4-H Clover Chatter September 2025

01. National 4-H Week

National 4-H Week will be observed October 5 - 11, 2025

You are encouraged to plan and carry out special activities to celebrate National 4-H Week. More than 6 million people across the country will celebrate National 4-H Week. During National 4-H Week, 4-H will showcase the great things that4-H offers young people and highlights the incredible 4-H youth in the community who work each day to make a positive impact on the community.

02. Jr. Leader Social

Calling All 8th – 12th Graders!

You are invited to the 4-H Jr. Leader Social

Monday, September 22, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. at the 4-H Office

Assumption Parish 4-H is organizing the 2024-25 Jr. Leader Club. This club is open to 4-H members in grades 8th-12th.

The objective of the Jr. Leader Club is to help others and 4-H members with parish activities, camps, contests, and community development.

We are encouraging previous members to bring a friend or friends who are not a member to join.

Dues are $15 which will include your community service project for September.

This fee can only be paid to the 4-H office.

03. Enroll Today in Assumption 4-H

All 4th -12th grade students in Assumption Parish are eligible to enroll. 4-H provides opportunities for youth development and build life skills, practical knowledge, and wisdom through hands on learning. All while growing confidence, independence, resilience and compassion. Assumption 4-H offers endless opportunities for making new friends and memories.

To enroll in Assumption 4-H you can follow the online instructions attached entitled “Join 4-H Today” or you can fill out the paper enrollment form that your child received from school. If you were a member last yest all you have to do is log onto your account and click “Enroll Now” under 4-H in the program column.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Margo at the 4-H Office at 985-369-6386 or mcastro@agcenter.lsu.edu

04. Pumpkin Decorating Contest

This contest will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd, at the 4-H facility.

Registration will be held all day from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

4-H’ers will have the opportunity to bring pumpkins to school and will be picked up by Ms. Margo.

If you would like your pumpkin back, they can be picked up Thursday, October 23rd from 8:00-4:00.

This contest will be open to all 4-H’ers.

REAL PUMPKINS MUST BE USED!

The categories are:

1) Funniest (humorous, amusing, causes laughter, etc.)

2) Prettiest/Cutest (nice looking, attractive, beautiful, etc.)

3) Scariest (fright, shock, alarming, etc.)

4) Unusual (odd, strange, rare, etc.)

5) Creative (imaginative, innovative, artistic, etc.)

6) Carved (engraved, cut, etc.)

Awards will be given to: Division winners per category and Overall Pumpkin.

Ribbons will be awarded to Blue, Red, and White placing in each category:

Division I– 4th grade

Division II – 5th and 6th grade

Division III – 7th and 8th grade

Division IV – High School

05. Character Education Poster Contest

This contest is open to all 4-H members. The purpose of this poster contest is for 4-H’ers and their families to become more conscious about responsibility, respect, trustworthiness, fairness, citizenship, and caring.

Rules are as follows:

  • Poster MUST BE of uniform size - 22"x 28" poster board only.
  • Do not attach anything to poster that is more than 1 inch thick.
  • Be sure to place name, grade and school on the back of the poster in the upper right-hand corner.
  • A blue, red or white ribbon will be given to every 4-H’er that participates.

Division I - 4th, 5th, 6th grade

Division II - 7th, 8th, 9th grade

Division III - 10th, 11th,12th grade

Character Education Posters are due to the 4-H Office by October 31, 2025.

06. Ground Beef, Egg, Poultry and Sweet Potato Cookery Contest

The Parish 4-H Ground Beef, Egg, Poultry and Sweet Potato Cookery Contests will be held on Saturday, October 18th, in the AgCenter Warehouse. Registration will be 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Rules:

  • Only one dish may be exhibited in each cookery contest.
  • Dishes are to be brought in a disposable dish.
  • Dishes should contain servings enough for five-six samples.
  • A copy of the recipe for the entire dish with title of recipe at top. Place 4-H’ers initials and grade only on back of recipe for easy identification by the 4-H agent. Do Not write 4-H’ers name or school on recipe.
  • 4-H’ers do not stay for the judging. The dishes will be judged, and ribbons will be distributed at the club meetings.

For food safety reasons, please remember to bring all dishes COLD. We will heat it if need.


Ground Beef Cookery Contest:

4-H’ers will exhibit a prepared main dish using at least one pound of ground beef.

Please note: Ground Beef dish may be entered in only one of the three categories:

  1. Low-Calorie Main Dish - a dish which provides less than 300 calories per serving.
  2. Quick & Easy Main Dish - a dish that is ready to serve in less than one hour.
  3. One Dish Meal - a dish that provides food from at least three of the main food groups.
  • No appetizers unless it can be served with rice, noodles, bread, or crackers.
  • Soup is an entrée as long as it has ground beef.
  • For food safety reasons, please remember to bring all dishes COLD. We will heat it if need.


Egg Cookery Contest:

4-H’ers will exhibit a prepared egg dish using at least 4 eggs.

Please note: Egg dish may be entered in only one of the three categories:

  1. Appetizers and Salads
  2. Desserts
  3. Main Dish

Dishes with raw eggs in the final product will not be judged for food safety reasons (and will receive the lowest ribbon). Example: raw eggs in dip or ice cream

For food safety reasons, please remember to bring all dishes COLD. We will heat it if need.


Sweet Potato Cookery Contest:

Bring to the contest a prepared sweet potato dish.

Please note: Sweet Potato dishes may be entered in only one of two categories:

  1. Dessert Dish
  2. Any Other Sweet Potato Dish

Dish must contain a minimum of 1 cup fresh, frozen, or canned sweet potatoes.

For food safety reasons, please remember to bring all dishes COLD. We will heat it if need.


Poultry Cookery Contest:

Please note: Poultry dishes may be entered in only one of the three categories:

  1. Chicken
  2. Processed Poultry Products
  3. Other Poultry Meat

Bring to the contest a prepared poultry dish. It may be any:


AppetizerMain Dish
SaladSnack
Soup
Chicken – a dish which contains a minimum of 2 pounds bone-in chicken or 1-pound deboned chicken meat. Contestants should purchase whole chicken or identifiable chicken parts, such as wings, thighs, legs, or breasts. (This dish should not include special processed chicken, such as marinated chicken strips, chicken nuggets, chicken franks, smoked chicken, canned chicken, etc.) Chicken includes any of the following:
Baking HenBroiler
CaponCornish or Game Hen
FryerRoaster
Processed Poultry Products – a dish which includes a minimum of 12 ounces of processed (value-added) poultry products. Value-added poultry products are poultry meats which have undergone special processing. Marinated, breaded, seasoned, and reformed products are examples of special processing techniques. Some product examples are listed below:

Special Note: All dishes containing any turkey item, (whole, part, or processed) should be entered into this division.

Canned ChickenChicken StripsChicken Franks
Ground ChickenChicken NuggetsSmoked Chicken

Other Poultry Meat – a dish which contains a minimum of 2 pounds bone-in or 1-pound deboned meat from a bird other than chickens. You may choose poultry meat from any of the following:

DoveDuckEmuGoose
GrouseGuineaOstrichPheasant
PigeonQuailTurkey

For food safety reasons, please remember to bring all dishes COLD. We will heat it if needed.

07. Assumption Parish Shooting Sports

Archery – BB – Rifle – Shotgun

$50.00 Registration Fee Archery

$50.00 Registration Fee BB

$50.00 Registration Fee Rifle

$75.00 Registration Fee Shotgun

4-H’ers are responsible for their own firearm, ammunition, and safety gear.

For more information and to receive an application contact

Margo Castro, 4-H Agent at 985-369-6386 or mcastro@agcenter.lsu.edu

Deadline to sign-up is October 1, 2025

08. 2026 Camp Catch Phrase

Think fast – the deadline is Thursday, October 31, 2025!

Send us your most creative idea for a slogan – in 7 words or less. Illustrations must accompany the phrase and will be part of the contest. The contest is open to all Louisiana 4-H youth. The winning slogan will be one that is brief and “catchy” capturing the spirit of 4-H Camp Grant Walker. The artwork and slogan will be used on all publicity for camp and camp T-shirt, and the winner will receive a $50 monetary award!

Winners will be selected by a committee of Agents and Camp Staff. The winner will be notified after selection in order for an official artist’s release so the winning entry can be used on summer camp promotional materials and t-shirts.

Deadline for receipt of entries is October 31, 2024. Members may submit multiple entries and send them together.

All Submissions must include:

- Full Name, Grade, & Age of Member Submitting

- Parish & 4-H Club

- Complete Mailing Address

- Telephone Number

Please Mail Entries to:

Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center

300 Hwy 8, Pollock, LA 71469

Email Entries to: CampGrantWalker@agcenter.lsu.edu


09. Message from Ms. Margo Castro 4-H Agent

Dear Parents, Members and Leaders,

4-H is a positive youth development program. 4-H members gain knowledge and life skills that enable them to become positive, productive, capable, and compassionate members of their communities.

I am looking forward to another great year. I invite each of you to join Assumption 4-H, where the fun never ends.

Margo L. Castro

Extension Agent/4-H Youth Development

Parish Chair Assumption Parish

10. 2025-2026 4-H Calendar of Events

September Events

  • Monthly Club Meetings – TBA
  • 1 – Labor Day Holiday (School & 4-H Office)
  • 22 - Jr. Leader Social, (tentative)

October Events

  • Club Meetings as per schedule
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 5-11 – National 4-H Week
  • 13 – Fall Break/Columbus Day (School)
  • 18 – Ground Beef, Egg, Poultry, and
  • Sweet Potato Cookery
  • 22 – Pumpkin Decorating Contest
  • 31 – Character Ed Poster Contest

November Events

  • Club Meetings as per schedule
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 15 – Recycled Art Contest
  • 15 – Seafood, Rice, Sugar Cookery, 4-H Office
  • 15 – Louisiana 4-H Bash on the Bayou
  • 18-19 – SW Challenge Camp
  • 24-28 – Thanksgiving Holiday (School)
  • 27-28 – Thanksgiving Holiday (4-H Office)

December Events

  • Club Meetings as per schedule
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 12 – Christmas Card Contest
  • 22-Jan 2 – Christmas Holidays (School)
  • 24-Jan 1 – Christmas Holidays (4-H Office)

January Events

  • Club Meetings as per schedule
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 13 – Food & Fitness Day Camp (Baton Rouge)
  • 16 – Dairy Poster Contest
  • 17 – Parish Livestock Show
  • 19 – Fashion & Beyond Tour (Crowley)
  • 19 – Martin Luther King Holiday (School & 4-H Office)
  • 24 – Fashion & Beyond Tour (Alexandria)
  • 28-31 – District Livestock Show
  • 30 – Pet Look-A-Like Portrait Contest

February Events

  • Club Meetings as per schedule – Demo Day
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 13 – Duct Tape Contest
  • 14-21 – State Livestock Show
  • 16-20 – Mardi Gras Break (School)
  • 17 – Mardi Gras Holiday (4-H Office)
  • 19-20 – Spark Action Change Summit 7th & 8th Grade
  • (Location TBA)
  • 27 – Beef Poster Contest Due

March Events

  • No Club Meetings
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 6-8 - Jr. Leadership Conference
  • 12-13 – Ag Day – Tentative
  • 17 – Ag Career Awareness Day
  • 20-31 – Southern Regional Shooting Sports Match
  • 27 – Sew with Cotton Contest

April Events

  • Club Meetings as per schedule
  • TBA – Jr. Leader Meeting, 4-H Office
  • 3-10 – Easter Holiday (School)
  • 18 – Easter Holiday (4-H Office)
  • 10-18– State Shooting Sports Match
  • 29 – Area Cookery

May Events

  • 5 – 4-H Garden Contest
  • 12 – 4-H Awards Banquet (Tentative)

June Events

  • 23-26 – 4-H University
  • 30-1 – District Horse Show
  • TBA – 4-H Summer Camp – Camp Grant Walker

July Events

  • July 4th Holiday (Office Closed)
  • TBA – State Horse Show
  • TBA: Lost Camp and Jr. Leader Trip
  • * TBA = To be announced

9/15/2025 2:20:59 PM
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