Twelve new members of the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame will be inducted at the grand opening of the Louisiana 4-H Museum in Mansura from 2-4 p.m. on July 18.

The hall inducted its initial 100 members in 2008 in honor of the Louisiana 4-H centennial.

The museum will display treasures of thousands of current and former 4-H’ers from across Louisiana to showcase the history and importance of Louisiana 4-H, said Rose Anne St. Romain, museum coordinator.

4-H is the youth development and outreach program of the nation’s land-grant universities and is operated in Louisiana by the LSU AgCenter. It involves young people in educational projects, camps, activities, trips and school enrichment programs that foster development of life skills in science, engineering and technology, citizenship, healthy living and much more.

“The results are quite stunning,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor. “Many thanks to everyone for all the items and photos submitted. We will display as many as possible for the grand opening and add to displays over time.”

The museum at 8592 Highway 1 is near where the first Corn Club for boys was formed in 1908. That club and other boys’ agricultural and girls’ domestic clubs formed in the early 1900s eventually evolved into what now is the Louisiana 4-H program.

Hall of Fame inductees for 2009 are:

Diane Duhe – Duhe served St. John Parish 4-H from 1976-2005. Each year she led the St. John 4-H /St. Jude Wheels for Life Bike-A-Thon promoting cancer research for children and raising thousands of dollars. She served as 4-H Club leader, 4-H Junior Leader coordinator, 4-H Foundation board secretary/treasurer and 4-H Club leader coordinator. Her award will be presented posthumously.

Charles Lesley “C. L.” Flowers – Flowers of East Baton Rouge Parish began his career with 4-H in DeSoto Parish in 1937, specializing in the livestock project. He retired from the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service in East Baton Rouge Parish in 1972 after serving as county agent and parish chair. Between retirement and his death in 1999, Flowers continued to maintain a strong presence with 4-H, especially the livestock program, as a volunteer and philanthropist. In 1984, Flowers and his wife donated $10,000 to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation.

Loretta Guidry – Guidry of Lafourche Parish has been a 4-H leader whose club won Achievement Day in its division 15 years in a row. A large number of her club members won state and national contests. She was a teacher at Larose-Cut Off Junior High School for 30 years. She now devotes her time to helping her grandchildren with 4-H record books, contests and activities.

Mable Yvonne Lorenz – As a school bus driver for 15 years (1973-1988), Lorenz of Beauregard Parish volunteered her time and fuel to transport 4-H’ers to the annual Beauregard Parish 4-H Achievement Day, where she also served as a contest judge. For three years, she held summer workshops for 4-H’ers at her home, teaching girls how to sew, cook, complete handicraft projects and work on 4-H record books. During her 48 years as an adult leader, she hosted 4-H exchange students from South Carolina and Kansas.

Nancy W. Marceaux – Marceaux of Vermilion Parish served as a leader at Kaplan High School for 30 years. She was named State 4-H Alumni winner in 1999. She has been an active member in the parish 4-H advisory committee, serving as chair for five years. Her four children were active in 4-H and are now serving as adult volunteers.

Marleen Mayfield – Mayfield of St. Bernard Parish organized one of the first 4-H Clubs to return to St. Bernard after Hurricane Katrina at Andrew Jackson Elementary. She received a Toyota Prius after Hurricane Katrina from Phoenix Suns basketball player Amaré Stoudemire and was recognized with Gold 4-H Club Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Billy B. Nutt – Nutt of Bienville Parish began his career in extension in 1966 in Lake Providence as an associate county agent. He transferred to Lincoln Parish and in 1972 moved to Bienville Parish as county agent and parish chair. Now retired, he assists in garden contests and beautification activities at his church, library and the courthouse.

Virginia Shehee – Shehee of Caddo Parish was recognized in 1974 for purchasing the champion market hog at a record price for a special needs youth. The pig provided the youth support to enable him to learn to walk as a result of cerebral palsy. Shehee later was recognized on Paul Harvey News for her impact on the youth and his compelling story with his pig.

Mansel S. Slaughter – Slaughter of East Baton Rouge Parish has served on the parish 4-H livestock sales committee, on the LSU AgCenter’s Agribusiness Council and as superintendent of the parish swine show. Posthumously, he continues to give because of the Mansel S. Slaughter Memorial Fund through the East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H Foundation.

John Stamper – Stamper of Bossier Parish was an avid supporter of 4-H throughout his career as an educator and continued to support Bossier Parish 4-H as a volunteer leader after his retirement. He conducted educational and competitive events at the annual National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Bodcau Wildlife Management area each fall.

Lafayette Fearn Swoope Jr. – Swoope of Calcasieu Parish joined the Cooperative Extension Service in 1957 as an assistant county agent in Caldwell Parish. In 1958 he transferred to East Carroll Parish and then served as county agent in Calcasieu Parish from 1967 until retirement in 1989. He now serves as a volunteer leader in the 4-H livestock program. Through his advisory committee, Calcasieu Parish was the first to conduct a fundraiser, which has continued for 45 years. Swoope has raised 4-H club lambs for 50 years.

Denise Turner – Turner of Lafayette Parish began volunteering with 4-H when her sons Chad and Cody joined their local 4-H Clubs. She enters data into the 4-H enrollment program and manages the hundreds of project books delivered to Lafayette 4-H members each year. She received training in the Louisiana 4-H Sportsfishing Program and has served as an angling skills instructor for seven years and helps plan and coordinate the annual 4-H “Let’s Go Fishing” clinic each year.

Mary Ann Van Osdell