Welcome to 4-H
If you think that 4-H is mainly cows and cooking, have we got a surprise for you! We have a year’s worth of fun and educational opportunities for you.
Information about 4-H activities can be found in the Cloverleaf newsletter you’ll receive at your monthly club meeting or at the Junior Leader meeting. You can also find newsletters, calendars, forms and more on our Web site. Go to http://lsuagcenter.com/calcasieu.
Brandon Guillory Voted State 4-H President
4-H University is a statewide event for 4-H’ers ages 13 and over. One of the things 4-H'ers do at 4-H U is elect officers for Louisiana 4-H. Calcasieu Parish is proud to have two members serving on the state Executive Board this year! Brandon Guillory from Iowa High School was elected President of Louisiana 4-H. Taylor Chargois, from the Calcasieu Home School club, was elected to serve on the Executive Board this year as Southwest Regional Representative. In addition, we’re proud to have serving on the Food and Fitness Board Jeanne Thibodeaux, Sulphur High, who also is the board's president; Kristen Davis, North Calcasieu Home School; and Katelyn Chargois, Calcasieu Home School. Our Citizenship Board members are Cassidy Sonnier, Iowa High, and Taylor Chargois, Calcasieu Home School.
"4-H Has a Heart" Service-Learning Project
“4-H Has a Heart” is the theme of the Calcasieu 4-H Junior Leader Club’s service-learning project for 2009-2010. Each month, the Junior Leader Club will focus on a different organization that is working to help those with special needs in Calcasieu Parish. At each of our monthly club meetings, we’ll have representatives of the different organizations speak about their goals and missions. We will also be conducting service activities each month to help those organizations fulfill their purpose and hopefully make a difference in the life of the less fortunate.
How can you get in on the fun? Join the Junior Leader Club, of course. 4-H members who are 13 and over are eligible to become members.
In addition to their service-learning project, the Junior Leader Club members sponsor several activities throughout the year - Ag Adventure, a dance at the parish livestock show and an exchange tripm, to name a few. Members also help with parish contests, camps and workshops for elementary and junior 4-H’ers.
The next meeting of the Junior Leader Club will be held October 8, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the 4-H Office.
Officer Training Helps Club Officers Get A Good Start On The Year
Good officers are the key to an active and successful 4-H Club. Have you been chosen to serve as an officer for your local club? If so, you have an important job to do for your club members. Our Officer Training Workshop is your chance to learn exactly what your responsibilities as a club officer are and how to best carry out those responsibilities. Our parish Officer Training Workshop will be held on October 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the 4-H Office on Gulf Highway. We hope to see all club officers on October 15th.
Project Clubs are Organizing for the New 4-H Year
While you are a member of your school’s 4-H Club, you can also participate in project clubs that are a part of our parish 4-H program. Project clubs are groups that conduct all of their activities in one project area. If any of these project areas interest you, come be a part of the fun. You’ll learn more about the project area, get to participate in 4-H activities outside of your regular school club and make new friends who have the same interests as you do.
4-H Shooting Sports Program
The Shooting Sports club is for members who are interested in learning more about wildlife habitat and management, gun safety, hunting ethics, and more. The outdoor skills project consists of shotgun, archery, rifle, black powder, pistol and hunting. Volunteers are needed to help teach in the six areas.
The Shooting Sports club meets monthly on Saturdays. New members interested in joining must attend the first meeting to be held on Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Office.
4-H Fishing Sports Program
We’re really excited this year about our 4-H Fishing Sports program. We will fish at Calcasieu Point and the Jetties, conduct fishing workshops and participate in fun fishing days at Burton Coliseum. An initial parent’s meeting and enrollment meeting will be held on October 15 at 6:30 at the 4-H Office. If you are interested in learning about the Fishing Sports program, please complete and return the form found at the end of the Cloverleaf by October 9.
Horse Project Club
Interested in horses? Then this is the club for you. You do not have to have a horse to participate, only a strong interest in horses. Some of the activities the club has planned are field trips to veterinary clinics, breeding farms, trail rides and other horse related activities.
To find out more about the Horse Club or to join, come to our enrollment meeting on Monday, October 19, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. in Grand Lake at Wilkerson Arena. A map to the arena is available on our website lsuagcenter.com/calcasieu. Bring your horse if you have one.
Green TEENs Environmental Club
Are you concerned about what’s happening to our environment? Do you want to learn ways that you can help protect our environment? Then our Green TEENs Environmental club is just right for you. We’ll be having our first meeting on Thursday, October 15, at 6:00 p.m. at the 4-H office. Our Green TEENs club is open to any 4-H member. (You don’t have to be a teenager.)
4-H Contests Begin this Month
Participating in 4-H contests is a great way to win awards, meet new people and qualify for district and state activities. In addition, if you are 13 and over by January 1, 2010, participation in at least one parish contest will qualify you to participate in 4-H University to be held in June on the LSU campus.
Contest rules will be found each month in the Cloverleaf newsletter and are also available at our parish web site.
Pet Show- October 20 - Burton Coliseum
Registration 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Show Begins 6:30 p.m.
Each 4-H’er can enter only one pet.
1. Categories of pets include dogs, cats, rabbits, fowl, fish, reptiles, any other. It does not include cows, horses, sheep, pigs, or goats.
2. Elementary and junior members will compete separately in categories where 5 or more pets are registered. In categories where less than 5 pets are registered, elementary and junior 4-H’ers will compete together.
3. In each category, animals will be judged on characteristics such as best groomed, largest (height), smallest (height), most unusual, longest hair, prettiest eyes, etc.
4. This is a "fun" pet show. It is not necessary to have a registered animal. Grooming and cleanliness are important.
Please Note: Categories/characteristics to be judged will vary. We may add or delete categories depending on the number of pets registered.
Beef & Rice Cookery; Egg, Beef & Rice Ambassador Contests - November 7, 2009 - Gayle Hall, McNeese University
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; contests begin at 9:00 a.m. Awards will be presented at 12:00 noon.
First and second place winners in all divisions of all contests will receive an award of $10 and $5 respectively to be presented at the end-of-the-year recognition program.
In addition, the first place winners in each category of Beef and Rice Cookery will compete for "sweepstakes" of that category. The "sweepstakes" winner in each category will represent Calcasieu Parish at the area contest held in the spring.
All dishes entered in cookery contests must be prepared at home and brought to the contest ready for serving. Each dish must be chilled on ice and brought to the contest in an ice chest. No hot dishes will be allowed. Please bring a copy of the recipe you used with your name, age and 4-H club on the back. Bring only the dish, recipe and ice chest to the contest.
Rice Cookery Contest
1. Bring prepared rice dish to the contest. The dish must contain at lease one (1) cup of cooked rice. Wild rice is not a cultivated rice in Louisiana and does not meet the requirement of 1 cup rice. Dishes containing rice products such as rice cereal, rice flour, etc., must also contain cooked rice.
2. Two servings of the dish should be exhibited at the contest.
3. The contest will be divided into three categories.
Rice Main Dish - contains significant amounts of beef, poultry or seafood.
Rice Side Dish - rice dressing is considered a side dish.
Rice Dessert
Beef Cookery
1. Each dish must use a minimum of one pound ground beef.
2. Two servings of the dish should be exhibited at the contest.
3. Contestants may enter a total of 2 dishes. Contestant may not enter 2 dishes in the same category. Categories include:
Low Calorie Main Dish - a dish which has less than 300 calories per serving. List each ingredient on the recipe and write the number of calories beside each. Then total. Divide the total number of calories by the number of servings.
One Dish Meal - a dish that provides food from at least 3 of the 5 main food groups. The amount is not specified, but it should be enough to provide some nutrients.
Quick and Easy Main Dish - a dish that takes less than one hour to prepare, including cooking or baking time. List each preparation step separately on the recipe and write the preparation time beside each step, then total the time.
Egg, Beef & Rice Ambassador Contests
Division I – (Grades 4-6) Contestant (a) designs a standard poster 22” x 28” relating to one of the five topics concerning egg, beef, or rice (production, food preparation & nutritive value, food safety, processing, marketing), (b) presents a 2-3 minute explanation of poster subject, and (c) responds to questions from judges.
Division II – (Grades 7-9) In addition to the requirements for Division I, Division II contestant also prepares an essay not to exceed 500 words or 3 typed pages, double spaced, about the selected subject.
Division III-(Grades 10-12) Contestant will present a 5-8 minute illustrated talk concerning egg, beef or rice. (Only egg illustrated talk requires a dish.)
Information for ambassador contests can be obtained from the 4-H Office.
1. One table and one easel will be provided.
2. No dish is needed to compete in these contests with the exception of Division III Egg.
3.. 1st place winners in each age category will represent Calcasieu at the area contest in March. The Rice Ambassador contest ends at District. Winners from the area contest in Beef and Egg will compete at the State Contest.
Livestock News
Livestock Exhibitors! Get Ready For The Spring Shows
Are you planning to show an animal at the parish, district, or state livestock show? Let us know by filling out the form found at right. Returning this form will put you on the livestock list to receive information from the 4-H office on possession dates, caring for animals, show entry procedures, etc.
Animals to be shown at the parish, district, or LSU shows must be in your possession and under your care before the following dates: Steers - August 15, 2009
Commercial Heifers & Beef Breeding - November 7, 2009
Market Lambs, Commercial Ewes & Breeding Sheep - November 7, 2009
Market Goats, Commercial Does & Breeding Goats - November 7, 2009
Dairy - November 7, 2009
Market Hogs & Breeding Swine - December 5, 2009
Meat Pen Rabbits - own does by October 15, 2009, don’t breed until after October 18th
Breeding Rabbits - November 7, 2009
Anyone planning to show broilers at the parish or LSU show must notify the 4-H office by November 1 so the broiler chicks can be ordered from the hatchery.
Livestock Possession Rule Guidelines
If a 4-H or FFA livestock project cannot be housed at the exhibitor’s home or family property, the exhibitor must file for a hardship request for special housing. The request must be made and approved prior to possession date. If this request is not made before possession date then the exhibitor will not be allowed to show at the parish, district, and state livestock shows. There will be no exceptions to this rule, so please get your request approved before you purchase show animals this year.
Please contact the 4-H Office if you need to complete this request form and we will mail a copy to you. Forms are also available on our website. Please do not wait until the last minute to get approval, because you will not be able to show. It is the 4-H or FFA member’s responsibility to notify the 4-H office of the housing hardship and complete the request prior to possession date for each species.
Validation of Animals for 2010 Livestock Shows
Commercial heifer, market lambs, commercial ewes, market goats, commercial does, breeding rabbits and beef breeding animals will be validated at the following locations: November 5, 2009 - 4:00-6:00 p.m., Burton Coliseum Barn
November 7, 2009 - 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., West Cal Arena
Validation for market hogs & breeding swine will be held the first week of December. More details will be in the November Cloverleaf.
Cal-Cam Fair
We will be validating breeding rabbits and beef breeding at Cal-Cam Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2009. We will validate commercial heifers, market goats, and market lambs if we have the validation information at this time. Otherwise we will validate at these animals at the November validation dates.
Hardship Statement
The district and/or state show manager must be notified within 48 hours of the end of validation if an unforeseen emergency or act of God has prevented an exhibitor from attending validation. After contacting the district and/or state show manager, hardship forms must be immediately filed along with supporting material. The deadline for making notifications and filing hardships is November 9, 2009, 4:30pm for Dairy, Beef, Sheep and Goat species and December 7, 2009, 4:30pm for Market Hogs. These hardships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the parish agent, district show manager and state show manager. Only cases where it is determined that the situation was unavoidable will the exhibitor be allowed to validate. This decision will be final and not subject to appeal.
Spring Livestock Show— Pre-registration
The Pre-registration form needs to be returned by October 23, 2009 to: Calcasieu Parish 4-H, 7101 Gulf Hwy., Lake Charles, LA 70607. Download Registration Form
Clovers to….
4-H U Chaperones - Eric Smith, Charlene Smith, Keri Doise, Cathy Fontenot, Angie Benoit, Sharon Nabours and Kimberlee Goodner
Congratulations! - We would like to thank all those who participated in 2009 4-H University and congratulate all the Blue Ribbon winners for a job well done.
Morgan Smith placed 4th in the National Forestry contest.
Summer Camp Counselors & Adult Volunteers - Kristen Davis, Anna Espey, Ryan Gilbert, Leslie Kinney, Allen Lormand, Kristen Smith, Morgan Smith, Cassidy Sonnier, Justin Trahan, Christopher Trahan, Brent Chaumont, Janeal McCauley, Sharon Nabours, Kate Ryder, Charlene Smith and Eric Smith
Lost Camp Counselors & Volunteers - Morgan Smith, Christopher Trahan, Kristen Davis, Sharon Nabours, Charlene Smith and Eric Smith
Shooting Sports Winners - Justin Trahan, placed 2nd in small bore pistol and Christopher Trahan competed in small bore rifle at the National Shooting Sports Competition in Nebraska.
Calcasieu 4-H’ers Kristen Smith, Zachary Smith, Marley Smith, Austin Terrell, Jared Hawkins and Lanie Henry competed as a team in the International BB Gun Contest in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Parish Horse Show Winners - Stake Race, 14 & over 1st place, Hannah Landry; 13 & under 1st place, Kelsey Chesson: Pole Bending, 14 & over 1st place, Kameron Gautreaux; 13 & under 1st place, Kelsey Chesson: Barrel Racing, 14 & over 1st place, Hannah Landry; 13 & under 1st place, Kelsey Chesson: Western Pleasure, 14 & over 1st place, Hannah Landry; 13 & under 1st place, Morgan Bertrand: Western Horsemanship, 14 & over 1st place, Hannah Landry; 13 & under 1st place, Emmalee Bertrand: Western Riding, 14 & over 1st place, Hannah Landry: Trail, 14 & under 1st place, Hannah Landry; Trail, 13 & under 1st place, Morgan Bertrand: Western Showmanship, 13 & under 1st place, Morgan Bertrand: English Showmanship, 14 & over 1st place, Kammeron Gautreaux; 13 & under 1st place, Emmalee Bertrand: Champion AOB Grade Horse Gelding, Joshua Blanchard: Champion AOB Grade Horse Mare, Emmalee Bertrand: Champion Appaloosa Gelding, Hannah Landry: Champion Paint Horse Gelding, Morgan Bertrand: Champion Arabian Mare, Kameron Gautreaux: Hunter Under Saddle, 13 & under 1st place, Morgan Bertrand; 14 & over 1st place, Kameron Gautreaux: Hunt Seat Equitation, 13 & under 1st place, Morgan Bertrand; 14 & over 1st place, Hannah Landry: High Point Performance Winner Junior Division, Morgan Bertrand; Senior Division, Hannah Landry: High Point Speed Winner Junior Division, Kelsey Chesson; Senior Division, Hannah Landry
Horse Premier Exhibitor - Elementary division, Emmalee Bertrand: Junior division, Morgan Bertrand: Senior Division: Kameron Gautreaux; Overall Winner, Morgan Bertrand
State Horse Show Winners - High Point Speed Event Champion, Kelsey Chesson; High Point Judge Event Reserve Champion Morgan Bertrand
Southwest District Winners - Speed Event Performance Winner, Kelsey Chesson
Calcasieu 4-H Membership Closes November 1st
Club leaders must have all enrollment information in the 4-H office by Nov. 1st. Please help them do this by turning in your enrollment cards to them when they ask for them. A special note to livestock exhibitors: You must be enrolled by November 1st to show your animals at the parish, district or state livestock shows.
Mark Your Calendar….
For a complete list of upcoming events for the parish, visit the online calendar.
October
5-11 National 4-H Week
5 Parish Leader Training, 5 p.m., 4-H Office
8 Jr. Leader Meeting, 7:00p.m., 4-H Office
10 Cal-Cam Fair Livestock Show, West Cal. Arena
15 Officer Training, 4:30 p.m., 4-H Office
TBA Candy Distribution
20 Pet Show, Burton Coliseum, Sheep and Swine Arena
21-Nov 7 Louisiana State Fair
November
1 Deadline for Parish 4-H Enrollment
1 Deadline for Beef Grazing Project applications
7 Beef, Egg & Rice Cookery, 8:30 a.m., Gayle Hall, McNeese
12 Jr. Leader Meeting, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Office
21 Elementary Project Workshop Day, 8:30 a.m., Gayle Hall
23 Junior & Senior Workshops, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 4-H Office
24 Cal-Cam Livestock Showmanship Clinic, 9:00 a.m., Burton Coliseum
24 Livestock Judging (Beef, Swine, Poultry, Dairy, Horse,) & Meats ID Contests, 12:30 p.m., Burton Coliseum
27-Dec 1 National 4-H Congress Trip, Atlanta, GA
December
3 Pre-registration for Demonstration Day
5 Demonstration Day, 8:30 a.m., 4-H Office
8 Parish, District Livestock Entries Due
10 Jr. Leader Meeting, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Office
15 Start Junior Beef Grazing Project
24-Jan 2 Holidays