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- March/April 2023 Lafourche Happenings
At their February Junior Leader meeting, members were updated on 4-H events, planted seeds for themselves and for someone in their community, made “dirt” cups to eat, and enjoyed a plant exchange. The next meeting will be held Thursday, March 30th at the Agriculture Building in Raceland. Lafourche Junior Leaders bleed green, so wear green and bring a delicious green dessert for competition, as well as a bag of plastic, colored Easter eggs for our fundraiser.
Achievement Day will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Thibodaux High School. This year’s theme will be “Opportunity4All.” The morning program for Achievement Day will begin at 9:30 a.m. Please remind all 4-H’ers to bring pencils to Achievement Day since there will be none available for taking tests. After the morning program, members can participate in various contests such as demonstrations, insect identification, plant science, horticulture crop judging, good grooming (personal development), public speaking, and various tests from project book completion. Make sure to sign up with your leader if you want to participate in Achievement Day contests. Record books will be picked up at your school the week of April 3rd. Remember if your club wants to participate in the skit contest, please let the 4-H Office know by April 10th. Talent show acts need to be sent on a DVD/CD or through email to the 4-H Office prior to April 10th. Leaf, Twig, Insect Collections, Bird Houses and Photography exhibits will be picked up at your school during the week of April 3rd or can be dropped off at the 4-H Office until April 17th. Make sure to turn these items into your leader before this date. Rules for these contests can be found online at www.lsuagcenter.com. Go to parish offices, Lafourche Parish, and 4-H for more information. The afternoon ceremony includes a fashion show and a variety show. After the conclusion of the variety show, our parish awards program begins. Awards that are presented are Top Junior Leaders and Award of Excellence. School awards will be presented, and they include Activity Awards, School Display, and Achievement Day Awards. Please try to attend and cheer on your school club. Do not forget to wear your 4-H shirt if you have one. While students compete, there will be a silent auction for adults to participate. Donations are now being accepted for items for the auction. Proceeds will benefit members through the Lafourche 4-H Foundation.
Record keeping is an important part of every 4-H educational project. Records show what you have done and learned during your 4-H club work. The 4-H portfolio form is designed to help you keep your records and other supporting materials in an orderly manner. The portfolio books that are completed and turned in to the Lafourche Extension office will be judged, and recognition/awards will be given for these books at Achievement Day. The portfolio books for 4th – 6th graders that are completed and turned into the 4-H office will be judged and recognized as the top 10 Award of Excellence winners at Achievement Day. The top 10 books will be submitted to the State contest in July. You should keep this book from year to year and add to it. You may include up to three years of 4-H work in your portfolio. Many awards, educational trips, and college scholarships are given to club members on the basis of their records and project work. These are due the week of April 3rd. *We are transitioning from the traditional 4-H scrapbook format we have offered in the past to follow the State 4-H Portfolio guidelines. Please go to www.lsuagcenter.com, Parish Offices, Lafourche Parish, and 4-H for a fillable portfolio document.
This contest is for teams of two or three members in the Middle and Senior High Divisions (both divisions will compete together). Contestants will present 5–7-minute presentation using format or audio visuals of choice on the topic of safe driving. Safe Driving topics include but are not limited to distracted driving (texting), drinking; reckless; sleepy; road rage. The emphasis will be on young drivers influencing other young drivers. Cash Prizes will be awarded—$300.00 will be presented to the 1st place team, $200.00 to the 2nd place team and $100.00 to the 3rd place team.
4th Graders (Discovering the World of 4-H) and 5th Graders (Exploring the World of 4-H) that have completed and turned in their project books in April are qualified to take tests at Achievement Day. 6th—12th graders that have completed and turned in their project books will earn certificates and points for their clubs for completing their project books. No project book tests will be given for 6th—12 graders. All 4-H’ers can participate in the identification contests and demonstrations.
All Elementary, Middle, and Senior High clothing contestants will model their garments to be judged for appearance and construction in the morning and may participate in the Fashion Review in the afternoon.
We are conducting a club skit contest during the afternoon ceremony. The theme for Achievement Day will be “Opportunity4All”, so we would like you to incorporate this theme into your skit. A party will be given to the winning club at their May meeting!! If your club would like to participate, please call the 4-H Office by April 10th, so we can put you on the schedule. 4-H’ers that would like the opportunity to perform at Achievement Day should send in a DVD/CD of your performance to your 4-H club leader. These will be viewed by the judges, and the top acts will be selected to perform at Achievement Day. There is no limit on the amount of acts a club can submit, but the acts cannot exceed 10 minutes. These are due to the 4-H Office by April 10th.
All demonstrations have a maximum time limit of 15 minutes. Note: All demonstrations can be individual or team demonstrations. A limited number of demonstrations will be allowed per club. Make sure your leader knows you want to participate. The following is a description of each demonstration contest:
Agriculture Demonstration - on any agricultural practice or practice relating to agriculture which includes the following areas: livestock & crop production, conservation of natural resources, wildlife management, marine science, poultry science, agricultural engineering, forestry, & horticulture. Ex. How to Groom an Animal, How to Clean a Crab, How to Pot a Plant, etc. (Elementary & Middle)
Breads - Can be demonstrations, illustrated lectures, or presentations on breads. Ex. How to Make Pretzels, How to Make a Sandwich or How to Make Muffins (Elementary & Middle)
Dairy Foods - Can be demonstrations, illustrated lectures or presentations and must be related to Dairy Foods or Dairy Products. Ex. How to Make a Milkshake, How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich, or How to Make Pudding. (Elem. & Middle).
FCS Demonstration - Must be a method (how to) demonstration, not an illustrated lecture, on any home economics practice relating to Home Economics. Areas include clothing, family life, family resource management, health and safety, and housing and house furnishings. (Elementary & Middle)
General Demonstration - For Senior High members only. Can be demonstrations on Agriculture, Family & Consumer Science, Horticulture, or LA Agriculture Products.
Horticulture Demos. - Must be on the production, sale, or marketing of a horticultural product or use of fruit or vegetable grown in our area. Can be an artistic arrangement with fresh or dried plant materials or plants used in the landscape. (Middle School)
Louisiana Ag. Products Demonstration - A demonstration on Louisiana Agriculture products (should include Rice, Beef, Sugar, Seafood, etc.). No Horticulture products. (Elementary & Middle)
Tiger Tank Entrepreneurship Challenge – An opportunity for individuals or a team of two to create or propose a product or service-based business. They may have a business idea that they want to design and explore. Present a demonstration on your business idea. (Middle and Senior) Examples: making and selling dog treats, friendship bracelets, vinyl mugs, etc. Contact the 4-H Office for more details.
Fish Identification Contest—Participants will identify saltwater and freshwater fish by their common names as listed in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website. A word bank will be provided. Participants will also be asked to select if the fish is a freshwater or saltwater species. Information can be found at www.wlf.louisiana.gov (go to Fishing, Recreational Fishing and then Regulations Brochure—pictures are in the Regulations Brochure).
Good Grooming/Personal Development - For Elementary Division, two 4-H’ers from each grade (4th & 5th) may enter from each school. Boys and girls compete together and should come dressed for an afternoon party (church dress) to be interviewed by judges. For Middle School Division (6th—8th) any club member may compete. 4-H’ers should be dressed appropriately. For Senior High (9th—12th), any member may participate. Boys and girls should come dressed for a job interview for which they are presently eligible. A resume of the job they are applying for is required. Check with your leader to sign up.
Healthy Living Illustrated Talk - Elementary Division (4-5) - Contestant designs (a) standard poster 22” x 28” or PowerPoint relating to healthy living, (b) presents a 2–3-minute explanation of poster subject or PowerPoint and (c) responds to questions from the judge. Middle School Division (6-8) - Contestant designs (a) standard poster 22” x 28” or PowerPoint relating to healthy living, (b) presents a 2–3-minute explanation of poster subject or PowerPoint and (c) responds to questions from the judge. Senior High Division (9-12) - Contestant designs (a) standard poster 22” x 28” or PowerPoint relating to healthy living,
(b) presents a 5-minute explanation of poster subject, or PowerPoint and (c) responds to questions from the judge.
Horticulture Crop Judging - Any number of 4-H’ers per club can participate. The contest will consist of Judging Classes, Information (true and false test on horticultural topics) and Identification of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants.
Insect Identification & Study - Any number of 4-H’ers per club can participate. A test will consist of identifying as to common name insects of economic importance to the parish. Resources: Golden Nature Book or Insects.org
Plant Science - Any number per club may participate. Elementary club members will take a test in the contest on plant science that will consist of true and false, multiple choice, and matching. Junior and Senior members will take a test and identify seeds.
Public Speaking - Four 4-H'ers from each club may participate. Speech must be 3 to 5 minutes on any subject. Contestant may refer to notes; but cannot read the speech and must submit copy of speech to judge on Achievement Day.
Every time a 4-H club member participates in an activity or contest along with their ribbon or certificate they will earn a Lucky Clover ticket (these will be sent to them through their leaders). These tickets will be used to take a chance at some nice prizes. This drawing will take place at Achievement Day (look for the drawing box). 4-H’ers must attend Achievement Day to be eligible to win.
Lafourche Parish 4-H program will conduct a 4-H Garden Contest. It is easy and fun! All you have to do is:
Each year, 4-H members from across the state who are in the 8th-12th grade as of August 1, 2022, are eligible to participate in 4-H University to demonstrate their skills in more than 40 competitive events. It is a culmination of a 4-H member’s year of hard work and dedication. Events range from Agricultural Use Demonstration, Automotive Care, Fishing Sports, Public Speaking, Fashion Revue, and more! Through competing, youth demonstrate life skills in teamwork, decision making, problem solving, resiliency, and many more. Each competitive event allows youth an opportunity for personal growth, skill mastery, and other life skills vital to functioning members of society. The official dates for the 2023 Louisiana 4-H University are June 20th to June 22nd on the campus of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. If you are interested in participating in 4-H University, please contact Mrs. Suzanne at the 4-H Office.
Congratulations to all of our 4-H’ers that participated in the State Commodity Ambassador Contest in Alexandria on March 1, 2023. Lafourche had 14 state placings in 18 events. Beaux Curole will represent Lafourche and Louisiana in the National Contest in November. Results are:
On January 21st, the parish livestock was held in Napoleonville. Congratulations to the following 4-H’ers who won awards at the show:
Cooperation is important because it allows people and groups to work together to achieve a common goal or derive mutual benefits. Cooperation exists at many levels and takes place between individuals and organizations, as well as between states and countries. Cooperation allows participants to exchange valuable information that helps both sides improve their knowledge bases and work in a time- and resource-efficient manner. Members will practice cooperation with their team this month as they navigate an activity that will only be successful through full cooperation.
We are always open to suggestions, so if there is something you think we should add to our website that would help, please feel free to let us know. For more information on any of the activities listed, please contact Suzanne Troxclair at 985-446-1316.