ADA Accommodation

Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in Caldwell 4-H, please contact Caldwell 4-H agent Jana Bennett at 318-649-2663.

4-H Pledge

I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

Fall Foods Festival and Consumer Foods Judging Contest

• Monday, November 13, 8:45 a.m. at Union Central Elementary School.
• You must preregister for both contests by calling the 4-H office at (318) 649-2663 by 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8 stating contestant's name, school and grade, dish category, and/or Consumer Foods Judging Contest.
• Dish categories are Quick-n-Easy Ground Beef, Main Dish Beef, Chicken, Egg, Rice Main Dish, Rice Any Other Dish, Pecan, Sweet Potato, and Corn.
• Each 4-H'er may enter one dish per category. Only one contest credit for Dish is allowed for 4-Star.
• All dishes must be already prepared and ready to serve. All dishes must be chilled, cold to the touch, and transported in an insulated hard case ice chest with ice. Styrofoam ice chests are allowed but insulated totes or bags will be disqualified.
• Alcohol is not allowed in any recipe.
• Dishes that won first place in last year's contest (November 2022) cannot be entered in this year's contest.
• Members who do not want to enter a dish can still compete in the Consumer Foods Judging Contest in which participants will rank classes of food items based on factors such as health, cost, lifestyle, or other requirements in a given situation and give written reasons for ranking.
• Dish must be covered with a lid or foil in ice chest.
• Dish setup must be completed by 9:45 a.m. Judging starts at 10:00 a.m. No dishes will be entered once judging begins.

Fashion Revue and Consumer Decision Making Contest

• Handmade garments, shirts, and data forms are due to the 4-H office by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 27.
• Appearance Judging is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., Monday, December 4 at Union Central Elementary School.
• Submit handmade garment and/or decorated shirt on a hanger along with a Personal Data Form.
• The 4-H Fashion Revue consists of Clothing Construction, Decorated Shirt, Ready-to-Wear, and Consumer Decision Making contests.
• Clothing Construction categories are Apron, Tops or Bottoms, and Complete Outfit which is an outfit that can stand alone with all pieces being constructed by the 4-H'er.
• Decorated Shirt categories are Shirts Promoting 4-H and Other.
• Remember to submit a Data Form if you are planning to enter the Ready to Wear Contest.
• Entries submitted after November 27 will not be eligible for first, second or third place awards.
• Not interested in creating a garment or entering Ready to Wear? You can still participate by entering the Consumer Decision Making Contest and judge classes of consumer products or services, rank each class by choice and give written reasons for rankings.

Photography Contest

• Entries for the 2023 Photography Contest are due by 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 15.
• Photographs must be taken by the 4-H member during the 2023 calendar year.
• Each category consists of 5 to 6 photographs equally spaced on a 22-inch by 28-inch sheet of poster paper.
• The three categories are A Story or Series; People, Structures or Buildings; Plants or Animals.
• Entries in the People, Structures or Buildings category must have photos of 5 or 6 different people, 5 or 6 different structures, or 5 or 6 different buildings.
• The Plants or Animals category must have photos of 5 or 6 different plants, or 5 or 6 different animals.
• A Story or Series category must have 5 or 6 different photos telling a story or showing a series of steps.
• Include a short caption under each photograph.
• 4-H'ers may enter one category, two categories, or all three categories, but only one entry per category.
• Include your name, school, grade, and category on the back of the poster in the upper left corner.
• Entries will be judged on appropriateness of photographs, clarity of photos (able to see picture clearly), and neatness of work.
• Entries submitted after December 15 will not be eligible to place first, second, or third or win cash prizes.

Fashion and Beyond On Tour

The 4-H State Fashion Board invites you to experience Fashion and Beyond On Tour, bringing fashion to your fingertips. You will get a closer look at all aspects of the fashion world, from newspaper runways, color wheels, upcycling, fibers, to basic sewing fundamentals. You will engage in multiple sessions of activities planned by the fabulous Fashion Board. Attendees will need to bring a sack lunch and an adult medium-sized T-shirt to cut up. You will also need to provide your own transportation for this event. Join us in Winnsboro on Wednesday, January 17 at the River of Life Church from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The fee is $25. If you are interested in participating in this event, please come by the Caldwell 4-H office in Columbia to sign up by December 15.

Tree of Life Skills: Consumer Skills

The definition of a "consumer" is someone who buys and uses products and services. By this definition, we are all consumers! It's important that we learn about consumer rights and responsibilities. It's also important to develop good consumer skills so we can spend our money wisely and get the most value for our purchases. Consumers play a significant role in the economic system. Young people make up an important segment of the consumer population.

Healthy Living: Mental Health Tools for Self-Care

Exercise or working out comes in many forms. There's training for strength, endurance, and aerobic activity which raises your heart rate. Simply walking 2 miles a day is great exercise - plus it gets you outside! Exercise not only gets you physically fit, it's also a natural way to help decrease depression and anxiety. Yoga is another type of exercise that involves stretching, improving flexibility, and connecting mind and body - all of which are helpful for stress reduction and wellness. If you can't attend a class to learn yoga, you can also learn from online videos.

Club Meeting Schedule

• Caldwell Parish Junior High School December 1
• Caldwell Parish High School December 6
• Old Bethel Christian Academy January 9
• Union Central Elementary January 26

Upcoming Events

• November 8 Preregistration deadline for Fall Foods Festival
• November 10 Safety Poster Contest
• November 13 Fall Foods Festival
• November 27 Garments and Data Forms due for Fashion Revue
• December 4 Fashion Revue and Consumer Decision Making
• December 15 Photography Contest
• January 17 Fashion and Beyond On Tour
• January 22 Communication and Career Day
• January 26 Beef Poster Contest
• February 1-3 Northeast District Livestock Show in Delhi
• February 9 Lego Engineering Contest

Membership and participation in activities and events are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, veteran status or disability. Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in Caldwell 4-H, please contact 4-H agent Jana Bennett at 318-649-2663. Louisiana 4-H in an educational program of the LSU AgCenter. The LSU AgCenter is an equal opportunity provider and employer.