Welcome to 4-H
“We Are the Building Blocks to 4-H”
Green Since 1908
Welcome to the largest youth organization in the United States! Louisiana has more than 60,000 4-H members, just like you. Through 4-H, you will have many opportunities to use your head, heart, hands and health in positive ways.
| 4-H Club members should:
• Read the 4-H newsletter
• Attend monthly 4-H Club meetings
• Complete chosen project and 4-H portfolio
• Participate in some of the many activities and events |
4-H’ers can look forward to:
• Having fun
• Meeting new people
• Making new friends
• Learning to lead
• Winning awardd
• Visiting interesting places. |
CELEBRATE NATIONAL 4-H WEEK - OCTOBER 4-10
Join in the celebration:
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Wear green and white
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Wear a badge
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Make a sign to display
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Tell others about 4-H
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GET A FRIEND TO JOIN!
To celebrate this week, we are sponsoring a “Show our 4-H Pride” contest. We would like each club to create a display to put outside in front of your school. This should:
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Be creative and original
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Involve 4-H members
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Publicize 4-H
We want the community to see 4-H is celebrating National 4-H Week. Judges will drive by schools on October 7 to view displays. Awards will be given.
4-H OFFICER’S LEARN TO LEAD—Science & Math Academy—September 19, 2009
4-H Clubs elect their own officers to help plan their programs, conduct their club meetings and lead them to success. One of the first duties of newly elected officers is to attend an Officer’s Training Clinic on Saturday, September 19, from 9 a.m. until noon at Science and Math Academy.
Clubs receive points for the Better Club Contest for officers who attend. This is every officer’s first responsibility — be sure to attend. Clubs will also set some of their goals for the year.
4-H SPECIAL INTEREST/PROJECT CLUBS
If you are interested in learning more about certain project areas or need help in completing some of your 4-H projects, you may be interested in joining a special interest/project club. 4-H’ers who are interested should sign up with their 4-H leader, no later than the end of September!
4-H’ers can join project clubs to:
The project clubs will meet after school to work together on their designated projects. More information will be given to those who express an interest. Fill out the special interest/project club form in the attached newsletter file.
Junior Leadership is a “Building Block” to improving leadership skills.
Science and Math Academy—September 19, 2009
4-H members, at least 13 years of age, can be in the St. James Parish Sigma Lambda Chi 4-H Leadership Club. This club focuses on being involved in community service, leadership and citizenship, as well as having fun as a group. Helping at many parish 4-H events is an annual task completed by many of our junior leaders. If you are interested in joining the club, please make every effort to attend the first meeting at the Science and Math Academy on September 19 at noon (immediately after the officer training).
4-H CAMP SLOGAN CONTEST
What’s a good theme for 4-H Summer Camp? Send us your most creative ideas for a slogan — in seven words or less. Include artwork that will appear on the camp shirt if your slogan is selected. The contest is open to all 4-H Club members. The winning slogan will be one that is brief and “catchy,” capturing the spirit of 4-H and Camp Grant Walker. The slogan will be used on all publicity for camp and on the camp T-Shirt. The winner will receive a $50 cash award. Think fast — the deadline is October 16.
All entries must include the following:
ATTENTION ANIMAL LOVERS
If you love animals and would like to get involved in a 4-H livestock project, now is the time to sign up. All livestock animals that will be shown in St. James must be registered in the 4-H office. Entry forms and signed rules and regulations must be turned in by the following animal possession dates: Parish, District, State Beef Breeding, Lambs, Goats, Dairy, Chickens, and Swine Breeding—November 6, 2009. Parish, District, State Market Swine—December 1, 2009. Parish Rabbit Show— January 1, 2010. Steer possession date was August 1. Lambs, goats, breeding animals, commercial animals and market animals must be tagged and tested in St. James November 1. All market hogs will be tagged and tested at an assigned location during the week of December 1-5. Rabbit possession day is January 1, 2010. If you have any questions, or want to know more about 4-H livestock projects, call Mr. Ken at 225-562-2320.
ANNUAL 4-H PET SHOW
Lutcher High School—October 31, 2009
4-H’ers with pets may want to get them groomed for the annual 4-H Pet Show, which will be held on Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. until noon at Lutcher High School. We will have a “Pet Parade” bigger and better than last year. Only one pet per member may be entered, and there is no charge to enter. An entry form is required. (These will be distributed at October 4-H Club meetings, or ask your 4-H leader for a form) There will be six animal categories you can show pets in—dogs (large and small), cats, birds, fish, rabbits & any other pets.
The State 4-H Citizenship Board Challenges Each Parish to Collect 1 MILLION Soda Cans (or pull tabs)!
CAN YOU MEET OR BEAT THE GOAL?
Learning to Serve: A Ronald McDonald Service-Learning Opportunity
This year, 4-H Clubs are asked to participate in the 2009 statewide combined environmental and health care service-learning project by taking part in club competition! Beginning on September 1, clubs should start collecting aluminum cans or pop tops and taking them to local recycling centers for payment. Records of the total weight of the aluminum turned in and of the amount of money collected should be turned in to the 4-H office by December 1, 2009, and March 24, 2010. The money collected from St. James Parish 4-H Clubs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans. In the months of December and May, two 4-H members from each club will visit the Ronald McDonald House to learn more about their efforts. The club that raises the most money will receive a prize and have their entry submitted to the statewide contest. For additional information concerning the efforts of the Ronald McDonald House, you can visit their Web site at http://rmhc.org. Make this one of your community service-learning projects for this year.
Help St. James be green by adopting this service project today!
Fact about recycling aluminum cans:
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Recycling an aluminum can saves the energy equivalent of six ounces of gasoline. In 2000, Americans recycled 54.8 million aluminum cans, saving the energy equivalent of 2.58 billion gallons of gasoline. Had we recycled the other 46 billion cans we used that year, we could have saved another 2.15 billion gallons of gas.
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Reducing energy consumption and use of virgin raw materials cuts pollution as well. In 1999, aluminum beverage can recycling.
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The energy saved by recycling one aluminum can is enough to run a television for three hours.
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In three months, Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild the commercial air fleet.
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Americans threw away half a million tons of aluminum last year, worth nearly $800 million.
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The energy needed to replace the aluminum cans discarded in the United States each year could power a city the size of Atlanta for a year.
Summer 4-H Fun!
4-H Camp
Nearly 100 4-H Club members attended 4-H Camp at Camp Grant Walker, June 27-July 3. It was an awesome week full of fun activities. If you didn’t get a chance to go, start looking forward to 4-H Camp 2010 from June 28 through July 2, 2010.
4-H University
Twenty two teen 4-H’ers attended 4-H University the week of June 23-26. Everyone had a super time. Our St. James Parish 4-H’ers competed against other statewide 4-H’ers. In the 4-H University contests, participating from St. James were:
4–H Has Talent – Blue ribbon winner: Jasmine Martin
ATV –Blue ribbon winner (second place): Sam Gravois, Participant: Lee Gravois
Compact Tractor –Blue ribbon winner: Mason Matirne
Dog Care – Participant: Abigail Babin
Fashion Review/Special Occasion – Blue ribbon winner (third place): Christine Schexnayder
Fashion Review/Creative Choice – Blue ribbon winner (second place): Geralyn Schexnayder
Fashion Review/Ready to Wear – Blue ribbon winner (fifth place): Terrianca Campbell
Family & Consumer Science Demo – Blue ribbon winner (second place): Hannah Guidry and Lauren Sherman
Horticulture Judging (Teams) –Blue ribbon winners: Clarissa Guidry, Paige Bourgeois and Emma Waguespack. Participant: Marril McKarry
Horticulture Judging (Individual) – Blue ribbon winner: Clarissa Guidry
Photography – Participant: Remy Roper
Public Speaking/Any Subject – Blue ribbon winner: Brianna Waguespack
Solutions Unlimited – Blue ribbon winners (second place): Lindsey Arceneaux, Amanda Louque and Aralynn Davis
Sports Broadcasting – Participants: Brontel Jones and Hansel Armant
Participating in Clover College: Bria Melancon
4-H Lost Camp
Mr. Ken, junior leader Remy Roper and 4-H'ers, Claude Louis, Rebekah Taylor and Ashley Schexnaydre participated in a unique week of learning and having fun. Rocketry, robotics, energy, CSI, videography and outdoor skills were just some of the many things we learned about at camp August 3-7. Seventh- and eighth-graders: check out how you can participate in this next year.
4-H Marsh Maneuvers
Ask Cody Keller, Terrianca Campbell, Aaron Lodrigue or Christine Schexnayder what they did July 13-17 and they will tell you about “Marsh Life.” How to hold an alligator, how to catch crabs, how to plant marshgrass and lots more. All of this fun was had at a camp just for people who enjoy the great outdoors—Marsh Maneuvers 2009. Our parish limit is 10 4-H’ers. Reserve your spot today!
4-H Challenge Camp 2009
This year seventh- and eighth-grade 4-H’ers, who want to be involved in a few days of fun, learning and getting to know other 4-H’ers -- all while spending some time outdoors at Tickfaw State Park -- should sign up for Challenge Camp, November 11-13, 2009.
Parishwide 4-H Fundraiser
Anyone who may be interested in ordering magazines -- or know someone who is -- go to www.lsuagcenter.com/stjames and click and order some today. St. James makes money for every magazine sold.
4-H Agents
Kenneth J. Guidry and Robin W. Hart
LSU AgCenter
Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service
St. James Parish 4-H Office
P.O. Box 64
Convent, LA 70723
The LSU Agricultural Center, a statewide campus of the LSU System, and Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, a statewide campus of the Southern University System, provide equal opportunities and employment. Louisiana State University and A & M College, Southern University and A&M College, Louisiana parish governing bodies and United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.