4-Hers Win at State 4-H U
Dana Bennett and Andrea Deason were named state winners of the 2010 Ag Demonstration contest at the 96th 4-H University, held June 22-25, on the LSU Baton Rouge campus. These graduating seniors gave a demonstration on the National Poultry Improvement Plan showing how to give field test for Avian Influenza and Pullorum-Typhoid. As a result of their winning they will receive a trip to the National 4-H Club Congress held in Atlanta, Georgia during the month of November. Dana and Andrea are cousins both living in Spearsville. They are recent high school graduates: Dana from Cedar Creek in Ruston and Andrea from Spearsville High School. Both will be students at La. Tech University this fall. Nearly 1,550 4-Hers participated in the event. Students come to the event to compete with other high school students from all 64 parishes in over 40 different contests ranging from agriculture demonstrations to wildlife habitat judging and from career preparation to consumer decision making. Carol Remy, LSU AgCenter 4-H Agent stated that while they participate the students get a chance to experience dorm/college life, make new friends from all across the state - - all while having a great time. Our main purpose is to provide learning opportunities and experiences for the students allowing them to grow in areas that interest them or expose them to new avenues. Anna Roan and Bethany Rhodes demonstrated how to make a “No-Temptation Floral Birthday Cake” for the Horticulture General Demonstration. They placed fourth in the state-wide competition while Victoria Bryan placed fifth in Dog Care and Jason Jefferies placed ninth in ATV Safety. Others participating in competition events were: Brittani Gray (Ready-to-Wear), Taylor Burns (Photography), Reva Carpenter (Child Development) , Kyle Hicks, Tyler Banks, Conrad Cable (Sports Fishing Team), Kade Hicks (Compact Tractor), and Cody Kenly (ATV Safety).
Other events were noncompetitive, such as Clover College, which included activities that ranged from learning about seafood to robotics. Participating in them from Union Parish was: Mary Bush, Evelyn Bennett, Blair Bennett and Cameron Griffin. Mary Bush attended sessions entitled “The Next 4-H Food Star.” In her session she was paired with two other 4-H members from other areas of the state to participate in the La. Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans on August 8-9, 2010. While in New Orleans they will have a culinary tour with Chef Jean French and participate in a cook-off against other teams. Blair Bennett and Cameron Griffin attended sessions on “Exploring the World of Sports.” They were given the opportunity to learn about the behind the scenes management of athletics on the LSU campus. Evelyn Bennett attended sessions on Forensics. They learned that the first forty-eight hours of an investigation is the key in determining the answers to the Who? What? Where? How? She learned how to use her investigative and problem solving skills to solve a mock crime scene.
Writer: Carol Remy LSU Ag Center 4-H Agent