(04/26/17) ALEXANDRIA, La. – St. James Parish high school senior Victoria Rocquin may have had her eye on the prize, but that isn’t what has kept her coming back for four years to compete in the annual 4-H Commodity Ambassador Program contests.

“This contest is one of the best ways to learn about Louisiana. It is one of my favorite 4-H events and an awesome learning experience for youth,” Rocquin said. Each year she shares what she learns with different groups in her community to teach others about Louisiana commodities.

Held April 18 at the State Evacuation Shelter, the 4-H Commodity Ambassador Program hosted 54 contestants from 17 parishes.

The educational program is designed to enhance youth learning about commodities that are important to Louisiana and emphasizes eggs, chicken, turkey, sugar and seafood, said AgCenter 4-H regional coordinator Terri Crawford.

“I like the contest because it requires learning new things and stepping out of your comfort zone,” said Vermilion Parish fifth-grader Kinsey Waits.

“The contest encourages youth to learn about commodities produced in our state, but just as important are the communication skills they learn from competing in the oral presentations,” Crawford said.

The 2017 state winners are:

Chicken Ambassador

Division I (fourth- to sixth-graders) – Ellen Deshotel, Evangeline Parish.

Division II (seventh- to ninth-graders) – George Harris, St. Martin Parish.

Division III (10th- 12th-graders) – Nicholas LeBlanc, Vermilion Parish.

Egg Ambassador

Division I (fourth- to sixth-graders) – Isabella Broussard, Vermilion Parish.

Division II (seventh- to ninth-graders) – John Michael Shiner, Vermilion Parish.

Division III (10th- to 12th-graders) – Kody Arton, Iberia Parish.

Turkey Ambassador

Division I (fourth- to sixth-graders) – Dani Thibodeaux, Jefferson Davis Parish.

Division II (seventh- to ninth-graders) – Caroline Whisonant, Winn Parish.

Division III (10th- to 12th-graders) – Victoria Rocquin, St. James Parish.

Seafood Ambassador

Division I (fourth- to sixth-graders) – Shelby Buroker, Vermilion Parish.

Division II (seventh- to ninth-graders) – Bailey Melancon, Lafourche Parish.

Division III (10th- to 12th-graders) – Victoria Rocquin, St. James Parish.

Sugar Ambassador

Division I (fourth- to sixth-graders) – Gabriel Fontenot, Evangeline Parish.

Division II (seventh- to ninth-graders) – Seth Mitchell, Lafourche Parish.

Division III (10th- to 12th-graders) – Emily Lanie, Lafayette Parish.

Division III first place winners in the chicken, egg and turkey categories will represent Louisiana at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in November.

First place winners in Division III of the seafood and sugar contests won a 4-H educational trip to Dallas in July.

Divisions I and II first place winners in chicken, egg, turkey and seafood contests received a $100 award. First place winners in the sugar category received a $50 award.

Sponsors of the 4-H Commodity Ambassador Programs are the Louisiana Poultry Federation, the Louisiana Egg Commission, the Louisiana Seafood and Marketing Board, the American Society of Sugarcane Technologists and the Louisiana 4-H Foundation.

A four-year veteran of the 4-H Commodity Ambassador Program, Victoria Rocquin, of St. James Parish, competes in the 2017 contest on April 18. She chose the seafood category because she is fascinated with the environment and how the seafood industry works to protect Louisiana coastal wetlands. Photo by Karol Osborne/LSU AgCenter