The sights and sounds at Centenary State Historic Site in Jackson were interrupted for five brief hours on April 28 by the sounds of youthful energy exerted by 130 4-H youth as they gathered with adult leaders for the annual 4-H Expo Day.
According to Ken Spoto, Lauren Kennedy, and Ursula Shaw, 4-H professionals with the LSU AgCenter, the theme for this year’s Expo Day was wetlands. In addition to visiting eight educational stations describing wetlands biology or topics related to wetlands, many 4-H youth presented home made exhibits for judging. The eight educational stations at Expo were positioned in a circular fashion. 4-H’ers in groups of 15 or less visited each station and participated in hands-on and discussion-type presentations.
At one station, Pastor Stan and Mrs. Judy Clark presented a class on water quality, discussing ph and turbidity. At a second station Mrs. Al O’Brien and Ariel O’Brien discussed plant leaves and their importance in species identification; they also engaged participants in leaf rubbings. Mr. Al O’Brien, at a third station, demonstrated proper fish bait casting techniques and engaged youth in a fishing game using rods, reels and plastic fish. Mrs. Danielle Woldt, at a fourth station, engaged youth in looking for macroscopic wetland animals through a macroscope and using a digital microscope allowed the 4-H'ers to look for microscopic animals and plants as well as minerals. At a fifth station, Mr. Terry Landry discussed animal tracks and demonstrated how to make track molds with plaster and rubber moldings. Tyra Starkey and Jessica Ledet, America’s Wetlands educators, discussed wetland ecology and demonstrated to 4-H'ers how to grow cypress trees from seed and soil. 4-H'ers were allowed to take home their plantings. At a seventh station, Mrs. Anita Spoto and Mrs. Sissy Burge discussed boating safety and the negative impact of drugs and alcohol on boating adventures. 4-H'ers used vision-distorting goggles in games to simulate the effects of drugs and alcohol. At an eighth station, Dr. Richard Goyer led a discussion on wetland erosion and pollution utilizing a model called the enviroscape.
Following their visits to the eight educational stations, the 4-H'ers had lunch on the Centenary grounds and enjoyed snow cones provided by a local vendor. After lunch and a little relaxation, the youth and their adult leaders packed up and headed back to school.
The 4-H staff of the LSU AgCenter’s East Feliciana Cooperative Extension Service thanks the Centenary Historic Site Manager, Daniel Goyer, the Centenary Historic Site Staff, station presenters, exhibit judges, club adult leaders, parents, CHS and JHS teen leaders, and others for making 4-H Expo Day a successful and rewarding event for the 4-H youth of East Feliciana Parish.
For more information on the 4-H Youth Program, phone the 4-H Staff at 225-683-3101.
[Image: wetland waters]
[Image: wetland water pollution]
[Image: Casting for fish]
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[Image: Pastor Stan Clark discusses water quality.]
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