4-H Agent's Message

The 2022 – 2023 Livestock Show Packet has been updated and is now available on our St. Landry webpage. Parish Show entries will be submitted through Fair Entry once I've sent the link out. Fees are due Monday, November 21st to the 4-H Office.

Validation kits are available for all market and commercial animals. Exhibitors can pick up their kits now until November 7^th. The deadline to tag your animal and return the DNA envelope and fee is by 4:30 PM on November 7th (excluding commercial and market swine). Those who do not meet the validation and possession deadline are ineligible to show. The possession and validation deadline for market hogs and commercial gilts is December 2nd by 4:30 PM.

If you need any assistance completing show entries or with validation, please contact me as soon as possible so that we may set up a date and time prior to November 7th.

COVID-19 Statement

Given the health concerns with COVID-19 there is no guarantee that livestock shows will occur as advertised. With that in mind all livestock show participants and families should note that purchase and/or validation of animals is at their own risk and financial investment.

Dates to Remember

October 28 - November 13, 2022 - State Fair of Louisiana, Shreveport

November 7, 2022 - Exhibition Poultry Possession Deadline

November 7, 2022 - Commercial & Market Animal Validation Deadline

All commercial and market animals except swine

November 7, 2022 - Possession Deadline

All breeding animals except swine and miniature cattle

November 14, 2022 - Miniature Cattle Possession Deadline

November 18-19, 2022 - Jim Bowie Junior Livestock Show, Opelousas, La

December 1, 2022 - Rabbit possession deadline

December 2, 2022 - Breeding Swine Possession Deadline

December 2, 2022 - Commercial & Market Swine Validation Deadline

January 20-21, 2023 – St. Landry Parish Livestock Show, Opelousas

January 24-28, 2023 – Acadiana District Livestock Show, Lafayette

February 11-18, 2023 – LSU State Livestock Show, Gonzales

How to Classify Commercial Animals

Commercial animals are unregistered breeding females. Species with a commercial show are: beef, dairy, sheep, goat, and swine. Without registration papers we do not have definitive proof of when that animal was born and therefore determining their exact age.

However, there is another way to determine an animal's age, through "mouthing." All animals start life with their baby or milk teeth. As they age, these teeth are replaced by their adult teeth. Commercial animals, with the exception of dairy heifers and gilts, are mouthed at the livestock show to determine their approximate age and allows show officials to place them in the correct class. Below are the different species and how they are classed by mouthing.

Commercial Beef Heifers

Commercial beef heifer classes are determined by weight, however they are mouthed to determine their eligibility to show. Commercial heifers must have their front two baby teeth (1st pair of incisors) and must have no visible evidence of emergence of part or all of one or both of the first pair of permanent incisors. If baby teeth are not evident or permanent incisors are evident, they will be classified as a yearling. Yearlings will be allowed to show at the district show in a separate class, but not allowed to compete for champion. They will also not be allowed to compete at the State Show.

Commercial Ewe

Three classes are offered for commercial ewes. The classifications for the district and state shows in the commercial ewes division are:

1. Lamb - must have no visible evidence of the emergence of part or all of one or both of the first pair of permanent incisors
2. Yearling - two tooth or four tooth ewes
3. Aged - 5 teeth and over

Commercial ewes will only be mouthed at District shows

Commercial Does

Three classes are offered for commercial does. The classification for the district and state shows in the commercial doe division are:

1. Doeling - must have no visible evidence of the emergence of part or all of one or both of the first pair of permanent incisors
2. Yearling - two-tooth or four-tooth does
3. Aged - 5 teeth and over

Jim Bowie Livestock Show

The Jim Bowie Junior Livestock Show will be Friday, November 18th – Saturday, November 19th at the Ag Arena in Opelousas. There will be Breeding/Market Lamb and Breeding/Market Goat Show on Friday night and Dairy Show and Beef Breeding Show on Saturday. Showmanship will also be included.

Profits from the Jim Bowie Show benefit the St. Landry 4-H Livestock Program and go towards awards for the Parish Livestock Show.

Jim Bowie Livestock Show 2022 Assn Flyer

Livestock Entry Process

Step 1: 4-H Online Enrollment

• Exhibitors MUST be enrolled in 4-H Online (v2.4honline.com)
• Paid 4-H dues to club leader or 4-H office
  • $7 dues if paying through 4-H office
• 4-H Online account will not be approved until dues have been paid
• If 4-H Online profile is “incomplete” or “sent back”, please complete/make corrections as soon as possible
  • Many of the incompletes we are seeing have stopped after the first step of creating a member profile. You must go ALL the way through which would include selecting your club, projects, health consent, code of conduct, etc. You are not done until you hit the “SUBMIT” button!
• 4-H Online account MUST be “approved” to “add animals”

Step 2: Adding Animals to 4-H Online Profile

1. Check Animal Eligibility
   1. Please check the 2023 Livestock Show Catalog to make sure your animals are eligible to show (2023 Livestock Show Catalog (lsuagcenter.com))
2. Add Animal to 4-H Online Account
   1. Please see attached “Families Adding Animals” handout for step-by-step instructions to add an animal.
   2. Registered animals must upload photocopy of front & back of registration paper
   3. Possession & Validation Deadlines (Deadline handout attached.)
      1. Ear tags are available at the 4-H Office right now
      2. Validation kits are $7/ kit and are due by the validation deadline at 4:30 PM
      3. Hair samples need to have hair follicles attached
      4. If you need assistance with ear tagging or hair pulling please let me know and we can setup an appointment
      5. Validated animals will need to enter the LSU Ear Tag when adding their animal to 4-H Online.
   4. A few things to note about 4-H Online when Adding Animals
      1. Home Raised = LA Bred
      2. License # = LA Bred # for that individual animal
      3. If not LA Bred, but license # field is required put “N/A"
      4. Once submitted, animal will need to be approved by 4-H staff
      5. Enter ALL animals you are considering to show – it’s easier to scratch an animal than it will be to add after the deadline
         1. If you have two animals in the same class, but aren’t sure which one you will go with yet, enter them both
   5. LA Bred – clarification on what is considered LA Bred
      1. Registered beef cattle and dairy are the only ones that we go off the registration paper
      2. Goat and sheep must be validated through LMGA or LSPA respectively
      3. Swine through the LPPA (must provide copy of LA Bred certificate)

Step 3: Complete YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals) YQCA (yqcaprogram.org)

• YQCA will replace the old program QAEC that used to be required in the past
• Certification will be required to participate in LSU shows
• Instruction are attached
• This will need to be completed prior to entering into Fair Entry
  • Will need the certification number to enter into Fair Entry
• FAQs about YQCA

• How often does an exhibitor have to complete a course?
  • Annually; reopens October 1st for program year
• Is the program specie specific?
  • No
• What will the exhibitors be learning each year in their web-based course?
  • Curriculum Map for reference (attached)
• Is the course smart phone compatible?
  • Yes. Upon completion of the course on a smart phone, each participant will have the option to save the downloaded PDF to their photo, files, or other applications on their phone.
• Approximately how long will it take the exhibitor to complete?
  • Ideally, within one hour. Exhibitors can login and out as needed to complete the course in multiple settings.
• Why is there an annual $12 fee for the web-based program?
  • The fee structure was established by the YQCA Board of Directors with the goal of covering the cost of the program as a not-for-profit establishment.

Step 4: Fair Entry

• Link to Parish & District Shows will be emailed out to livestock exhibitors/parents
  • Please note that you will technically be entering at two separate times for Parish and District
  • I’m currently still customizing our Parish entry portal but hope to have the link available to you all during the first – second week of November. With that being said, the turn around time entries would need to be completed might be short, but I will include a deadline to enter date
  • I currently don’t have an exact date when the district portal will be available but from what was discussed at the ADLS meeting, it would be available no later then the beginning of December and the entry time for that would maybe be a week. Again, all this information is TBD.
• Login to Fair Entry using 4-H Online account information
• Animals entered into 4-H Online should populate into your Fair Entry account, select the animals you wish to enter
  • This whole process should be straightforward, especially since the animals were already entered into 4-H Online
  • I’ve heard from other families who have used Fair Entry before that the process is very easy, but if you have any issues or questions, please let me know.
• Once entries completed, Fair Entry will generate an invoice with a listing of your entries and fees
  • Parish & district fees will be paid to the Parish 4-H office by designated deadline
  • Once I receive your parish fees, I will mark off your invoice as paid in the Fair Entry system

Step 5: State Show Fair Entry

• At the conclusion of all the district shows - animals that qualify for state (purple or blue ribbon) will then be integrated into the State Show entry system
• A link will be provided to go enter your animals into the state show portal

LSU Broiler Chick Orders

The 2023 LSU Junior Broiler Show will be a straight run show. Exhibitors will be allowed to show one pen of pullets and/or one pen of cockerels. An entry must consist of three broilers.

All broiler chicks for this show must be ordered through the St. Landry 4-H Office. Please complete the broiler chick order form and submit payment no later than November 21, 2022. The cost will be $.50 per chick. Only orders that have completed the order form and submitted payment by November 21, 2022 will be included in the parish total.

2023 LSU Broiler Order Form

LSU Livestock Show Breeding Animal Possession Procedures

All breeding animals must meet the possession deadlines listed below to be eligible to show in the 2023 LSU Shows. Only the exhibitor showing the animal should be listed as the owner on the registration certificate. Any transfer dates or sell dates must be before or by the possession deadline.

Exhibitors must have animals in their possession and under their personal care (and must not be in possession of a custom fitter) after possession dates. The possession requirement covers the period from the date of possession (listed below) to the completion of the state show. If an exhibitor does not have animals(s) in his/her possession during the entire possession period, the exhibitor must turn in a project/hardship form before possession dates. Any exhibitor housing his/her animal on any property other than their own must acquire and have approved a project/hardship form prior to purchase of animal.

LSU Livestock Show Validation Procedures

Animals that are not registered must be validated and in the exhibitor's possession by the dates listed below.

Exhibitor Responsibility

• Animals must be in continuous possession of exhibitor from time of validation until the LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show.
• Exhibitors should request validation kits from agents and Ag teachers as per parish guidelines. Each parish LSU AgCenter 4-H office will supply validation kits to exhibitors upon request.
• Validation will consist of ear tagging animal and pulling a hair sample; hair sample should be placed in a properly identified validation envelope for each animal validated. Validation envelope must be returned to local LSU AgCenter office with validation fee ($7/envelope) by specified deadline. The responsibility of tagging animals and collecting DNA/hair samples will be that of the exhibitor and/or parent. Agents/Ag teachers may be present and can assist.
• Animals previously tagged for the 2022 Louisiana State Fair may utilize the State Fair tag to complete LSU AgCenter State Show validations. All animals must be tagged with an LSU tag or State Fair tag to validate.
• Animals must be validated in either the exhibitors name or in a family name (family consist of parents, legal guardians, brothers, and sisters). When official entry forms are turned in at the parish level, animals validated under family name must be entered in the name of the exhibitor that will show the animal at the Parish, District, and State Shows.

Validation Hardship Statement

District and/or State Show manager must be notified within seven days after the validation deadline to be considered for a validation hardship. After contacting District and/or State Show manager, hardship forms must be immediately filed with supporting material stating hardship. These hardships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by parish agent, district show manager, and state show manager. Only cases where it is determined to have been unavoidable* will the exhibitor be allowed to validate. This decision will be final and not subject to appeal. *Note: Forgetting to validate by the deadline is NOT an acceptable hardship and will not be considered.

LSU State Livestock Show Catalog

The LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Catalog is available online at 2023 Livestock Show Catalog (lsuagcenter.com)

In addition to rules and regulations for the Livestock Show, this catalog contains information on special awards by breed associations, other organizations and individuals. It also lists association rules for some breeds of cattle and for La.-bred market animals. The management of the Livestock Show has done its best to ensure that this information is current and correct. However, neither the LSU AgCenter nor the livestock show management accepts responsibility for the accuracy of this information on special rules formulated by other organizations. Likewise, the LSU AgCenter and its employees do not accept responsibility for awards (cash or otherwise) provided by others. This includes trophies, plaques, scholarships and cash awards shown as provided by breed associations, organizations or individuals.

Market Animals

Please be sure that you are working on securing a sponsor/buyer for your market animal(s). Remember that the purchase agreement/buyer slip must be submitted to me at the end of the Parish Show, January 21, 2023. Purchase agreements/buyer slips will not be accepted after the Parish Show.

All sponsorship monies (does not include donations) received for market animals must be handled by the 4-H Agent. The sponsor will write a check and mail to the Extension Office (make check out to St. Landry 4-H Livestock). The exhibitor will receive the check once the 3% commission is paid and a copy of the thank you note(s) to the sponsor(s) is received by the 4-H Agent. Exhibitors of market animals will not be paid until the sponsor pays the association and a copy of the exhibitor’s thank you note to the sponsor is received by the 4-H Agent.

April 1st is the absolute last day to have commission paid and a copy of the exhibitor’s thank you note to the sponsor(s) in the Extension Office. A penalty fee of $25.00 per week, or $5.00 per day after April 1st will be issued if submitted after April 1st deadline.

Once buyer slips are received at the end of the Parish Show, a billing letter will be sent to those sponsor(s). Please see the 2022 – 2023 Livestock Show Informational Packet for details.

Premier Exhibitor Contest

Parish Premier Exhibitor Contest

The Parish Premier Exhibitor Contest is open to all St. Landry livestock exhibitors and doesn't require pre-registration. Exhibitors will complete a written test (multiple choice questions) and a skill-a-thon. Questions from the written test will only come from the study guide provided, which has general information on all species. Skill-a-thon questions will also come from the study guide and be split into five stations (animal ID, feed ID, equipment ID, anatomy ID, and meat ID). The exhibitor’s showmanship score will also be calculated into the overall score. Awards will be presented to the Junior (9 to 13 years old) and Senior (14 to 19 years old) participant with the highest overall score.

District Premier Exhibitor Contest

The District Premier Exhibitor Contest for 7th-12th graders will have separate specie specific contests for Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat, and Dairy exhibitors. Exhibitors must have pre-registered to compete in the District Premier Exhibitor contests. Forms are due December 8, 2022.

State Premier Exhibitor Contest

The State Premier Exhibitor Contest is for 9th – 12th graders only and will be held at different dates during the State Livestock Show depending on the chosen specie(s). Along with an in-depth written test, skill-a-thon, and showmanship scores, the state contest also includes a resume score (application) and an interview score for the top ten individuals. Applications are due to the St. Landry 4-H Office by January 18, 2023.

Special Record Book Awards

Governor's and Superintendent's Awards

1. The governor of the State of Louisiana presents plaques annually to one senior 4-H club member and to one FFA chapter member. The recipients of these plaques are selected on the basis of their overall 4-H club or FFA record book with emphasis on “Outstanding Progress Made in Livestock Production, Including All Phases of Livestock and Poultry.”
2. The state superintendent of education presents plaques annually to one junior 4-H club member and a plaque to one FFA member.
3. Rules for Governor’s and Superintendent’s Awards - 4-HMembers
   1. The member’s 4-H club record book must be submitted to the State 4-H Office by July 3, 2023. One record book may be submitted per parish in both the Governor’s and Superintendent’s Awards Contests.
   2. Contestants must be active 4-H club members at the time record books are submitted.
   3. Winners of the awards must be present at the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show for presentation of the awards.
   4. Any bona fide junior 4-H club member who has previously completed one year of 4-H club work is eligible to compete.
   5. Contestants must not be 14 years of age on January 1, 2023, for the Superintendent’s Awards, and must be 14 and not yet 20 years by that date for the Governor’sAwards.
   6. The Governor’s, Superintendent’s, and C.W. Kennedy Awards will be based on 4-H portfolios with the following criteria: Project Work 40 pts. Leadership 20 pts. Citizenship 20 pts. 4-H Awards 10 pts. Non 4-H Leadership/ Awards 10 pts.
   7. Each of these awards can only be received once.
4. Rules for Governor’s and Superintendent’s Awards - FFA Members
   1. Applicant must be an active FFA member at the time the application is submitted.
   2. Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2022, to the State FFA Office.
   3. Winner of the award must be present at the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show for the presentation of the award.
   4. Any bona fide FFA member who has completed two years of vocational agriculture instruction is eligible to compete.
   5. Applicant must submit his application during his third consecutive year of active membership in the FFA.

The attorney general of the State of Louisiana will present a plaque to one outstanding leader for their livestock and poultry project leadership with 4-H club members. Nomination forms are due in the State 4-H Office by July 3, 2023.

The C. W. Kennedy Memorial Award is presented to the 2nd highest individual record winner in the Governor’s Award Contest.

The awards will be presented at the 2023 State Livestock Show

St. Landry Junior Livestock Association

The St. Landry Junior Livestock Association is made up of St. Landry Parish livestock leaders, parents, volunteers, and exhibitors. The association works in cooperation with the parish 4-H Agents to plan and implement educational opportunities, clinics, the Jim Bowie Livestock Show and the St. Landry Parish 4-H / FFA Livestock Show. The association holds monthly meetings that all associated with the St. Landry 4-H Livestock Program are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The next Junior Livestock Association meeting will be Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. at the St. Landry Extension Office.