(06/27/24) BATON ROUGE, La. — For many 4-H’ers, coming to LSU to compete in a contest, attend an educational program or run for a statewide office is one of the highlights of their 4-H experience. And for many, this year did not disappoint.

More than 1,300 students, 4-H agents and volunteers spent a week on campus to participate in 4-H University. Members had their choice to compete in at least one out of a possible 41 contests, attend one of 21 education sessions or select from eight Clover College tracks.

4-H U is the event where next school year’s executive boards and new officers are elected. Breleigh Page, of Livingston Parish, was elected as president. Eliza Foster, of Tangipahoa Parish, was chosen to serve as vice president.

Elizabeth Page was selected as the secretary. Mattie Miller was elected as the historian/reporter, and Andrew Chevailler was elected as the parliamentarian. All three are from Winn Parish.

Regional representatives for the 4-H state executive board also were chosen. In addition to the appointment of the executive board, youth were also selected to serve as representatives for the citizenship, fashion, food and fitness, shooting sports and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) boards. Equine, livestock and wetland ambassadors also were chosen.

“Channel Your Leadership” served as the theme. Participants in contests had a chance to win educational trips, cash prizes and the right to represent Louisiana 4-H in several national competitions.

This was the 110th rendition of the event, and it gave some participants the first opportunity to visit Baton Rouge and spend time on a college campus.

“It’s one of our premiere events,” said Todd Tarifa, LSU AgCenter 4-H department head. “Our members, agents and volunteers spend a great deal of effort preparing for this week, and it really showed through with the enthusiasm they expressed during their time here.”

During the event, students are housed in dormitories, and contests and programs are held in classrooms and facilities across the LSU campus. Many of the participants come from small schools in rural areas, and the event offers them a glimpse of the size and scope of what life may be like if they decide to attend college.

“We have had many alumni say that their week of 4-H U helped finalize their decision to come to LSU,” Tarifa said. “We have also had many alumni say that 4-H U is a memory that they cherish and are thankful they had the chance to come, compete and learn.”

Nearly $30,000 in scholarships were given to 4-H’ers who exhibited outstanding leadership, service commitment and good character as well as contest winners.

Contest winners were:

4-H Has Talent: Eli Rogers, of Franklin Parish.

ATV: Laura Thibodeaux, of Acadia Parish.

Career Preparation Interview: Faith Richard, of Natchitoches Parish.

Child Development: Caroline Garrett, of Evangeline Parish.

Child Development (Team): Allison Goings and Izabella Friday, of Natchitoches Parish.

Civic Engagement/Leadership Talk: Andrew Courville, of Vermilion Parish.

Civic Engagement/Leadership Method Demonstration: Amelie Touchet and Kinsey Waits, of Vermilion Parish.

Consumer Decision Making: Emma Miller, of Winn Parish.

Consumer Decision Making (Team): Emily Grace Adams, Emma Miller, Elizabeth Page and Catherine Page, of Winn Parish.

Consumer Food Evaluation: Ellie Bryant, Izabella O’Bannon and Rilend Lawson, of Winn Parish.

Dairy Judging: Carter Aucoin, of Lafayette Parish.

Dairy Judging (Team): Carter Aucoin, Haley Guillory, Sarah Thibodeaux and Braeden Broussard, of Lafayette Parish.

Esports: Brady Fallis, Peyton Glenn and Trace Carrithers, of Winn Parish.

Fashion Revue — It’s Sew You: Serenity Hartwell, of Bossier Parish.

Fashion Revue — Ready-to-Wear: Jenna Fontenot, of Acadia Parish.

Fashion Revue — Upcycled Fashion: Lanie Vincent, of Vermilion Parish.

Fishing Sports: Cyrus Sloane, of St. Landry Parish.

Fishing Sports (Team): Julien Andre, Owen Richard and Ryder Morales, of Pointe Coupee Parish.

Forestry: Madeline Mitchell, of Natchitoches Parish.

Forestry (Team): Lucas Broadway, Dinah Ellzey, Blaine Mitchell and Madeline Mitchell, of Natchitoches Parish.

Healthy Living Illustrated Talk: Faith Richard, of Natchitoches Parish.

Healthy Living Method Demonstration: Tucker Habetz and Gabriel Yocupicio, of Lafayette Parish.

Horse Judging and Evaluation: Molly Bordelon, of Vermilion Parish.

Horse Judging (Team): Elise Bordelon, Molly Bordelon and Everett Pourciau, of Vermilion Parish.

Horticulture Demonstration-General: Victoria Wiggins, of Natchitoches Parish.

Horticulture Demonstration-Use: Emma Duvall, of Pointe Coupee.

Horticulture Identification and Evaluation: Ryan Alexander, of Vermilion Parish.

Horticulture Identification and Evaluation (Team): Ryan Alexander, Andon Bergeron, Emma Scroggins and Faith Zaunbrecher, of Vermilion Parish.

Insect Identification: Ayla Bergeron, of Vermilion Parish.

Livestock Judging: Ian Moss, of Calcasieu Parish.

Livestock Judging (Team): Bryley Bourque, Reese Bowers, Brock Greathouse and Ian Moss, of Calcasieu Parish.

Louisiana Agronomic Crop Illustrated Talk: Colton Conley, of Natchitoches Parish.

Louisiana CHEF: Devin Lanclos, of St. Martin Parish.

Meat Identification: Bob Bourgeois, of Lafourche Parish.

Meat Identification (Team): Braeden Broussard, Alejandro Castaneda and Isaiah Roberson, of Lafayette Parish.

Outdoor Skills: Chance Sloan, of Calcasieu Parish.

Outdoor Skills (Team): Ethan Orgeron, Joel Orgeron and Rana Orgeron, of Lafourche Parish.

Personal Training: Wyatt Wheeler, of LaSalle Parish.

Photography: Elijah Fregoso, of Beauregard Parish.

Plant Identification and Evaluation: Ayla Bergeron, of Vermilion Parish.

Plant Identification and Evaluation (Team): Ayla Bergeron, Emma Zaunbrecher and Cortland Fletcher, of Vermilion Parish.

Poultry Judging: Sarah Thibodeaux, of Lafayette Parish.

Poultry Judging (Team): Carter Aucoin, Lexi Savoy, Gavin Simoneaux and Sarah Thibodeaux, of Lafayette Parish.

Promote 4-H Graphic Design: Shala Hopkins, of Caddo Parish.

Public Speaking (Any Subject): Anna Hebert, of Assumption Parish.

Public Speaking (Cooperative): Xavier Johnson, of Concordia Parish.

Robotics: Elijah Fregoso, Amiya Hayes and Tyler Hayes, of Beauregard Parish.

Solutions Unlimited: Peter Bigelow and Mason Gee, of Richland Parish.

Sports Broadcasting: Blaine Mitchell and Luke Westbrook, of Natchitoches Parish.

STEM Illustrated Talk: Ayden O’Conner, of Iberia Parish.

STEM Method Demonstration: Elise Bordelon and Molly Bordelon, of Vermilion Parish.

Teens Driving Teens to Safety: Amelie Broussard and Avery Venable, of Vermilion Parish.

The Next Healthy Food Star: Gabby Bouquet, Jenna Kling and Jorja Kling, of Ascension Parish.

Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship Challenge (Ideation): Emma Duvall and Isaac Duvall, of Pointe Coupee Parish.

Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship Challenge (Up and Running): Amanda Irizarry, of Ascension Parish.

Tractor Operations: Joshua Dietrich, of Jackson Parish.

Vet Set Geaux: Taylor Gilbert, of Calcasieu Parish.

Visual Arts: Elijah Fregoso, of Beauregard Parish.

Zero Turn Mower: James Gauthier, of St. Martin Parish.

Breleigh Page speaks during an assembly at 4-H University. Page, a Livingston Parish 4-H’er, was elected president for the 2024-25 school year during 4-H U. The event occurred June 18-20 and welcomed nearly 1,300 4-H agents, students and volunteers to LSU campus. State office elections, more than 40 competitive contests and educational sessions were held during the event. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Winn Parish 4-H’ers, from left, Izabella O’Bannon, Rilend Lawson and Ellie Bryant celebrate winning the Consumer Food Evaluation Contest during 4-H University. The event was held on the LSU campus June 18-20. During the event, statewide officers, delegates and ambassador boards were selected, 41 contests were held and eight Clover College tracts were conducted. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Vermilion Parish 4-H’ers Kaylee Sturm, left, and Alyssa Vice examine products during the Consumer Decision Making contest during 4-H University. The contest is one of 41 held throughout the annual event. More than 1,300 4-H members, agents and volunteers attended the event on the LSU campus June 18-20. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter