Junior Leader Times

The March Junior Leader meeting will be held at the Ag Building in Raceland on April 23rd from 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Please bring your 4-H University registration papers to the meeting if you have not already turned them in to the 4-H Office. Early Bird Registration is from April 24^th-30^th. Please bring a donation for the Achievement Day Silent Auction to the meeting.

4-H Achievement Day

Achievement Day will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Thibodaux High School. This year’s theme is Beyond Ready! The morning program for Achievement Day will begin at 8:30 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, 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. The afternoon ceremony includes a fashion show and a talent show for your entertainment. After the conclusion of the talent show, our parish awards program begins. Awards that are presented are Top Junior Leaders and Awards 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. Please see the February and March editions of the Lafourche Happenings newsletter for more information about contests, rules, etc.

Seeking Donations of Items for Silent Auction

Lafourche 4-H will be conducting our Clover Collection, a silent auction for adults to enjoy during Achievement Day. We are currently seeking donated items for this important event. Please call the 4-H Office at 985-446-1316 if you are able to donate an item. Items can be dropped off to the 4-H Office at 115 Texas Street, Raceland, or we can pick up from your residence or business. All funds collected will be used to directly support the many programming opportunities in the Lafourche Parish 4-H Youth Development Program. Donors will also be recognized on the Lafourche Parish 4-H Facebook page and at Achievement Day. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Are you ready?

Achievement Day Volunteers Needed

Achievement Day would not be possible without the support of our amazing volunteers! Volunteers are needed to assist with contests at Achievement Day. Please call the office at 986-446-1316 if you are able to assist on April 26^th at Thibodaux High School.

Achievement Day Drawing – Lucky Clover Tickets

Every time a 4-H club member participates in an activity or contest, along with their ribbon or certificate, they earn a Lucky Clover ticket (these will be sent to them through their leaders). These tickets will be used in a drawing for some fun prizes. This drawing will take place at Achievement Day (look for the ticket box near the entrance). 4-H’ers must be present for the drawing at Achievement Day to be eligible to win.

4-H Camp

4-H Summer Camp will be held July 6-9, 2026, at Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock, LA. This year’s theme is Beyond Ready for 4-H Camp! ALL Boys and girls attending will be selected by their school 4-H clubs. Alternates will be noted by leaders and contacted as spots become available. Camp packets with all information will be given to selected members by their school leaders. It is a great honor to be selected for this outstanding camp! Our parish will travel by bus to the camp. Bed deposits of $50 each are due to the 4-H Office or school club leader by May 8, 2026. These deposits and camp fees are not refundable. Please drop off to the 4-H Office at 115 Texas Street, Raceland, LA, or bring to your school leader. Checks can be made to Lafourche 4-H Foundation.

4-H Garden Contest

Lafourche Parish 4-H program will conduct a 4-H Garden Contest again this year! This is easy and fun way to learn more about growing some of your own food! NEW THIS YEAR! Mr. Panky Christen, an approved 4-H volunteer and Master Gardener, is offering to do a home visit to assist you with garden site selection and to offer soil preparation assistance. If you are interested, parents can call Mr. Panky at 985-637-1519 to set up a day and time for the visit. An adult must be present with the 4-H member.

To participate in the Garden Contest, you will need to:

1. Select a site for your garden. Garden can be rows or square foot garden.
2. Plan what crops you will grow. (This contest is not for ornamental gardens.)
3. Prepare your soil.
4. Plant.
5. Keep records.
6. Call the 4-H Office at 985-446-1316 for more information and scorecard.
7. Return the scorecard by May 8, 2026. Good luck!

We Want YOU for 4HU!

Each year, 4-H members from across the state who are in the 8th-12th grade as of August 1, 2026, are eligible to participate in 4-H University to demonstrate their skills in more than 40 competitive events. It is the culmination of a 4-H member’s year of hard work and dedication. Events range from Agricultural Use Demonstration, 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 2026 Louisiana 4-H University are June 23-26, 2026, on the campus of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. This is an excellent opportunity for our teenage members to experience and preview the campus of our flagship university. If you are interested in participating in 4-H University, please contact Mrs. Suzanne at the 4-H Office at 985-446-1316. It is not too late to join 4-H and participate in 4HU! Join by May 22^nd to be eligible! Early Bird Registration for 4HU is April 24-30, 2026.

Outdoor Adventure Day

This year’s Outdoor Adventure Day is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and is open to all members. Activities on this day will include Outdoor Skills & Fishing Sports activities. A bus will be provided for transportation from the Rienzi Shopping Center parking lot behind Raising Cane’s in Thibodaux, the Galliano Walmart, and the 4-H Office in Raceland to the site. All attendees must ride the bus to the site. Rods, stoppers, and hooks will be provided for use by the first 50 to register. You may want to bring a tackle box for extras if you choose. Lunch and drinks will be provided. Prizes will be awarded during the day! A $10 registration fee will be charged to assist with expenses. Please click on the QR Code below and send a check or money order made out to the Lafourche 4-H Foundation to LSU AgCenter, c/o Suzanne Troxclair, 115 Texas Street, Raceland, LA 70394 by May 11, 2026. If it happens to be a rainy day, the activities will be cancelled. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the 4-H office at 985-446-1316. We hope to see your child there!

4-H Bayou Area Horse Show

The 4-H Bayou Area Horse Show is scheduled for June 6, 2026, at the new Raceland Arena. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and competition will commence at 10:00 a.m. The show will consist of both performance and speed events along with a “Fun Event”. Registration forms will be sent through 4HOnline.Please monitor 4HOnline emails for additional information in the upcoming weeks.

Congratulations!

District Livestock Show Results

The District Livestock Show was held at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds on January 28-31, 2026.Lafourche Parish livestock exhibitors did an amazing job competing with 7 other parishes at the livestock show! The following 4-H’ers placed as follows:

• Champion & La Bred Champion Brangus Heifer - Jase Richard, Bayou Community Academy
• Champion & Champion La Bred Santa Gertrudis Heifer - Beau Matherne, Thibodaux High
• Reserve Champion & Reserve Champion La Bred Santa Gertrudis Heifer - Ramsie Keller, Central Lafourche High
• Champion & Champion La Bred Grey Brahman Bull - Ella Rivet, Central Lafourche High
• Champion & Champion La Bred Santa Gertrudis Bull - Ramsie Keller, Central Lafourche High
• Reserve Champion & Reserve Champion La Bred Santa Gertrudis Bull - Ramsie Keller, Central Lafourche High
• Reserve Champion La Bred Mini Zebu Bull - Jenna-Lynn Diaz, Golden Meadow Middle
• Reserve Champion & Champion La Bred Angus Heifer - Joseph Straney, St. Joseph
• Reserve Champion AOB-NB Bull - Sylvestre Danos, St. Joseph
• Champion Market Steer - Eleanor Straney, E. D. White
• Reserve Champion Market Steer - Ivy Delatte, St. Genevieve
• 4^th Place Beef Premier Exhibitor – Ella Rivet, Central Lafourche High
• Junior Division Champion Beef Showman – Jase Richard, Bayou Community Academy
• Champion & Champion La Bred Brown Swiss - Jenna-Lynn Diaz, Golden Meadow Middle
• Champion & Champion La Bred Holstein - Tyler Fremin, Raceland Middle School
• Reserve Champion Commercial Dairy Heifer - Harley Tabor, Thibodaux High
• Champion Commercial Dairy Cow - Harley Tabor, Thibodaux High
• Champion & Champion La Bred Nigerian Dwarf Buck - Cole Leonard, Bayou Blue Upper
• Reserve Champion & Reserve Champion La Bred Nigerian Dwarf Buck - Mason Cortez, Chackbay
• Jr. Champion & Jr. Champion La Bred Nubian Doe - Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Sr. Champion & Sr. Champion La Bred Nubian Doe - Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Sr. Reserve Champion & Sr. Reserve Champion La Bred Nubian Doe - Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Champion & Champion La Bred Nubian Doe - Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Reserve Champion & Reserve Champion La Bred Nubian Doe - Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Reserve Champion AOB Dairy Buck - Madeline Diaz, Golden Meadow Upper
• Supreme Dairy Doe & Supreme La Bred Dairy Doe - Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Intermediate Champion Dairy Doe Showman – Patton Legendre, Lafourche
• Reserve Champion La Bred Pure Bred Boer Doe - Kaylee Domingue, Central Lafourche
• Reserve Champion Myotonic Doe - Jenna Lynn Diaz, Golden Meadow Middle
• Reserve Champion La Bred Commercial Meat Doe - Kaylee Domingue, Central Lafourche
• Champion Broilers - Reese Borne, Central Lafourche
• Best In Show Rabbit - Elijah Landry, Lockport Middle
• Junior Division Rabbit Showman Champion – Elijah Landry, Lockport Middle
• Champion Hampshire Ewe - Drew Arnold, Lockport Upper
• Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe - Jaxon Arnold, Lockport Middle
• Champion La Bred Commercial Ewe - Collins Arcement, St. Genevieve
• Supreme La Bred Champion Ewe - Collins Arcement, St. Genevieve
• Reserve Champion Hampshire Lamb - Toni Arnold, Central Lafourche
• Reserve Champion La Bred Hampshire Lamb - Zander Naquin, Bayou Blue Upper
• Reserve Champion AOB-BF Lamb - Jaxon Arnold, Lockport Middle
• Reserve Champion La Bred AOB-BF Lamb - Collins Arcement, St. Genevieve
• Reserve Champion AOB-WF Lamb - Cheyanne Doiron, Lockport Middle
• 3^rd Best Market Lamb - Jaxon Arnold, Lockport Middle
• 1^st Place Sheep Premier Exhibitor - Kale Guidry, Central Lafourche
• 2^nd Place Sheep Premier Exhibitor - Reese Borne, Central Lafourche
• 4^th Place Sheep Premier Exhibitor - Toni Arnold, Central Lafourche
• 5^th Place Sheep Premier Exhibitor - Rylun Guidry, South Lafourche
• Junior Division Champion Sheep Showman - Drew Arnold, Lockport Upper
• Intermediate Champion Sheep Showman - Cheyanne Doiron, Lockport Middle
• Champion La Bred Commercial Gilt - Olivia Naquin, E. D. White
• Reserve Champion La Bred Commercial Gilt - Kyla Danos, Central Lafourche
• Supreme La Bred Champion Swine Breeding - Olivia Naquin, E. D. White
• Champion AOB & Champion AOB La Bred Market Hog - Blakely Martin, Thibodaux High
• 1^st Place Swine Premier Exhibitor - Reese Borne, Central Lafourche
• 4^th Place Swine Premier Exhibitor - Olivia Naquin, E. D. White

State Livestock Show Results

• The State Livestock Show was held at Lamar Dixon in Gonzales on February 14-21.The following 4-H’ers placed at the state show.
• Grand Champion & Grand Champion La Bred Angus Heifer – Joseph Straney, St. Joseph
• Reserve Champion La Bred Santa Gertrudis Heifer – Ramsie Keller, Central Lafourche
• Reserve Champion La Bred AOB-NB Bull – Sylvestre Danos, St. Joseph
• Reserve Champion & Grand Champion La Bred Nubian Buck – Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Grand Champion La Bred Nubian Doe – Patton Legendre, Central Lafourche
• Reserve Champion Cockerel Division – Ava Martin, Central Lafourche
• Grand Champion Hampshire Ewe – Drew Arnold, Lockport Upper
• American – Best of Breed Rabbit – Emmagrace Delatte, Lockport Middle
• American – Best Opposite of Breed Rabbit – Emmagrace Delatte, Lockport Middle
• Angora, English – Best of Breed Rabbit – Elladee Duplantis, Raceland Middle
• Dwarf Hotot – Best of Breed Rabbit – Alexandra Ewing, Lockport Middle
• Flemish Giant – Best of Breed Rabbit – Elijah Landry, Lockport Middle
• Flemish Giant – Best Opposite of Breed Rabbit – Elliot Landry, Lockport Upper
• Mini Lop – Best Opposite of Breed Rabbit – Lillie Collins, South Larose
• Polish – Best of Breed Rabbit – Elijah Landry, Lockport Middle
• Tan – Best Opposite of Breed – Emmagrace Delatte, Lockport Middle

Regional Shooting Sports Results

• Lafourche Parish 4-H’ers participated in the Regional Shooting Sports competition in Port Allen/Gonzales. Congratulations to all of our competitors! Several placed in the top ten individuals, receiving medals and qualifying for state competition in April. Several additional members qualified for state competition, as well. The following 4-H’ers placed at the regional competition and/or qualified for state:

BB:

• 5^th Place Team – Blake Bouffanie, Larose-Cut Off Middle; John Robichaux, Holy Rosary; Landry Trosclair, Chackbay Elementary; Rhyker Folse, Bayou Community Academy; & Aviana Cheramie, Holy Rosary

Air Rifle:

• Sr. Air Rifle 3P - 4^th Place - Logan Benoit, E.D. White
• Sr. Air Rifle Standing - 1^st Place - Logan Benoit, E.D. White
• Sr. Air Rifle Silhouette - 1^st Place - Logan Benoit, E.D. White
• Sr. Air Rifle Overall – 2^nd Place – Logan Benoit, E. D. White
• Qualifying for State - Jolie Templet, E. D. White; Cullen Matherne, Bayou Blue Elementary

Archery:

• Modified FITA Jr. Recurve - 2^nd Place - Bennett Price, Lockport Middle
• Modified FITA Jr. Recurve - 7^th Place - Eli Cheramie, Larose-Cut Off Middle
• Qualifying for State - Modified FITA Jr. Genesis - Parker Matherne, St. Genevieve
• Archery Modified FITA Jr. Comp Limited Pins - 5^th Place - Emmitt Gibson, Bayou Blue Middle
• Qualifying for State-Modified FITA Jr. Comp Limited Pins - Sawyer Hartman, St. Mary’s Nativity
• Modified FITA Jr. Comp Limited Pins - 3^rd Place Team - Emmitt Gibson, Bayou Blue Middle, Sawyer Hartman, St. Mary’s Nativity; Iyron Cheramie, Holy Rosary, and Jonah Curole, E. D. White
• Modified FITA Sr. Compound Open - 7^th Place - Jacob Bouvier, E. D. White
• Modified FITA Sr. Compound Open - 10^th Place – Loralie Pellegrin, Thibodaux High
• 3D Jr. Genesis 10^th Place - Kota Kramer, Chackbay Elementary
• Qualifying for State in 3D Jr. Compound Open - Joseph Domangue, Raceland Middle
• 3D Jr. Compound Open - 5^th Place - Allen Pitre, Lockport Middle
• 3D Sr. Compound Open - 2^nd Place - Jacob Bouvier, E. D. White
• 3D Sr. Compound Open - 9^th Place - Loralie Pellegrin, Thibodaux High
• Field Compound Open Sr. - 2^nd Place - Jacob Bouvier, E. D. White
• Field Compound Open Sr. - 4^th Place - Loralie Pellegrin, Thibodaux High

Shotgun:

• Qualifying for State in Jr. Modified Trap - John Talbot, St. Joseph; Brian Bouzigard, Gold Meadow Middle; & Luke Trahan, Bayou Blue Middle
• Qualifying for State in Sr. Shotgun Modified Trap - Joel Orgeron, Member-at-Large; Chandler Eschette, Central Lafourche; and Tristan Pertuit, Central Lafourche
• Qualifying for State in Sr. Advanced Shotgun - Jacob Bouvier, E. D. White

Smallbore Rifle:

• Jr. Silhouette - 7^th Place - Alexandra Ewing, Lockport Middle
• Jr. Silhouette - 8^th Place - Sadie Thibodeaux, Sixth Ward Middle
• Qualifying for State in Jr. Silhouette - Allen Pitre, Lockport Middle; & Clayton Falgout, Lockport Middle
• 2^nd Place Team - Jr. Silhouette - Alexandra Ewing, Lockport Middle; Clayton Falgout, Lockport Middle; Allen Pitre, Lockport Middle; & Sadie Thibodeaux, Sixth Ward Middle
• Qualifying for State in Jr. CMP Scope – John Robichaux, Holy Rosary; Alexandra Ewing, Lockport Middle; & Dylan Fontana, Bayou Community Academy
• Sr. Silhouette - 6^th Place - Adriana Ewing, Central Lafourche
• Sr. Silhouette - 10^th Place - Jolie Templet, E. D. White
• Qualifying for State in Sr. Silhouette: John Guillory, E. D. White
• National CMP - 1^st Place – Logan Benoit, E. D. White
• Qualifying for State in Sr. CMP Scope – Cagney Horton, Central Lafourche
• National Silhouette - 1^st Place – Logan Benoit, E. D. White
• National NRA - 1^st Place – Logan Benoit, E. D. White
• National Overall - 1^st Place - Logan Benoit, E. D. White

Louisiana Invention Convention

The inaugural Louisiana Invention Convention presented by Louisiana 4-H was held in Baton Rouge on February 27^th. This program was designed to ignite a spark in youth through innovation and creative problem-solving. Congratulations to Aubrey Burton, a 12^th grader at VAL-South and member of the Lafourche 4-H Robotics Club, who won 2^nd Place in this state contest! Aubrey’s invention, called the FORGETBIT, came from seeing her neighbor with Alzheimer’s and wanting him to still have a better quality of life with some independence-both for him and for the family who cares for him. Congratulations, Aubrey!

Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge

On March 7^th, members of the Lafourche 4-H Robotics Club participated in the LA 4-H SeaPerch Challenge at Crawfish Aquatics in Baton Rouge. Teams participating were:

Middle School Division-

• Robotics Clovers: Kaleb Hebert (Chackbay Elem.) and Willa Moore (VAL St. Mary Elem.)
• Three Musketeers: Logan Gaspard (St. Mary’s) and Connor Loupe (Lockport Middle)

High School Division-

• Lafourche Clovers: Brooklyn Abraham (Thibodaux High), Aubrey Burton (VAL-South), Brayden Durocher (Thibodaux High), Aubrey Keehn (Thibodaux High), and Gabrielle Keehn (THS).

Congratulations to the Sr. Division Team, Lafourche Clovers, for placing 2^nd in Technical Design and Interview and for winning the Sportsmanship Specialty Award!

Southern Regional 4-H Food Challenge Champions

On March 10^th, 43 teams from across the southern region met at the LSU Mini Farm to compete in the 4-H Southern Regional Food Challenge. In preliminary competition, teams were given the secret ingredient of oyster mushrooms and tasked with determining a dish with the ingredient, shopping for needed food items, cooking the dish, preparing a 5-minute oral presentation, and cleaning up their work area- all within a 40-minute time limit! Team members Cecilia Hartman, Sawyer Hartman and Madelyn LeBlanc from St. Mary’s Nativity, and Ryder Boudreaux from St. Genevieve formed the Cajun Cooks team that placed 2^nd in the preliminary competition. In finals, the team had to create a dish with apples as the secret ingredient. Congratulations to this Lafourche 4-H team who placed 1^st in final competition and are headed to State on May 20^th! Good luck, Cajun Cooks!

Monthly 4-H Focus

Learning by Doing!

This month, as club members prepare for various state competitions and Lafourche 4-H Achievement Day, we are reminded of the power of the 4-H Slogan, Learning by Doing. This slogan reflects the 4-H Youth Development Program’s educational philosophy, emphasizing hands on experiences to enhance learning. Good luck to all of our members as they live the 4-H Slogan, Learning by Doing, during our April activities and contests!

For more information please contact Mrs. Suzanne Troxclair at stroxclair@agcenter.lsu.edu or call the 4-H Office at 985-446-1316.