[Image: Picture for October 2009 Newsletter]The Rapides Parish 4-H Clover Clippings newsletters provide information to parish 4-H members and contain activities, events and deadlines occurring monthly.
4-H LAGNIAPPE
Parish Fair Rule Books and entry tags/numbers -- Get your items ready for entry into the Parish Fair! Rule books will be available from your 4-H agent, your club sponsor or the parish 4-H Office. It can be found at www.lsuagcenter.com/parish/rapides.
4-H Record Book Covers are $3 per cover. The parish 4-H Office will NOT offer these covers for sale to 4-H Clubs. (Clubs should purchase from the National 4-H Mall.) Individual 4-H’ers may purchase one from their school club or this office.
As a 4-H member, you will be using your HEAD, HEART, HANDS, and HEALTH, in service to your club, school and community. 4-H is a co-curricular club (NOT EXTRA-CURRICULAR) and that means it fits in with the mission of your school. So, do things to make a positive impact through 4-H!
Each 4-H Club operates under the “umbrella” of the LSU AgCenter/4-H Youth Development Program. There are standard operating procedures all clubs must follow including the submission of required reports. Be on the lookout for information concerning those required reports!
All 4-H’ers should receive their 4-H project books (workbooks) by the end of October. If a club member has not returned his or her enrollment form, please do so immediately so 4-H project books can be distributed.
4-H KIDS FOR CHARACTER---MAKE YOUR CHARACTER COUNT!!
Make your character “count” by learning the six pillars of character. They are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
4-H will focus on one “pillar” each month. The pillar for October is RESPECT. Following the Golden Rule is sure way to show respect. What is that rule? Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Give respect and you will get respect!
Do some good deeds for others - - - especially during National 4-H Week, Character Counts! Week and Red Ribbon Week.
DATES TO REMEMBER/PARISH OPPORTUNITIES
October
4-10 National 4-H Week
8 4-H Pizza Day - local Pizza Huts
13-18 Rapides Parish Fair
18-24 Character Counts! Week
17-25 Red Ribbon Week
26 Final Deadline, required club reports
27 4-H Officers’ Training Workshop
26-11/08 State Fair of Louisiana (Shreveport)
November
6 Registration begins for 4-H Holiday workshops, call 767-3968
11 Veterans’ Day activities -- Junior Leaders
11-25 State Fair exhibits pick-up
23-25 4-H Holiday Workshops, 4-H Office
4-H OFFICER TRAINING
Attention 4-H’ers! You can improve your leadership skills by becoming an officer. Club officers should attend the annual Officers Training on Tuesday, October 27, at 4:30 p.m. at Huddle Elementary on Texas Avenue. Training sessions will be held for President, Vice President, Secretary/ Treasurer, Reporter/ Publicity, Health Chairman, Safety Chairman, Community Service Chairman, and Character Ed Chairman. Clubs may elect/select other officers (example-Historian) but there will not be a session for those officers. Parents and Club Leaders are encouraged to attend the Parent/ Leader Orientation Seminar held the same day.
4-H PROJECT BOOKS
Have you received your 4-H project books yet? If so, you probably want to know what you are supposed to do with them! Look at the first few pages to find out what you have to do to complete your particular project book. 4-H’ers in the Discovering 4-H book should do everything in it; other project books may require you to complete 5 – 7 activities. Get started now! Be sure to have someone take pictures of you working on these activities so you will have pictures for your 4-H record book which is due in the spring.
CELEBRATE “4-H . . THE ORIGINAL GREEN”
The month of October is full of special celebration weeks where 4-H clubs can show their 4-H spirit AND conduct service activities to help other people become more productive. 4-H in Rapides Parish and in Louisiana have been around (and “green”) since 1908! So “geaux green” during October!
The special celebrations include National 4-H Week, Character Counts! Week, and Red Ribbon Week. Plan school and community activities and let us know the good deeds you did! If you need ideas, contact the parish 4-H Office at 767-3968 or email lbrister@agctr.lsu.edu.
4-H HOLIDAY FUN
Each year during the Thanksgiving break, 4-H’ers participate in fun holiday workshops where they make all kinds of cool things for themselves and their family. Some fun-filled workshops will be held at the parish
4-H Office the week of November 23- 25. Topics will include kitchen chef, holiday decor, and fine arts. More information will be provided on the November Clover Clippings. Space in the workshops is limited and you must pre-register. Sign up begins November 6th.
4-H PUMPKIN PARTY
Celebrate fall and its great harvest at the 4-H Pumpkin Party on Thursday, October 29, at the parish 4-H Office. Interested 4-H’ers will learn loads of cool information about pumpkins, make some cute autumn crafts, and will actually get to paint a pumpkin! We have some fall foods to enjoy!
This special “Pumpkin Party” is open to 4-H’ers of all ages (those under 12 must have a parent stay to help). All 4-H’ers may bring one friend as well. Register for this special event by calling 767-3968 before October 26.
4-H PIZZA NIGHT
Help support the local Rapides 4-H program by making a pizza order at your local Pizza Hut restaurant on the night of October 8! Use the special 4-H coupon available at school, from your 4-H sponsor, or from the 4-H office. Twenty percent of the sales will go to the 4-H program to support awards and recognition for 4-H’ers across the parish!
FAIR INFORMATION
Schedules
Entry/Release Schedule:
Oct. 13 Enter Junior Horses (8:00 -10:00 a.m.); (Release immediately after show)
Oct. 13 Entry of Clothing, Handicraft, Household Articles, Food Preservation, Photography, Insects, Forestry & Agriculture-(11-5 pm)
Oct. 14 Enter Fruits/Vegetables (7:30-9:00am)
Oct. 14 Enter Livestock, Poultry & Rabbits (9-6)
Oct. 14 Compact Tractor and Tractor Driving Contests (4:00 p.m.)
Oct. 15 Enter Junior Baking (3:30 – 6:00 p.m.)
Oct. 15 Enter Open Junior Beef Breeding- (Noon 10/15 thru Noon 10/16)
Oct. 16 Enter Open Poultry (1:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
Oct. 16 Release Junior Baking (2:00 – 5:00 p.m.)
Oct. 17 Enter Dog/Pet Show (1:00 & 2:00 p.m.)
Oct. 18 Release all exhibits and livestock exhibits (from 5:00 to 6:30 pm; must have entry stub to enter and pick up exhibits)
*Fair books and entry tags/numbers are available and may be picked up from the 4-H Office.
BARNYARD NURSERY
Hear pigs squealing...see chicks hatching... pet a bunny or brush a goat…all this and more can be experienced during the Rapides Parish Fair
So. . . . come one!! Come all! Come to the 4-H Barnyard Nursery!! The 4-H Teen Leader Club and the 4-H Teens In Action Club sponsor this exhibit. Pony rides and pictures with the barnyard animals will also be available for a small fee at designated times during hours of operation.
Hours of operation are:
Wed., October 14 - - - - -1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thurs., October 15 - - - - 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 16 - - - - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat., October 17 - - - - - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
STATE FAIR NEWS
The State Fair of Louisiana is held annually in Shreveport. The Rapides Parish Fair Association graciously supports entry fees and transportation fees for getting 4-H exhibits/livestock entered. Entries are judged before the State Fair opens on Oct. 26. All non-livestock exhibits will be back at the Parish 4-H Office near LSU-A by Nov. 11 where 4-H’ers can pick them up. For more information on the State Fair, log on to www.statefairoflouisiana.com
4-H ART CONTEST
Do you know the 6 pillars of character? Do you like to draw? Are you creative? Do you have an “eye for design”? Check out our Character Does Count! Art Contest. You can enter only one category which are poster, bookmark, and pennant. Entries are due by November 25. There is no cost to enter, but you can win some great prizes!
Check out both of these events on the yellow rule sheet you can get from your agent or sponsor.
4-H MALL
Have you been seeing special Rapides 4-H tee shirts, jackets and other apparel on kids and wondered how you could have that same item for your very own?
Now you can by shopping the 4-H Mall Store operated by the 4-H Teen Leader club. Items for sale vary by time of the year, by demand and by availability. Check out what is available for you to purchase by visiting www.lsuagcenter.com/parish/rapides. Proceeds benefit teen 4-H programming and service-learning events.
LIVESTOCK NEWS
RABBIT INFORMATION
Those interested in breeding meat pens to show at the Central District Livestock Show should breed does between October 30-November 2. The rabbit show at the District Livestock Show is set for February 7, 2010.
SPRING LIVESTOCK SHOW
The possession date for spring livestock show will be November 7, 2009, for beef breeding, commercial heifers, market lambs, breeding goats and dairy animals. All market and commercial animals will be validated and tagged on November 7, 2009 at the Dewitt Livestock Facility from 9:00 a.m. until noon. (Validation and tagging is mandatory).
Possession date for market hogs will be December 5, 2009. All market hogs must be tagged and validated at the DeWitt Livestock Facility December 5, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. till noon.
For more information contact Mr. Rodney at 767-3968.
CLOVERS TO....
Mrs. Tammy Lloid, parent leader for setting up an information booth at Pineville Junior High, Parent/Teacher Conference. Way to go!
Special thanks to Principal Columbus Goodman for supporting the 4-H program recruiting effort at Pineville Junior High. It is through these efforts that 4-H can grow!
The 4-H Shooting Sports program for organizing and running a special Youth Shoot for the benefit of Mr. Jeff Fitzgerald, our shotgun instructor, who has undergone extensive medical treatment. We wish you the best!
4-H Teen Leaders who will provide great leadership to the Teen Leader Club as officers for 2009-2010: Co-presidents--Catherine Brister, Bolton & Benjamin Fontenot, PHS; V-Pres.- -Grace Price, PHS; Sec- - Amy Flynn, Menard; Reporter- -Regina Price, LSMSA; Senators- -Haley Williams, Buckeye; McKenzie Hawkins, Tioga; Rebecca Beers, Tioga. We are proud of you!
The Rapides Parish Police Jury for their warm reception at the September Police Jury Meeting. Thank you for your continued support of the youth of this parish!
OOPS!!! WE GOOFED!!! These 4-H teens also served as summer camp counselors but we forgot to thank them last month! A BIG HUG to Celicia Ducote, Hannah Munsen and Cameron Wilson for a job well done this summer!
All school 4-H clubs that have sent their club dues and enrollment forms in prior to the “early bird” deadline. We thank you for your efforts!
All 4-H programs are open to members regardless of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin or handicap.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have a disability, which requires special assistance for your participation in any 4-H activity, please contact one of the 4-H agents at 767-3968.
Rapides Parish Extension Office
300 Grady Britt Drive
Alexandria, Louisiana 71302
(318) 767-3969
(318) 767-3971 (Fax)
Your 4-H Agents are: Ms. Ophelia Allen, Mrs. Lois Brister & Mr. Rodney Johnson
Note: You can access a pdf version of the newsletter below.