(10/04/24) BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana 4-H’ers are ready — ready to learn by doing; ready to get their hands dirty; ready to show up for their communities.
For more than 100 years, 4-H has been preparing youth from across the state to be ready for service, STEM, leadership and life.
4-H, America’s largest youth development organization, is celebrating National 4-H Week Oct. 7-12. 4-H clubs across the nation have helped millions of youth pave a path forward through programs in areas of agriculture, science, health and civic engagement.
Todd Tarifa, LSU AgCenter department head for 4-H Youth Development, said youngsters gain confidence, independence, compassion and resilience while participating in 4-H.
“Through Louisiana 4-H programming efforts, we ensure that our members are not only ready for their future careers but also acquire the skills necessary for life's challenges,” Tarifa said.
4-H has launched the 4-H Beyond Ready campaign to show how 4-H prepares young people for opportunities and challenges in life.
“The 4-H Beyond Ready initiative emphasizes the 4-H member’s personal growth, adaptability and confidence, setting them up to succeed in many aspects of life beyond their educational or career paths,” Tarifa said.
Zach Cryer, of Bossier Parish, is a freshman in the LSU College of Agriculture and was a 4-H member since the fourth grade. He served as the 2023-2024 state 4-H president and was named the Louisiana Student of the Year three times. – for elementary, middle and high school.
He said 4-H has prepared him to be Beyond Ready because it has equipped him with soft skills that he says he sees some of his peers struggle with, like public speaking, career readiness and the ability to adapt to new situations.
“I’ve been able to use these skills firsthand because college and the transition to college is such a massive leap from anything I’d ever been prepared for before, so I was able to rely on my preparedness from 4-H to be able to be comfortable in such a new setting,” Cryer said.
Cryer is studying nutrition at LSU and plans to attend medical school.
Shaohannah Martin is also a former 4-H’er. She is from Lafayette Parish and is a sophomore studying animal sciences in the College of Agriculture. She said 4-H has helped prepare her for her college courses.
“I was able to take all the knowledge I’ve learned from the premiere exhibitor contests and apply it to my exams, which has helped me prepare and become a better student,” Martin said.
Martin said 4-H helped her step out of comfort zone which led her to study abroad in the Czech Republic and conduct undergrad research on oysters. She also found a passion in advocating for agriculture. She currently serves as a Les Voyageur, or student ambassador, in the college and continues her advocacy through this role.
Research from National 4-H shows that 4-H’ers are four times more likely to give back to their communities, two times more likely to make healthful choices and two times more likely to participate in STEM activities.
4‑H reaches nearly six million young people through Cooperative Extension. Programs are delivered by more than 3,500 4‑H professionals and more than 500,000 volunteers.
Zach Cryer, a former 4-H’er from 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
In a photo from 2023, former Lafayette Parish 4-H’er Shaohannah Martin, right, accepts the C.W. “Dub” Kennedy award from Toby Lepley, retired LSU AgCenter associate vice president during the 88th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter