(06/24/25) BATON ROUGE, La. — While it wasn’t called 4-H University until recently, the event just completed its 111th rendition on the LSU main campus. This year’s theme was “Leading the New Frontier.” And for some, being in Baton Rouge and staying on the campus for a week was exactly that — a new frontier.

More than 1,500 students, volunteers and 4-H agents participated in this year's event, which took place June 17 to 19. 4-H members from across the state stayed in college dormitories, competed in 41 contests and attended more than 20 educational programs.

One of the mainstays of the event is the election of next school year’s executive boards and statewide officers. Dayton Pennington, of Avoyelles Parish, was elected as president. Ethan Fusilier, of Acadia Parish will serve as vice president.

Winn Parish 4-H’er Joe Lewis was selected as secretary. Luke Mire, of Acadia Parish, was elected as historian/reporter and Armund Wilson, of Calcasieu Parish, will be the parliamentarian.

Regional representatives for the 4-H state executive board also were chosen. In addition to the appointment of the executive board, members were 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.

For many of the participants, it was an opportunity to test their skills and win an educational trip, cash prizes or the right to represent Louisiana 4-H at several national competitions.

“For our staff, agents, volunteers and members, this event is the centerpiece of a year’s worth of work,” said Todd Tarifa, LSU AgCenter associate director of youth development. “Once our members get a taste of this event, they want to come back and experience all they can during this week.”

Many of the participants attending come from rural Louisiana, and 4-H U gives them a hint of what life is like at a major university. Touring athletic facilities, seeing the LSU Veterinary School campus or operating modern agriculture equipment were just a few of the opportunities available to the attendees.

“For many experiencing 4-H U for the first time, I hope they took advantage of the opportunities, and they are able to discover and learn new things,” said Kimberly Williams, associate 4-H department head. “This event can go a long ways towards their own personal growth and self-discovery.”

Nearly $80,000 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: Charlotte Crane, of Allen Parish.

ATV: Bryce Trahan, of Vermilion Parish.

Career Preparation Interview: Kinzie Brassell, of Jefferson Davis Parish.

Child Development: Khalin Williams, of St. John the Baptist Parish.

Child Development (Team): Mya Bukaske and Khalin Williams, of St. John the Baptist Parish.

Civic Engagement/Leadership Talk: Ayden O’Connor, of Iberia Parish.

Civic Engagement/Leadership Method Demonstration: Azariah Chapman and Hannah Guillory, of Evangeline Parish.

Consumer Decision Making: Austin LeBlanc, of Avoyelles Parish.

Consumer Decision Making (Team): Katelyn Hardee, Camille Marceaux, Jeanne Rider and Marlee Trahan, of Vermilion Parish.

Consumer Food Evaluation: Emily Grace Adams and Emma Miller, of Winn Parish.

Dairy Judging: Abbie Rosales, of Lafayette Parish.

Dairy Judging (Team): Ryleigh Comeaux, Ava Garreston, Tori Guillory and Abbie Rosales, of Lafayette Parish.

Esports: Aubrey Allen, Hayden Cunningham and Elijah Hypes, of Natchitoches Parish.

Fashion Revue — It’s Sew You: Brenna List, of Vermilion Parish.

Fashion Revue — Ready-to-Wear: Adyson Brodnax, of Ouachita Parish.

Fashion Revue — Upcycled Fashion: Annalise Arceneaux, of Acadia Parish.

Fishing Sports: Blaize Coco, of Ascension Parish.

Fishing Sports (Team): Dane Durocher, Cameron Legendre and Rana Orgeron, of Lafourche Parish.

Forestry: Huntar Goings, of Natchitoches Parish.

Forestry (Team): Wyatt Bedgood, Kyleigh Blundell, Kylie Dupree and Mason Green, of Winn Parish.

Healthy Living Illustrated Talk: Lily Perrin, of Vermilion Parish.

Healthy Living Method Demonstration: Addisyn Meaux and Paityn Martin, of Vermilion Parish.

Horse Judging and Evaluation: Lexi Savoy, of Lafayette Parish.

Horse Judging (Team): Braeden Broussard, Ryleigh Comeaux, Lexi Savoy and Sarah Thibodeaux, of Lafayette Parish.

Horticulture Identification and Evaluation: Abigail Puckett, of Lafayette Parish.

Horticulture Identification and Evaluation (Team): Jace Baudoin, Blakely Habetz, Abigail Puckett and Carlie Simon, of Lafayette Parish.

Insect Identification: Lucas O’Connor, of Iberia Parish.

Livestock Judging: Aubrey Thibodeaux, of Lafayette Parish.

Livestock Judging (Team): Shelia Guidry, Lexi Savoy, Audrey Thibodeaux and Sarah Thibodeaux, of Lafayette Parish.

Meat Identification: Lucas Guillory, of Avoyelles Parish.

Meat Identification (Team): Reese Borne, Madelyn Fossum, Kale Guidry and Olivia Richard, of Lafourche Parish.

Outdoor Skills: Rebecca Theriot, of Terrebonne Parish.

Outdoor Skills (Team): Gabriel Landry, Austin Parnell, Luke Schulze and Jake Stuntz, of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Personal Training: Brynn Landry, of Natchitoches Parish.

Photography: Amelia Fontenot, of Acadia Parish.

Poultry Judging: Bailey Blood, of Lafayette Parish.

Poultry Judging (Team): Bailey Blood, Annie-Kay Cormier, Shelia Guidry and Emmy Habetz, of Lafayette Parish.

Promote 4-H Graphic Design: Annalysse Guillory, of Iberville Parish.

Public Speaking (Any Subject): Mikayla Barletto, of Iberia Parish.

Public Speaking (Cooperative): James Mendez, of Vermilion Parish.

Robotics: Ian Bertrand, Wyatt Borill, Kaleigh Doucet, Lucy Mire and Luke Mire, of Acadia Parish.

Sports Broadcasting: Kayden Baumgardner and Aiden Lewis, of Lafayette Parish.

STEM Illustrated Talk: Jaxon Forrest, of Tangipahoa Parish.

STEM Method Demonstration: Amelie Broussard and Avery Venable, of Vermilion Parish.

Teens Driving Teens to Safety: Tenli Touchet and Rylan Viator, of Vermilion Parish.

The Next Healthy Food Star: Ella Higginbotham and Catherine Page, of Winn Parish.

Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship Challenge (Ideation): McKenzie Hebert and Amelie Cormier, of Iberia Parish.

Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship Challenge (Up and Running): Kennedi Washington, of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Tractor Operations: James Gauthier, of St. Martin Parish.

Vet Set Geaux: Charli Boudreaux, of Assumption Parish.

Visual Arts: Makayla Rhodes, of Terrebonne Parish.

Zero Turn Mower: Everett Pourciau, of Vermilion Parish.

Dayton Pennington, of Avoyelles Parish, celebrates after being introduced as the new 4-H state president during an assembly at 4-H University on June 19, 2025. Looking on are, at left, outgoing president Breleigh Page, of Livingston Parish, and several other newly named officers of the organization. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Avoyelles Parish 4-H'er Austin LeBlanc celebrates winning first place in the consumer decision making contest at 4-H University. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Kinzie Brassell, right, of Jefferson Davis Parish, received first place in the career preparation contest at 4-H University. Alex Theall, left, of Lafayette Parish, finished third, and Joe Lewis, of Winn Parish, won second place. 4-H members from across the state competed for cash prizes, scholarships and educational trips during the weeklong event held on the LSU main campus. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter