St. Charles Parish 4-H members attended 97th annual summer program

Courtesy photo

St. Charles 4-H members recently attended "Cirque de 4-H" at the 97th annual 4-H University program held at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

With over 45 contests and educational programs in which to participate, members enjoyed competing in contests or participating in activities that showcased their own talents and skills.

Members, ages 13-19, were given the opportunity to participate in 4-H University – a program filled with fun, educational and unforgettable experiences.

On June 21-24, over 20 St. Charles 4-H members attended the three-day event where they resided on the LSU campus, competed in state contests, participated in educational programs, and established friendships with other 4-H members throughout Louisiana.

A major part of 4-H University is competing in statewide 4-H contests. Members are trained by 4-H volunteers and LSU AgCenter staff to compete in a variety of contests that showcase their skills and talents.

This year twelve of the twenty St. Charles 4-H members who competed in state competitions ranked among the top percent in the state, thus receiving a blue ribbon. Jordan Dang placed 12th in the photography contest, where he submitted a portfolio of his creative photographs and took a test on photography terms and techniques. Breoin Brumfield demonstrated how to make Fiesta Enchiladas and placed 8th in the Agriculture Product Demonstration Contest. Kirstie Schexnaydre and Laura Theall placed 8th in Solutions Unlimited, where they researched and presented a presentation on a current topic. In the 4-H Has Talent contest, Heather Bergeron placed 7th singing and performing "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele on an acoustic guitar, and Jasden Williams placed 8th by playing piano and singing to Alicia Keys’s hit, "If I Ain’t Got You." In the Public Speaking competition, Allison Dukes placed 5th by speaking about confidence, and George Hill placed 8th, where he discussed cell phone addiction. Sarah Theall placed 7th in Creative Choice Fashion Revue, and Victoria Caldarera placed 2nd in Special Occasion Fashion Revue, in which they were required to sew and modeling their garment.

After participating in an interview and presenting a portfolio with a resume, job application, and essay, Michelle Bourgeois placed 2nd in the Career Preparation Interview Contest.

A special congratulations goes out to Mary Johns, who was recognized as the state winner in the Dog Science competition, where she tested her knowledge and gave a presentation on a researched topic about the science of dog care.

As state and first alternate winners, Mary, Michelle, and Victoria will be attending an educational awards trip to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.

Other members participating in state contests were Leah Alday – Horticulture Identification, Kasey McGill – Special Occasion Fashion Revue, Markeya Scott – Ready-to-Wear Fashion Revue, and Cody Duhe, Lee Robichaux Jr., Jintrell Tassara, Ashton Brown and Emmanuel Rodriguez – Fishing Sports.

While some 4-H members compete in state contests, others may decide to participate in Clover College, a program where members attend a total of seven hours of educational classes and hands-on training in one subject area.

Brandon Bourgeois participated in the Clover College Track entitled, "Exploring the World of Sports.