Not too late to join 4-H

Even though school has already started, students wishing to participate in 4-H can still join the club, according to Mark Tassin, 4-H youth and family development department head at the LSU AgCenter.

"Students can join 4-H at any time during the school year. It is to their advantage to join as soon as possible to get all the benefits 4-H provides," Tassin said.

Those benefits include an opportunity to be part of programs focusing on food and fitness, science and technology and a week-long summer camp near Pollock in Grant Parish.

Last year, nearly 250,000 young people in the state participated in 4-H activities. 4-H members participated in teen conferences, met with their legislators during 4-H Day at the Capitol, and were recognized for their works at an LSU football game and a New Orleans Hornets basketball game.

Members also have the opportunity to participate in 4-H University, which is a week-long competition and learning experience held on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. Students compete in one of 43 subject areas or attend one of 12 Clover College tracks.

Contests represent areas such as agricultural product demonstration, computer simulation, insect identification and wildlife habitat judging.

Concepts covered in Clover College include robotics, proper etiquette, life after high school and learning the fundamentals of financial management.

4-H is offered in all 64 parishes, Tassin said. Those interested in becoming a member should contact their LSU AgCenter parish extension office. For more information regarding 4-H, visit LSUAgCenter.com/4h.

To be eligible, club members must be 9 years of age and no older than 20 before Jan. 1 of the current club year.

The 4-H youth development program is delivered locally and operated through a partnership among parishes, the LSU AgCenter, the state and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The partnership ensures that the programs are based upon research and knowledge of the land-grant university system.