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The West Feliciana 4-H Program has been very busy this quarter. In April, we wrapped up our pollinator series in our 4-H Club Meetings with our 4-H’ers learning about honeybees and hummingbirds. Not only did the 4-H’ers taste honey from different parts of the state but they also learned how different flowers affect the taste of honey. During the April 4-H Rabbit Project Club Meeting, the members participated in a skill-a-thon where they learned about different rabbit breeds. The Horse Project Club ended their year by visiting Audubon Veterinary Hospital to hear about equine dental care.
In April, our 4-H’ers competed at 4-H State Shooting Sports in archery and shotgun. Several youth placed in the top ten and brought home many state championships. We are so proud of them! Our 4-H’ers participated in the Regional Culinary Arts Contest in Amite in May. West Feliciana 4-H entered dishes in several categories with many of our 4-H’ers placing in the top three. Also in May, we held our Fashion Show and Competition where youth showed off their sewing club projects. West Feliciana Parish 4-H conducted its second annual Talent Show. This year, we added an art and literature contest to the Talent Show.
On the second week of June, our 4th, 5th and 6th graders attended 4-H Camp Grant Walker. We brought 38 campers, six camp counselors, and four adult volunteers to camp. At camp, our youth participated in educational tracks, made lots of new friends, and enjoyed many fun activities. Also in June, our 8th -12th grade 4-H’ers took part in 4-H University held at LSU. 11 4-H’ers attended and competed in various competitions. Peyton Daniel placed 2nd in Fashion, Maddie Harvey placed 9th in 4-H Has Talent, Caden Gates placed 5th in Tiger Tank, Valarie Patin placed 5th in Fashion, Evleyn Pollet placed 2nd in Fashion, Taylor Triche placed 9th in STEM Method Demonstration, Christian Vosburg placed 10th in Zero Turn Mower, and Noah Vosburg placed 10th in Tractor Operations. Valarie Patin and Evelyn Pollet tried out for the State Wetland Ambassador Board and made it! Peyton Daniel, Caden Gates, and Colten Gates applied to the State Food and Fitness Board and were selected! We are also excited to share that Mary Dean Griffin and Taylor Triche were elected to the State Equine Ambassadors Board and Wyatt Treloar was chosen as a State STEM Board member. We are so excited for them!
Seven of our 4-H’ers attended the Southeast District Horse Show and competed in numerous events including showmanship, performance events, and speed events. Brooklyn Triche and Taylor Triche both earned the High Point Buckle for Junior and Senior Ranch Divisions. Also, during the show, Mary Davis Grezaffi, Anna Klein Grezaffi, and Lucy Rosso received several top five placings in various events.
In July, horse shows will continue, and we will prepare for the upcoming school year.The Feliciana Master Gardeners, in partnership with St. Francisville Beautiful, held a successful Spring Home & Garden Stroll in May. The event helps fund school gardens, four 4-H scholarships, and professional development opportunities. Also in May, the 4-H Horticulture Project Club worked on sprucing up the flower bed at the Council on Aging.
The Horticulture Agent filmed multiple Get It Growing segments for the LSU AgCenter at Rosedown Historic site. The segments are set to air late this summer and fall. The Master Gardeners are gearing up for multiple projects in the fall, including working with the 4-H Horticulture Project Club and rating fall foliage color for a tourism project in the Feliciana parishes.
Spring and summer have been busy with livestock field days and forage events across the state. Some of these have included the Louisiana Hay Conference, LSU AgCenter Hay Day, and the LGLCI Virtual Fence Demo and Pasture Walk at the Delta Dairy Farm. Producers from multiple parishes attended to learn more about new technologies to improve their pastures and livestock operations.
August 14 – Pasture Monitoring and Management: Tools and Techniques for Healthier Fields Field Day – Bayou Sarah Farm, St. Francisville, LA Registration at 8am
November 1 – Southeast Region Wildlife & Livestock Field Day – Idlewild Research Station, Clinton, LA Registration at 8:30am
For more information, contact Donna Gentry at dsgentry@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Learning about the importance of the Dairy Food Group, 93 Bains Lower Elementary (BLE) Pre-K children heard the OrganWise Guys’ Bone Bank Savings book, while 95 BLE kindergarteners listened to Kiss the Cow, a favorite book the Nutrition & Community Health (NCH) Agent likes to include in the dairy lesson. The children were also excited to participate in a Garden Color Scavenger Hunt, which challenged them to find and draw items in the garden that matched certain colors. Afterwards, the children shared their drawings.
May was carrot harvesting time, and all the Pre-k and kindergarten classes took part. The NCH Agent assisted Lanya Mayer, Play 60 Coach, by prepping the carrots and cutting them into fry shapes. Mayer made an herb and spice blend to coat the carrot fries before cooking in the air fryer. All 15 classes of Pre-K and kindergarteners sampled the carrot fries, with many returning for seconds and thirds. Each child voted on whether they liked the carrot fries or didn’t care for them. Also in May, the children were able to harvest some of the cucumbers and several classes were able to sample them.
During the last project club meeting in April, the NCH Agent arranged for the 4-H Mission Nutrition Project Club to meet at the West Feliciana High School Pro Start Lab and Kitchen. Eight 4-H’ers worked in pairs to create “dump cakes.” Mrs. Deleana Buffalo, WFHS ProStart teacher, welcomed the 4-H’ers to her facility. As the cakes were baking, the 4-H’ers developed a short presentation about their “dump cake.” After the presentations, they sampled and scored the cakes, and the winning team was recognized.
In June, the NCH Agent had over 60 participants of the Council on Aging
Summer Bash learn about Go, Slow, and Whoa Snacks. The clients sorted food packages into Go, Slow, and Whoa categories represented by green, yellow, and red light colors.
The NCH Agent delivered two nutrition programs to the youth at the West Feliciana Parks & Recreation Summer Camp. 38 youth learned about healthy snacking. They participated in a team activity to place foods cards into Go and Whoa categories. The campers made an Herbed Popcorn and Pretzel Recipe during the program and loved it! The second program the NCH Agent delivered to the campers was on physical activity. 40 youth learned why it is important to be physically active every day. They participated in the Physically Active and Sedentary Behaviors Activity. The campers enjoyed the Physical Activity Charades and acting out physical activities. The campers were placed into teams and raced to perform physical activities during Hit the Deck.
Each month, the NCH Agent continues providing factsheets and herb and spice samples to the West Feliciana Parish Library and providing nutrition factsheets for the West Feliciana Food Pantry food boxes.
