Travel the 4-H Express through the decades of 4-H. Begin in 1908 with our agriculture roots and proceed through the advancements in forestry, livestock, service, music, horticulture, nutrition, the environment, wildlife and science and technology. Jump on the train as youth experience hands-on activities provided by agents and volunteers and teachers receive resources that promote agriculture, 4-H and the AgCenter. Watch youth learn about the importance of agricultural commodities as they touch, taste, smell, see and hear about the events that changed the world during the first 100 years of 4-H. Join the group that leaves their mark for the next century on our 4-H Centennial Benches.

Thousands of youth each year attend the Louisiana State Fair. What better place to market the largest youth development program in the state than at a location where youth will be? At no other time and place throughout the state has there been this much support demonstrated for the 4-H program as is being done this year by the State Fair of Louisiana. The 4-H Centennial is a part of all print and media advertising produced for the State Fair of Louisiana this year. A commercial highlighting 4-H youth has been produced, and billboards are already up in the area. To top it all off, a special day has been designated as 4-H Day at the Fair. The event will be publicized to school groups throughout the northern parishes and available to everyone. By being free to school groups, the event will be accessible to everyone.

The day will target two different audiences: From 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 the tent will focus on teens. As teen groups enter the tent area to pick up [Image: State Fair Clover Painting]their ride tickets, there will be a high-energy music slide show highlighting the fun teen opportunities we have available. There will also be some of our Outdoor Skill activities displayed with the Laser Shot available and other opportunities that will appeal to this age. At 10:00 the focus will change to elementary youth as we provide fun, interactive, educational stations for school groups to visit and a place to eat lunch while watching our elementary slide show.

Laura Brumbaugh, Becky Kelley, Karen Martin, Katherine Pace, Amanda Simmons and Amanda Sewell are the team leaders for the event; however, all 4-H agents, FNP staff and some regional agents are involved in planning and conducting the event. Youth leaders from the parishes have been utilized to help plan and will help conduct the event.

4-H’ers in the Northwest and North Central Regions, which included Lincoln, Caddo, Natchitoches, Bossier, Claiborne, Webster, Desoto, Winn and Red River parishes, came togethe[Image: State Fair Clover Painting]r to prepare for 4-H Day at the Fair. They participated in clover painting and commercial activity. The kids had a great time painting clovers, and then they were filmed for a commercial that will air for the State Fair. Afterwards, the State Fair provided lunch for everyone. As you can see we had a large group from most of the parishes in the area.

A special thanks goes out to Chris Giordano and all of the agents, volunteers and 4-H'ers who participated in this event.