ADA Accommodation

Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in Caldwell 4-H, please contact 4-H agent Jana Bennett at 318-649-2663.

4-H Pledge

I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

It's Time to Join Caldwell 4-H Shooting Sports

Attention all Caldwell 4-H members interested in participating in archery, pistol, shotgun, or rifle activities! Caldwell 4-H Shooting Sports will have its first meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 6 at the Caldwell Parish Library in Columbia. This will not only be an informational meeting for 4-H members but will also be the enrollment meeting for the 2025-2026 Shooting Sports year. If you are interested in joining Caldwell 4-H Shooting Sports, you must attend this meeting with a parent or guardian. Do not bring any firearms or archery equipment to this meeting. Membership dues are $30 for one discipline and $10 for each additional discipline. If you will be using cash to pay Shooting Sports dues, you must have the exact amount. If you are not able to attend the meeting you can come by the 4-H office starting October 7 to enroll. The deadline to join Caldwell 4-H Shooting Sports is 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 20. If you have questions, please contact 4-H agent Jana Bennett at 318-649-2663.

Leaf Identification Contest

• Entries are due to the 4-H office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24.
• Entries submitted after October 24 will not be eligible for cash prizes.
• Submit a binder of 15 pages of leaves, one leaf per page, which have been collected during the current school year.
• Leaves must be from trees or shrubs.
• Tape each leaf on a separate piece of construction or copy paper and identify the leaf using a pen or marker. Be specific when identifying leaves. For example, if a leaf is from a Live Oak tree, write Live Oak on the page, not just Oak. If the leaf is from a Bald Cypress tree, write Bald Cypress, not just Cypress.
• Write your name, school, and grade on the front cover of your binder.

Fall Foods Festival and Consumer Foods Judging Contest

• Both contests will be held on Monday, November 10, 8:45 a.m., at Union Central Elementary School.
• You must preregister for both contests by calling the 4-H office at 318-649-2663 by 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 5.
• Dish categories are Quick-n-Easy Ground Beef, Main Dish Beef, Chicken, Egg, Rice Main Dish, Rice Any Other Dish, Pecan, Sweet Potato, Corn.
• All dishes must be already prepared and ready to serve.
• The dish must be covered with a lid or foil in the ice chest.
• All dishes must be chilled, cold to the touch, and transported in an insulated hard case ice chest with ice. No ice packs are allowed. Styrofoam ice chests are allowed.
• Insulated totes or bags will be disqualified.
• Dishes will be checked during sign in on contest day. Dishes not properly chilled, not properly covered, and not on ice in a hard case ice chest will be disqualified.
• Alcohol is not allowed in any recipe.
• Recipes that won first place in last year's contest cannot be entered in this year's contest.
• Members who do not want to enter a dish can still compete in the Consumer Foods Judging Contest in which participants will rank classes of food items based on factors such as health, cost, lifestyle, or other requirements.
• Complete contest rules, dish category requirements, and recipe forms are available at the 4-H office located at 106 Jackson Street in Columbia.

Safety Poster Contest

• Entries for the Safety Poster Contest are due to the 4-H office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 21.
• Create a poster on a specific safety topic, for example, fire safety, food safety, internet safety, etc.
• Posters will be judged on eye-catching design, originality, neatness, and safety information.
• Your name, school, and grade should be written on the back of the poster in the upper right corner.
• Posters submitted after November 21 will not be eligible for first, second, or third place awards.

Fashion Revue and Consumer Decision Making Contest

Handmade garments, shirts, and data forms are due to the Caldwell 4-H office by 4:00 p.m. on December 1. Submit garment and/or decorated shirt on a hanger along with a Personal Data Form. The 4-H Fashion Revue consists of Clothing Construction, Decorated Shirt, Ready-to-Wear, and Consumer Decision Making contests. Remember to submit a Data Form if you are planning to enter the Ready to Wear Contest. Appearance Judging for submitted garments and Ready to Wear and the Consumer Decision Making Contest will be 9:00 a.m., Monday, December 8 at Union Central Elementary School. Members who do not enter garments can still participate in the Consumer Decision Making Contest in which participants will judge classes of consumer products or services and rank each class based on a given situation.

Character: Trustworthiness

Being trustworthy means others can count on you to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. In 4-H, trustworthiness builds strong friendships, responsible leaders, and a positive club environment. What does trustworthiness look like? It's being honest in words and actions, keeping promises and following through, admitting mistakes and learning from them, respecting others' property and privacy, standing up for what's right, even when it is hard.

Greener Louisiana: Debunking Environmental Myths

Louisiana's rich natural resources and unique ecosystems, like wetlands, bayous, forests, and coastal marshes, are vital to both the environment and the economy. However, they face serious threats from erosion, pollution, and extreme weather. Myth: Litter only affects how things look. Fact: Litter harms wildlife, pollutes waterways, and costs Louisiana over 91 million dollars each year in cleanup efforts. Myth: Louisiana has plenty of wetlands, so losing some isn't a big deal. Fact: Louisiana loses a football field of wetlands every 100 minutes, which weakens hurricane protection and threatens fisheries. Myth: Environmental issues only affect coastal areas. Fact: Northern Louisiana faces soil erosion, deforestation, and water quality issues, problems that impact farming, drinking water, and wildlife. Myth: Recycling doesn't really matter anymore. Fact: Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to make new cans. Every recycled item reduces landfill waste and pollution.

Club Meeting Schedule for November

Caldwell 4-H Calendar of Events

Membership and participation in activities and events are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. If you have a disability that requires an ADA accommodation to participate, please contact our office at 318-649-2663. Louisiana 4-H is an educational program of the LSU AgCenter. The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.