(06/30/23) BATON ROUGE, La. — The theme of this year’s 4-H University was “Excel” and hundreds of extraordinary students from across the state did just that, winning and placing in a variety of categories from e-sports to insect identification and beyond.

This year’s event was held June 20 to 23 on the LSU campus, and 4-H associate vice president and program leader Toby Lepley was thrilled with the turnout and overall experience for all involved.

“The LSU AgCenter looks forward each year to hosting 4-H University at LSU” Lepley said. “More than 1,200 youth adults came together to participate in this year’s event making it a great opportunity to learn and make lifelong memories.”

Lepley called the gathering a great opportunity for 4-H members to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned through their clubs and projects.

4-H youth development department head Todd Tarifa echoed Lepley’s sentiments, calling this year’s 4-H U an unbridled success.

“Since 1915, 4-H University has been the pinnacle event for every Louisiana 4-H member,” Tarifa said. “Teenagers from all over the state come together on LSU’s main campus to compete in 40 contests, attend Clover College, participate in educational sessions and run for leadership positions that will help guide the future of the 4-H program.”

Tarifa went on to say that 4-H University is an opportunity for youth to gain mastery through competition, independence and responsibility as they live on LSU’s campus for three days, and a sense of generosity as they support their peers and give back to their community.

“4-H University creates a sense of belonging where youth can thrive by learning and engaging in truly meaningful activities,” he said. “I am proud of all the 4-H members for giving it their all this year. Louisiana 4-H is strong and growing, and we look forward to many more 4-H events to come.”

The list of first-place winners alphabetically by category are as follows:

4-H Has Talent: Joseph Mensman — East Baton Rouge Parish

ATV: Reese Burnett — Assumption Parish

Automotive: Brooke Miles — Calcasieu Parish

Career Preparation Interview: Trihnity Campbell — Vermilion Parish

Child Development: Aubrey Powell — Concordia Parish

Civic Engagement/Leadership Talk: Bryley Bourque — Calcasieu Parish

Civic Engagement/Leadership Demonstration: Jolie Dupuie and Harleigh Trahan — Cameron Parish

Consumer Decision Making: Madelyn Fossum — Lafourche Parish

Consumer Decision Making Teams: Izabella O’Bannon, Raelynn Bartlett, Rilend Lawson, Ellie Bryant — Winn Parish

Consumer Food Evaluation: Hunter Gathe, Xander Landry, Emily Riggs — Iberia Parish

Dairy Judging: Georgia Knight — East Baton Rouge Parish

Dairy Judging Teams: Kyra Keller, Leilah Keller, Hilari Theriot — Lafourche Parish

Esports: Wyatt Billiot, Tucker Habetz, Gabriel Yocupicio — Lafayette Parish

Fashion Review – It’s Sew You: Lani Vincent — Vermilion Parish

Fashion Review – Ready to Wear: Jewel Bird — Bossier Parish

Fashion Review – Upcycled Fashion: Kelcy Hammonds — Bossier Parish

Fishing Sports: Braydon Lepine — Lafourche Parish

Fishing Sports Teams: Braydon Lepine, Dawson Dufrene, Mason Rodriguez — Lafourche Parish

Forestry: Cameron Storer — Allen Parish

Forestry Teams: Cameron Storer, Caroline Comeaux, Evan Ballard, Madison Pelican — Allen Parish

Healthy Living Illustrated Talk: Callie Mudge — Ascension Parish

Healthy Living Method Demonstration: Amelie Broussard, Avery Venable — Vermilion Parish

Horse Judging: Caroline Comeaux — Allen Parish

Horse Judging Teams: Caroline Comeaux, Bryce Thomas, McKinney Taylor, Mackenzy Broussard — Allen Parish

Horticulture ID & Evaluation: Alissa Theriot — St. Martin Parish

Horticulture ID & Evaluation Teams: Shealynn Istre, Ethan Hebert, Patrick Moresi — Vermilion Parish

Insect Identification: Grace Simon — Lafayette Parish

Livestock Judging: Jackson Terrell – Caddo Parish Livestock Judging Teams: Sydney Bruchhaus, Hayden Courville, Camille Sonnier, Kinzie Brassell – Jefferson Davis Parish

Meat ID & Evaluation: Caynan Prejean — Lafayette Parish

Meat ID & Evaluation Teams: Dale Osborn, Dinah Ellzey, Brynn Landry, Joshua Garcie — Natchitoches Parish

Outdoor Skills: Westin Airhart — Sabine Parish

Outdoor Skills Teams: Westin Airhart, William Palmer, Kent Rains, Jason Green — Sabine Parish

Personal Trainer: Gabriel Wren — Winn Parish

Photography Aiden Allgire — Natchitoches Parish

Plant ID & Evaluation: Andrew Dauzat — Avoyelles Parish

Plant ID & Evaluation Teams: Andrew Dauzat, Lani Causey, Dayton Pennington — Avoyelles Parish

Poultry Judging: Braeden Broussard — Lafayette Parish

Poultry Judging Teams: Braeden Broussard, Ashanti Thomas, Chloe Cates, Addisyn Revett — Lafayette Parish

Promote 4-H Graphic Design: Kennedy Fontenot — Vermilion Parish

Public Speaking – Any: Hannah Roquemore — Natchitoches Parish

Public Speaking – Cooperatives: Seraphim Nelson — Calcasieu Parish

Robotics: Olurotimi Kinyomili, Gage Leblanc, Charles Perry, Thomas Smith — East Feliciana Parish

Sports Broadcasting: Laci Desormeaux, Hannah Scroggins — Vermilion Parish

STEM Illustrated Talk: Branson Melancon — Acadia Parish

STEM Method Demonstration: Taylor Gilbert — Calcasieu Parish

Teens Driving Teens: Paityn Martin, Isabella Trahan — Vermilion Parish

The Next Healthy 4-H Seafood Star: Heather Edmonds, Kaylee Musgrove, Payton Prichard — Bossier Parish

Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship – Ideation: Trinity Grace, Tristan Grace — Richland Parish

Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship – Up & Running: Dakota Rivas — Avoyelles Parish

Tractor Operations: Everett Pourciau — Vermilion Parish

Vet Set Geaux: Paris Jernigan — Tangipahoa Parish

Visual Arts: Ava Ardoin — Acadia Parish

Zero Turn Mower: Elijah Fregoso — Calcasieu Parish

Shealynn Istre, of Vermilion Parish, examines a plant during the 4-H University horticulture identification contest June 21, 2023. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Natchitoches Parish 4-H’er Victoria Wiggins, center, is embraced by her 4-H agents Pam Pearce, left, and Amanda Clark, right, during the awards assembly of 4-H University June 22, 2023. Wiggins placed second in the photography contest, and fellow Natchitoches Parish 4-H member Aiden Allgire won first place. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Zach Cryer, of Bossier Parish, speaks at a 4-H University assembly June 21, 2023. Cryer was elected state president for the 2023-2024 school year during the event. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Matt Lee speaks during a 4-H University assembly June 21, 2023. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

4-H University participants get in some last-minute practice before the robotics contest June 21, 2023. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Winners of 4-H University contests receive medals June 22, 2023. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter