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- 2023 November/December Lafourche Happenings
Introducing…Mrs. Sara GuidryWe would like to welcome Mrs. Sara Guidry as the new 4-H agent for Lafourche Parish. Sara Guidry is a former Lafourche Parish elementary school teacher, serving 2013-2023. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Teacher Education in 2013. Soon after she began working on her Master of Art in Education/Administration and Supervision. At the completion of her masters, she received her Administration certification. Sara has been married to Ross Guidry since 2005. Ross and Sara have two boys, Kale and Rylun. Kale is a 9th grader at South Lafourche High School. Rylun is an 8th grader at Larose Cut-Off Middle School. Both boys are active members in the 4-H Youth Development Program. The 4-H youth development program has impacted and continues to impact the Guidry family. Sara began 4-H as a 4th grader and soon became obsessed with raising chickens. Sara participated in demonstrations, good grooming, and cooking contests. Sara loved to explore various projects. Sara was afforded many opportunities to travel and learn by doing. Sara and Ross share many memories from the program. Sara and Ross are excited to see their boys have the opportunity to bond with other children from across the state.
The 4-H Youth Development Program has given Sara the courage and skills needed to be successful. 4-H has taught her how to speak in front of groups, lead groups, and how to become team player. Sara accounts her success to the skills she was afforded through the program. With the entire Guidry family involved and passionate about the 4-H Youth Development Program. Sara feels blessed and honored to join the team. Sara wants to continue to learn and share her passion for the program. Sara is ready to assist others in achieving growth through the commitment of head, heart, hands, and health.
Tricks! Treats! Both were in store this month for the Junior Leaders at their October Club meeting. Going along with tradition, the Junior Leaders had the annual costume contest along with fun and games. Laughs were had and candy was eaten. It was definitely a “Spooktacular” event. The next meeting will be held Nov. 9, 2023, at the Agriculture Building in Raceland from 3:00 p.m. —6:00 p.m. We will distribute sweet potatoes, rice, and pecans on November 9th at the Ag. Building in Raceland from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Help is needed! Please contact the 4-H office if you are able to volunteer.
Officers for the 2023-2024 school year are:
There will be a Regional Rabbit Show held Nov. 20, 2023, at the Agriculture Building in Raceland. Entry forms are due by November 19th, but entries will be accepted the day of the show. Animal check in will begin at 8:00 am. Showmanship will begin at 9:00 a.m. Judging will begin at 10:00 a.m. The entry fee is $5 per rabbit. Please call the 4-H office if you have any questions. In an effort to stop the spread of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus and to prevent cases in our state, the Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry will require Health papers on all rabbits attending a show in Louisiana. This includes out-of-state and in-state rabbits attending a show in Louisiana. Without current health papers, rabbits will not be allowed to enter the Regional Show. Health papers are good for up to 30 days. Before the show you can obtain a health paper from any vet or Anna Ozio, DVM, will be in the parking lot prior to the Rabbit Show issuing health papers. You must have this paper when checking in your rabbits. Contact Mrs. Suzanne for information at stroxclair@agcenter.lsu.edu.
The deadline for ordering baby chicks is November 27th.If you are interested in ordering baby chicks, please contact the 4-H office at 985-446-1316.Broilers will be picked up on January 4th in Raceland.
The Shooting Camp will be held December 8-10, 2023, in Pollock at Grant Walker Educational Facility. The camp is open to 4-H Youth ages 9-13 years old. Participants will choose one of the following: Archery, Shotgun, .22 Rifle or Air Rifle/Air Pistol/BB (Combined). Parents/Guardians are welcome to attend, but it is not mandatory. The cost will be $120 per youth/per adult which will cover registration, lodging, meals, and t-shirt. All youth will be required to bring their own bow/firearm and arrows/ammo. Credits earned in this year’s sweet potato, rice, and pecan sales can be used towards the cost of attendance! Deadline to register is November 20th. Please call the 4-H Office at 985-446-1316 to register!
The 4-H Fashion Board would like to invite 5th – 12th graders to come experience the "new" Fashion & Beyond On Tour. You will get a closer look at all aspects of the fashion world, from newspaper runways, color wheels, upcycling and fibers, to basic sewing fundamentals. You will engage in multiple sessions of activities planned by the fabulous fashion board. Tour Ticket Price is $25.00 per person with a limit of 50 participants per location. The first tour is on January 9th at the 4-H Mini Farm on LSU Campus, and the second tour is on January 17th at the River of Life Church in Winnsboro, LA. Registration begins December 1st and ends January 5th.If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Suzanne or Mrs. Sara at the 4-H office at 985-446-1316.
Egg & Poultry Cookery - The upcoming Egg and Poultry Cookery will be held on December 9, 2023, at the Ag. Building in Raceland beginning at 9:00 a.m. Cooking can be a great opportunity to teach life skills such as kitchen and food safety, nutrition, and even math. It can give a sense of accomplishment, and you get to enjoy the reward of eating the delicious, finished product!
Registration will be between 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. and judging will begin at 10:00 a.m. Dishes will be judged in Elementary, Middle, and Senior High Divisions.4-H’ers are allowed to enter one egg dish and/or one poultry dish.Rules for this contest are:
1.A copy of the recipe must be submitted with the dish on an index card.
2.Print name, school, and division on your recipe.
3.Please do not send the entire dish, only a couple of servings for the judging.
4.Egg Cookery - the dish must have a minimum of four eggs. No raw eggs allowed in the final product. You may submit a dish in one of three categories: Appetizer/Salad, Main Dish and Desserts.
5. Poultry Preparation - You may submit a dish in one of three categories:
a. Chicken – a dish which contains a minimum of two pounds bone-in chicken or one-pound de-boned chicken meat. Contestants should purchase whole chicken or identifiable chicken parts such as wings, thighs, legs, or breasts. (This dish SHOULD NOT include special processed chicken such as marinated chicken strips, chicken nuggets, chicken franks, smoked chicken, canned chicken, etc.). Chicken includes any of the following: Fryer, Capon, Roaster, Broiler, Baking Hen, Cornish, or Game Hen.
b. Processed Poultry Products – a dish which includes a minimum of 12 oz. of processed (value-added) poultry products. Value-added poultry products are poultry meats which have undergone special processing. Marinated, breaded, seasoned, and reformed products are examples of special processing techniques. Some product examples are Ground Turkey, Turkey Bacon, Turkey Sausage, Smoked Turkey, Turkey Ham, Turkey Rolls, Ground Chicken, Chicken Nuggets, Chicken Franks, Smoked Chicken, Chicken Strips, or Canned Chicken. All dishes containing any turkey item, (whole, part, or processed) should be entered in this division.
c. Other Poultry Meat – A dish which contains a minimum of two pounds bone-in or one-pound de-boned poultry meat from a bird other than chickens or turkeys. You may choose poultry meat from any of the following: Duck, Quail, Pheasant, Pigeon, Guinea, Goose, Grouse, Ostrich, Emu, or Dove.
Poultry, Egg & Turkey Illustrated Talk
Illustrated Talks will also be held that day face to face beginning at 10:00 a.m. The rules for the contest are: No dish will be required for this contest, but it is optional. The contest is open to all 4-H club members. The three divisions are:
Division I – (Grades 4-6) Contestant can design (a) poster(s) 22” x 28” relating to Turkey, Eggs and/or Poultry or a PowerPoint presentation (b) presents a 3–5-minute maximum explanation of posters or PowerPoint presentation and (c) responds to questions from judges.
Division II – (Grades 7-9) Contestant will present a 6–8-minute maximum oral presentation relating to one of the five categories (1) production, (2) food preparation and nutritive value, (3) food safety, (4) processing, or (5) marketing. Posters or PowerPoint slides may be used. Costumes based on theme are acceptable.
Division III – (Grades 10-12) Contestant will present an 8-10-minute maximum oral presentation on turkey, eggs and/or poultry. It can be a specific idea or an overview. Examples include Nutritional Value, Economic Value, Cooking Principles, Versatility, Food Safety, Role in Today’s Healthy Diet, Turkey, Egg or Poultry’s place in Agriculture and Natural Resources, Role in our National Economy, or Role in Protecting the Environment. Posters or PowerPoint presentations may be used. No audio is allowed on any PowerPoint presentations. Costumes based on theme are acceptable. There will also be an interview from the judge.
Pet Show - All pets except dogs, rabbits, and livestock animals may be shown. This has been a request by many 4-H’ers who do not show livestock or dogs to be given the opportunity to show cats, hamsters, birds, and other small pets. All pets must be in a cage or box to be displayed. Pets should be brought to the rear section of the fair building between 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2023. Tables will be set up to show the animals. An index card with name, type, age, and any other information pertaining to the pet should be attached to the cage or box. There will be separate awards for largest pet, smallest pet, most unusual pet, and cutest dressed pet. All pets must be taken out of the fair building by noon.
Dog Show – A Dog Show will be held at Poultry Day beginning at 1:00 p.m. Registration begins at 12:00 p.m. All dogs must be on a leash and have rabies tags or proof of vaccinations. The dogs can be entered into one of the seven classes. These are: Hounds, Non-Sporting Dogs, Sporting Dogs, Terriers, Toy Dogs, Working Dogs, and Miscellaneous.
Exhibition Poultry Show – The Exhibition Poultry Show will be held at Poultry Day. To register, go to our website at www.lsuagcenter.com and print out an entry form. Registration will start at 9:00 a.m. Entry forms are due by December 6th.
Chicken Queing - The Chicken-Queing Contest consists of club members barbecuing halves of chickens in competition. Participants must bring all equipment and supplies they use open barbecue grill, tongs, charcoal, lighter fluid, 2 chicken halves, sauce and any other items needed. If you plan to take part in the contest, please be there at 9:00 a.m. to set up your equipment. Remember, we will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. There will be Elementary, Middle, and Senior High Divisions.
The Jr. Livestock Show is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2024, at the Assumption Parish Arena in Napoleonville. All beef, dairy, goats, sheep, and swine animals will show on this day. The show begins at 9:00 a.m. Good luck to all exhibitors!
The theme for this year’s Beef Poster contest is “Bite into Beef”. Remember the poster contest is about marketing and communicating the all-around (environmental, health, nutrition, economic, etc.) benefits of beef. They will be due at January Club meetings. The state winner in each division will receive a $200 award.
1. 2024 LBIC Beef Poster Contest Theme: Bite into Beef
2. Posters must be on “11 x 14” poster board only.
3. Place your NAME, ADDRESS, AGE, GRADE IN SCHOOL AND PARISH/CHAPTER on back, upper right corner of poster.
4. Digital entries must be designed using one of the following programs: Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Canva. Digital designs should be formatted for “11 x 14” poster size prints. All digital entries must be saved in high-resolution 300 DPI in ALL of the following: original design file, .png file format, and .pdf file format. Digital designs should be saved to a blank jump drive, placed in a 3 ½ x 6 blank envelope labeled with NAME, ADDRESS, AGE, GRADE IN SCHOOL, AND PARISH on the front.
5. Posters and digital designs should generate positive images and promotion of beef (not live cattle production) using the indicated theme. Posters should promote beef without projecting any negative messages towards other agricultural commodities (chicken, pork, etc.).
6. DO NOT use copyrighted materials • You may develop ideas from magazines, parents, friends, nutrition bulletins, Beef Ambassador Fact Sheets, and meat publications but the end concept should be original and not copied material.
• NO TEMPLATES may be used in the digital division. All design work must be original and from scratch, just as a poster would be designed.
•Pictures, clip-art and materials (i.e. cartoon characters, advertisements, logos, etc.) that are copyrighted may not be used on the poster.
•Computer generated clip-art may be used on the poster if it is not copyrighted material.
•Materials to pull ideas from are also available from your local supermarket, butcher, the American Meat Institute and National Livestock and Meat Board.
Parish winners will compete in the state contest for cash awards!
Friday, January 19, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. is the 4-H Night with the Pelicans game. The Pelicans will be playing the Phoenix Suns. Enjoy a great night of basketball and receive a long sleeve Pelicans hoodie to remember your night with the Pelicans. Ticket prices are Balcony End: $30, Balcony Side: $35, Lower End: $130, and Parking: $20.A portion of the ticket sale proceeds will benefit 4-H.To order tickets follow the link https://pels.group/4H or click on the QR Code. Deadline to order tickets is Friday, December 22, 2023.
There will be a District Poultry and Rabbit Show on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the South Central District Livestock Show at Lamar Dixon in Gonzales. If you are interested in showing your rabbits or chickens in this show, please contact Mrs. Suzanne or Mrs. Sara at the 4-H Office at 985-446-1316 for entry forms and more information.
Get a Job
What do you want to do when you grow up? This is a common question that many students get asked. Some people know from an early age, and others take a while to figure it out. No matter how long it takes, it’s helpful to think about the impact of a chosen occupation on your life. Selecting your career is one of the most important life decisions you will make. Being prepared is the key to finding and keeping a good job. This month, our members will learn some tools to use when preparing to begin a job.
For more information on any of the activities listed, please contact Suzanne Troxclair or Sara Guidry at 985-446-1316.