultry, Seafood, and Wild Game. The Cookery Contest will take place at the St. John 4-H Office. Dishes can be dropped off at between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 25, as judging will begin at 10:30 a.m.

This contest is open to both 4-H members and Cloverbud members. Members must follow the following rules, or they will be disqualified.

1. Members can only submit one dish per category.
2. Dishes must be transported to the contest on ice and in an ice chest.
3. Non-edible items are not to be presented as part of the dishes or as garnish. Only edible items can be used as a garnish. Commodities and Categories

   · Beef – Ground Beef · Beef – Any Other Beef Cuts · Egg – Appetizer/Salad · Egg – Main Dish · Egg - Dessert · Louisiana Commodities – Pecan · Louisiana Commodities – Rice · Louisiana Commodities – Sweet Potato

   · Poultry – Chicken · Poultry – Turkey · Seafood – Crab · Seafood – Crawfish · Seafood – Shrimp · Seafood – Other LA Seafood · Wild Game – Deer · Wild Game – Fowl · Wild Game – Other Game

   The deadline to submit your registration is Mar. 3, 2023.

Official Rules

20. 2023-2024 Theme Contest

What’s a good theme for the 2023-2024 4-H year? Send us your most creative ideas for a slogan – in seven (7) words or less. Illustrations must accompany the phrase and will be part of the contest. The winning slogan will be brief and “catchy,” capturing the spirit of St. John the Baptist Parish 4-H. The slogan will be used throughout the 2023-2024 program year on advertisements, shirts, newsletters, and more.

The winning theme will be announced at 4-H Achievement Day, and the winner will be to attend either 4-H Summer Camp, 4-H Challenge Camp, LOST Camp, or 4-H University at a discount price, which is determined by each camp as the price varies.

Contest Rules

21. Get Hooked on 4-H Summer Camp

The time has come to begin registering for 4-H Summer Camp. The camp will be held June 12-15, 2023, and will take place at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock, LA. 4^th-6^th graders are eligible to attend. 4-H Camp is a ton of fun! Recreational activities include swimming, canoeing, volleyball, arts & craft, and dancing. Also, campers will participate in one out of seven educational tracks that allow them to learn in a non-traditional environment. The cost for camp this summer is $190.00 per camper. This fee includes lodging, meals, transportation, a parish group picture, and a camp t-shirt. There is a payment schedule established to assist in paying for camp. Also, two scholarship opportunities are available for those who need financial assistance.

The deadline to submit your initial deposit of $90 and the camp registration form is Mar. 10, 2023.

2023 4-H Summer Camp Information

22. 4-H Camp Counselors & Adult Volunteers' Interest

Camp Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center has seen thousands of individuals for over 100 years at 4-H Summer Camp. As we begin the recruiting process for camp this summer, we need individuals to attend camp as Camp Counselors and Adult Volunteers.

Camp Counselors are in grades 9^th-12^th and serve as role models and assist with camp activities while at 4-H Camp. Adult Volunteers are 18 years of age and older (NOT currently enrolled as a 4‑H member) and serve as chaperones and assist with camp activities while at camp.

Please complete the interest form if you are interested in serving as an adult volunteer.

A Camp Counselor Training will be held on April 15 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Frazee-Harris Memorial Library in Garyville, LA.

Camp Counselor Training Registration

23. Excel: 2023 4-H University

Consider being a part of the St. John 4-H delegation at this year’s 4-H University on LSU Campus! 8^th through 12^th grade 4-H members are eligible to attend. With 34 contests to compete in or participate in Clover College, there is something you for. It is now time to register to participate in this event. 4-H University will take place June 20 – 23, 2023.

The deadline to submit your initial deposit of $50 and the registration form is Apr. 28, 2023.

2023 4-H University Information