(10/13/21) POLLOCK, La. — The Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame welcomed 24 new members to its ranks at a ceremony Oct. 9.

The Hall of Fame has inducted 256 members since it started in 2008.

Toby Lepley, LSU AgCenter associate vice president and 4-H program leader, said the work and sacrifices of the 24 honorees add up to thousands of years of service to Louisiana 4-H youth.

“This is the Louisiana 4-H program’s opportunity to recognize those outstanding volunteers and former extension employees who have really gone above and beyond in their service to the young people,” Lepley said. “It’s a great honor for us to memorialize them and to permanently enter them into the history of Louisiana 4-H.”

The ceremony, held at Camp Grant Walker, was the first to be held at the facility since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; weather events also have restricted such gatherings. The 2020 and 2021 inductees were simultaneously honored at this year’s event. Biographies of the 2020 Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame inductees are available here.

“It is a great honor to represent an organization that helps shape the youth of our schools and turn them into great leaders,” said 2020 Hall of Fame inductee and 4-H leader Traci Simon, of Vermilion Parish.

New inductee JoAnn Hullum, of Ascension Parish, said she is grateful for the opportunity to prepare 4-H youth for adulthood.

“I know of no other program that provides the support that these kids need to grow up to be responsible adults,” she said.

Class of 2021 inductee Cathy Mouton, of Iberia Parish, said she was humbled to be inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame.

“I’m honored to have known so many agents that have put so much trust in asking me to be a part of so many events in 4-H,” she said.

The 2021 inductees and their parishes are listed below. Their biographies are available online.

— Donald Aguillard, Lafayette Parish.

— John Andrus, Vermilion Parish.

— Charnel Bailey, Vernon Parish.

— Trishan Charles, St. Charles Parish.

— The late Russell Guarino, Lafayette Parish.

— JoAnn Hullum, Ascension Parish.

— Charles “Charlie” Hymel, St. James Parish.

— Paul Jackson, Calcasieu Parish.

— Felix Landry Jr., St. James Parish.

— Harry Laws, West Baton Rouge Parish.

— Cathy Mouton, Iberia Parish.

— Amie Skipper, Lincoln Parish.

The 2021 4-H Hall of Fame class of inductees are, seated, from left, Cathy Mouton, Iberia Parish; Trishan Charles, St. Charles Parish; and JoAnn Hullum, Ascension Parish. Back row, from left, Paul Jackson, Calcasieu Parish; John Andrus, Vermilion Parish; Charnel Bailey, Vernon Parish; Charles Hymel, St. James Parish; and Felix Landry Jr., St. James Parish. Not pictured are Donald Aguillard, Lafayette Parish; the late Russell Guarino, Lafayette Parish; Harry Laws, West Baton Rouge Parish; and Amie Skipper, Lincoln Parish. Photo by Kali Zammit/LSU AgCenter

The 2020 4-H Hall of Fame class of inductees are, seated, from left, Linda Coates, Livingston Parish; Cathy Falcon, Lafayette Parish; Denise Hymel, St. James Parish; and Traci Simon, Vermilion Parish. Standing, from left, Melissa Echols, Lincoln Parish; John Broussard, Natchitoches Parish; Norris Grabert Jr., Iberia Parish; and Jerry Whatley, Calcasieu Parish. Not pictured are Michelle Puissegur, Acadia Parish; Patti Rodrigue, St. John Parish; Camelia Soprano, St. Mary Parish; and Brian Spillman, West Feliciana Parish. Photo by Frankie Gould/LSU AgCenter