Events

April

• 10-19: Shooting Sports State Matches
• 23: Junior Leader Meeting
• 24-30: 4-H University Registration
• 28: 4-H Day at the Capitol
• 30: Final 4-H Camp Payment Due

May

• 2: Advanced Shotgun Team Fundraiser
• 5: Mandatory 4-H Camp Parent Meeting
• 7: Awards Ceremony
• 12: Southeast Region Culinary Contest
• 29: 4-H U Training & Board Interviews

June

• 1: Garden Contest Photos Due
• 8: Garden Contest Judging
• 16-17: Southeast District Horse Show
• 23-25: 4-H University
• 29-July 2: 4-H Camp

Kayla Banta
East Feliciana Parish 4-H Agent
4419 Idlewild Road
Clinton, LA 70722
(225) 683-3101
KBanta@agcenter.lsu.edu
Facebook: EastFeliciana4H

Website: www.lsuagcenter.com/eastfeliciana4h

April is packed with excitement in East Feliciana 4-H! From state competitions and leadership meetings to camp preparation and spring gardening projects, our members have plenty of opportunities to learn, lead, and grow this season. Take a look below for important updates and upcoming events.

Jr. Leadership Club: Our next club meeting will be held on Thursday, April 23rd at 5:00pm at the 4-H Office. Please bring registration forms, signed required paperwork, and payment for 4-H University 2026. We will continue to go over contest and state leadership opportunity information.

Livestock Exhibitors: Please see information below for validation dates.

Shooting Sports: Congratulations to our Shooting Sports Teams! We had 20 members who advanced to compete at State, April 10-19. Parents, please be sure to monitor your email closely for additional details, including specific flight times for State matches as they are released. Our 2nd annual Advanced Shotgun Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 2nd at Riverside Sporting Clays. Please scan QR code for registration information and sponsorship opportunities!

4-H Camp 2026: Our Parish will be attending 4-H Camp at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock, LA. June 29 - July 2, 2026, with 4th-6th grade members. This opportunity is open to 4th-6th grade members, and we are still accepting 7 boy and 3 girl camper spots. The cost of camp is $300, which includes camp fee, t shirt, pillowcase, lunch on the way to camp, transportation to and from camp on charter bus, and parish camp photo. If your member would like to attend, please reach out to Ms. Kayla via email. MANDATORY Parent/Camper meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5th at 5:30pm located at Redwood Baptist Church 5182 Hwy 412 Slaughter, LA 70777. This meeting is mandatory because we will be reviewing important camp information and collecting all required signed forms. Please make plans to attend so you and your camper are fully prepared for camp.

2026 East Feliciana 4-H Gardening Contest: The purpose of the gardening contest is to allow youth to learn how grow and take care of a vegetable garden.

Who's Eligible to Participate? Enrolled East Feliciana 4-H members in grades K through 12

Rules:

• Garden must be worked primarily by 4-H members. Adults may assist with spading, rototilling and control for insects and disease problems.
• Gardens may be an individual plot or may be connected to a family garden. If connected to a family plot, rows must be marked off (stakes, string, etc.) and maintained by the 4-H member.
• Gardens may be a flat or raised bed or may be a container grown garden. Gardens with rows should have at least 2 rows that are 4-8 feet long each.
• Each garden MUST have the four following vegetables planted in them: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and beans. Below is a listing of additional vegetables that you can use in your garden in addition to those that are required.
• All participants must submit a digital photo journal showing a minimum of 10 photos of the progression of your gardens.

Root Crops

Peanuts (seeds) Shallots (transplants) Sweet Potatoes (Slips)

Heavy Fruited-Leafy Vegetables

• Collards (seed) Corn (seed) Eggplant (transplant)
• Okra (Seed) Pepper (transplants)

Viney-Vegetables

Cantaloupe (seed) Pumpkin (seed) Squash (Seed) Watermelons (Seed) Zucchini (Seed)

A row may have more than one crop. For example, half may be planted in tomatoes, and the other half may be some type of bean.

Judging will take place on Monday, June 8, 2026. We recommend you plant early and consider using transplants where possible to have the maximum production at this time.

Harvest any vegetables that are ripe, do not let them go to waste! Eat or give them away when they are ripe and remember to keep a digital photo journal for the judges to look at.

Photos can be submitted by emailing photos to Ms. Kayla Banta (KBanta@agcenter.lsu.edu) or by putting together a scrapbook with photos included.

The deadline to submit photos is Monday, June 1, 2026.

• Judging Rubric (Possible 100 points)
• Variety of Vegetables (10 points)
• Insect Control and Disease Control Weed Control (20 points)
• Quality of Vegetables (maturity of plants) (10 points)
• Neatness & General Appearance Interview with Judges (40 points)
• Photo Journal (20 points)

Definition of Terms

• Slip - Plants grown from cutting of vegetable.
• Transplants - Young plants already growing that can be taken from their containers and planted directly into the garden.