Contests

Louisiana Beef Industry Council--Beef Poster Contest The posters are due to the Rapides Parish 4-H Office by March 26^th at 4:30. The posters will be sent to Baton Rouge where judging will take place in April. The theme for the 2021 LBIC Beef Poster Contest is: Green Beef. Posters must be on “22 x 28” poster board only! Place your Name, Address, Age, Grade in School, and Parish/Chapter on the back, upper right corner of the poster. For more information call the 4-H office 318-767-3968 or email your agents aelnaggar@agcenter.lsu.edu or sdugas@agcenter.lsu.edu

20-21 Commodity Ambassador Contest--The Commodity Ambassador Contest is a unique state-level opportunity that prepares our younger 4-H members to public speaking. The BBQ Chicken, BBQ Turkey, and Egg Demonstration contests are events with advancement to the National 4-H contest held in Louisville, KY. Monetary prizes for winners, except for those contests with national advancement opportunities. Registration is due February 22nd, 2021. for more information contact your agents aelnaggar@agcenter.lsu.edu or sdugas@agcenter.lsu.edu

Louisiana 4-H Draw-a-Dairy Billboard contest—4-H Club members are to draw a billboard that encourages or promotes the consumption of milk and milk products and their importance for health. Awards: Parish—Rosette ribbon to 1^st place winners and advancement to state. State-- $100 for first place, $75 for second place, & $50 for third place. Billboards are due to the parish office on April 29^th at 4:30. For contest rules and regulations, contact your 4-H agents aelnaggar@agcenter.lsu.edu or sdugas@agcenter.lsu.edu

National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition- The Foundation for the Preservation of Honeybees, Inc. has announced its 2020 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition theme: “Threats to Bee Colonies and Methods to Defend Against the Threats.” Essays are due March 5^th. State Contest Sponsor: Louisiana Beekeepers Association Cash Prices and Plaques to 3 Top Winners:1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $75, 3rd Place - $50; National Contest Sponsor: The American Beekeeping Federation, Inc. and the Foundation for the Preservation of Honeybees, Inc. Cash Prices and Plaques to 3 Top Winners:1st Place - $750, 2nd Place - $500, 3rd Place - $250

 

Crazy About Character-Trustworthiness

Be honest…Don’t lie, cheat, or steal

Be reliable…Keep your promises and follow through on your commitments.

Have the Courage…to do what is right, even when it seems difficult.

Be a good friend…and don’t’ betray someone's trust

 

Important Dates

February	March	April	May	Summer Camps
1-Jr Leader Meeting	1- Jr. Leader Meeting	TBA- vitrual AgMagic Cenla	TBA-Sewing Workshop	As soon as we have confirmation about 4-H Camp, Lost Camp, and 4-H University, we will share the details with you
3-6 Central District Livestock Show (Vernon Parish Fair Barn)	1- Louisiana 4-H Scholarship Applications are due	TBA- Rapides 4-H AgDay
6- District Rabbit & Poultry Show (Alexandria)
13-20 State Livestock Show (Gonzales)
26 Career Day Camp for 7th & 8th Grade

 

Livestock Show Schedules

Central District Livestock Show Tentative Schedule

Vernon Parish Fair Grounds

276 H M Stevens Blvd. Leesville La

February 3-6, 2021

Due to tornado damage to the Dewitt Livestock Facility, the 2021 Central District Livestock Show will be held at the Vernon Parish Fairgrounds and Rapides Fair Grounds.The Sale of Champions and the parish sales will be held at the State Evacuation Shelter.

Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021

8:00 A.M. All sheep may start arriving

1:00 P.M. Scale open to weigh market lambs

2:00 P.M. All Sheep must be in place. Breeding sheep must be checked in and market lambs must be weighed

4:00 P.M. Judge breeding sheep show followed by market lambs and sheep showmanship

All sheep released at conclusion of showmanship. No overnight accommodations for sheep

Thursday, Feb 4, 2021

7:00 A.M. All goats and dairy cattle may start arriving

10:00 A.M. All breeding goats must be checked in and in place

11:00 A.M. Judge breeding goats followed by market goats and showmanship

All Dairy cattle must be in place and checked in. Scales open to weigh market goats and commercial dairy

12:00 P.M. Judge Dairy cattle followed by showmanship

All market goats must be weighed in (judging will begin after breeding goat show) All goats and dairy cattle released at conclusion of respective specie showmanship. No overnight accommodations for goats or dairy cattle

Friday, Feb 5, 2021

7:00 A.M. All Beef Cattle and all swine may start arriving

10:00 A.M. Scales open for weighing market swine

11:00 A.M. All Beef Cattle and Swine must be in place and breeding animals checked in

11:30 A.M. Market swine must be weighed

Scales open for weighing steers and commercial heifers

12:00 Judge Beef cattle showmanship followed by Steers, Breeding cattle and commercial heifers

Judge Swine showmanship followed by market swine and breeding swine

Steers and commercial heifers must be weighed

All Beef and swine released at conclusion of each specie show.

***As mentioned, pen space is limited. Overnight housing will not be allowed unless previous arrangements have been made with show manager. Those exhibiting multiple species will be considered for overnight housing if space is available.

Rapides Fair Grounds, Highway 71 South Alexandria La (old LSUA rodeo team barn, located just south of the Mega Shelter) Saturday, Feb 6, 2021

7:00 A.M. All Rabbits and Poultry May Start arriving

9:30 A.M. All Rabbits and Poultry must be in place and checked in

10:00 A.M. Judge Rabbits and Poultry

Times for all Premier exhibitor contest will be announced at later time. Because of a complete change of location and facilities, times may vary slightly

State Evacuation Shelter 8125 Hwy 71 South Alexandria La

5:00 P.M Buyer's Reception

6:00 P.M Award's Program

6:30 P.M. Sale of Champions

7:00 P.M. Parish Sales

 

Senior 4-H

The Mondart Scholarship is available to students from rural Louisiana who would be following a major within the College of Agriculture at LSU. For eligibility requirements visit Mondart Fellowship page. The deadline for submitting applications is March 9. This scholarship is $1,000 per year and renewable for three additional years (four total). This scholarship is for students that would be enrolling as freshman at LSU in Fall 2021.

The Louisiana 4-H Scholarship application is due to the 4-H office by March 1^st. For an application email your 4-H Agent aelnaggar@agcenter.lsu.edu or sdugas@agcenter.lsu.edu.

$1,000 Robert and Debbie Joyner Scholarship award recipients must be graduating high school seniors who are enrolled members of 4-H and with a preference for those who will be enrolling as Animal Science majors. The scholarship will be awarded for one academic year commencing in the fall semester and is intended to assist with tuition, fees, and books at any accredited Louisiana 4-year institution chosen by the recipient.

The National Wood Flooring Association is offering a college scholarship in the amount of $1000 to a current high school senior who will study forestry, environmental science, or natural resources. Deadline to apply is March 1^st. Contact your agent for more information or visit the NWFA Education & Research Foundation Wood Studies Scholarship website.

 

Project Clubs

Jr. Leadership Club will meet monthly via Microsoft Teams. Jr. Leaders is open to all 4-H members 7^th-12^th grade. Please notify your 4-H agent if you would like to join. Teens communicate with each other and the agent to plan events, service projects, vote on activities through GroupMe. Jr. Leaders develop leadership skills by mentoring younger 4-H members and helping with Workshops. Their service to the parish is invaluable. Please consider being a Jr. Leader. This years’ service project will center on showing appreciation for medical staff for their tireless efforts through the Covid-19 pandemic. Stay connected with your peers and lead by example!

Seed of the Month Club encourages youth to develop a passion for gardening and learn by doing! January’s seed is a pine seedling. Parents must pick up @ the 4-H office. Only 50 participants accepted. Do not miss out!

Livestock Club—Participants will meet periodically to learn about different species of animals that they show. They will have a chance to join the livestock judging team that competes at 4-H University on the main campus of LSU in Baton Rouge.

Shooting Sports—Practice schedule is listed in Upcoming Events. Questions? Contact our Shooting Sports volunteer, Liz Petrus Pace 318-452-8651 and follow @ Facebook: Rapides Parish 4-H Shooting Sports. Disciplines: Archery, Shotgun, Rifle

 

Workshops

February 15^th – Find your creativity at the STEM-Craft workshop. 8:30-11:30 at the Alexandria Evacuation Mega Shelter, 8125 Hwy 71 South Alexandria, LA 71302 Social distancing guidelines will be strictly followed. Masks are required to participate in all workshops. Call our office to sign up. Flyers will be posted on Facebook, our website, and brought to the schools. Cost to attend $10. Deadline to sign up is February 10^th.

 

Livestock

For more information concerning Livestock, contact Sallye Dugas Fonetenot @ 4-h office by calling (318) 767-3968, or email sdaugas@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Please note: Given the health concerns with COVID-19 there is no quarantee that the Central District Livestock Show will occur as advertised. With that in mind all livestock show participants and families should note that purchase and/or validation of animals is at their own risk and financial investment

Due to concerns with COVID-19, schedules and times are subject to be changed by Show Management !!

 

Rapides Parish 4-H Upcoming Events

Livestock Show	Jr. Leaders	Workshops/Contest	Shooting Sports
Feb. 3-6 Central District Livestock Show Location: Vernon Parish	Meetings: 1st Monday 5-6 via Teams	Feb. 15 Stem-Craft	Practice Schedule @ Woodworth : January 10, 17, 21 : March 14th
Feb. 6 Poultry/Rabbits Location: Evacuation Shelter	Feb. 1st, March 1st, April 12th, May 3rd	March 8th 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition	Archer 2 PM Rifle: 2PM Seniors Rifle: 4 PM Juniors Shotgun: 4PM
Feb. 13-20 LSU State Show Location: Lamar Dixon, Gonzales	Monitor your GroupMe for meeting details and invite !	March 26th Beef Poster Contest
		April 5th Spring Baking
		April 6th Sewing