#iam4H

Why 4-H? Because you are 4-H-you make 4-H possible. 4-H members don’t read about things-they DO them. You are involved in the planning process as well. Want to go to camp? 4-H offers that. Want to be a leader? 4-H has that. Want to meet new people? In 4-H, you can. The opportunities are endless. But if you don’t get involved, you will miss those opportunities. Stay informed. Read the newsletter. Ask for help. Now that you are older, 4-H’s opportunities involve more overnight events and the Jr. Leader club. 4-H opportunities will most definitely get you noticed when turning in scholarships or applying for college. There’s a place for everyone in 4-H. Find the projects that interest you. It’s up to you to investigate the opportunities waiting for you.

September 2015~ 7th-12th Grade Edition

The Bayou Gazette is a monthly publication about the St. Martin Parish 4-H Program.

Clover Events Calendar September 23, 2015 Enrollment Dues & Cards due to school club leader September 23, 2015 Deadline for Fitness Foodie Mentor Applications September 28, 2015 Jr. Leader Club MESS FEST (4-H Office-5:30-7:00 pm) October 4-10, 2015 National 4-H Week October 7, 2015-MENTORS NEEDED SET Project Club Meeting (4-H Office-5:30-6:15pm) October 20, 2015-MENTORS NEEDED ART Project Club Meeting (Parks Middle-3:30-4:45pm)

NEW Opportunity-EARN $100 Want to earn $100? Do you like cooking? Are you passionate about living a healthy lifestyle? Want to share your passion with others? We are looking for a few good 4-H’ers to become Fitness Foodie Mentors. What is that? You will be trained to become a mentor to 4-H members and their families and assist at parish events throughout the year. Must be in 7th-12th grade and a paid St. Martin Parish 4-H member. Requirements: Attend required events, keep your commitments, represent 4-H in a positive manner, and have fun. (Tentative events that you are required to attend are: 1 Day Training; Project Club Meetings for 4th-6th graders; 4-H Fun Day; 5K Race; Health Fair; Amazing Race Contest; Achievement Day; and more may come. Mentors are allowed to miss 2 events with proper documentation and still get the $100.) Application process: Submit a one page paper on why we should select you to be a Fitness Foodie Mentor and email it to stmartin4h@yahoo.com by September 23, 2015. Make sure you include the following: Name, Grade, School, Email Address, & Phone Number. Applicants will be notified via email and phone if they were selected. Spots are limited-start writing now. Convince us that you are mentor material. Benefits: Not only will you get paid if you fulfill the requirements, but you will have a lot of experience to add to resumes, college applications, and scholarships. For more info, call 337-332-2181.

What Can You Expect As a

4-H Member? Being a 4-H member is going to be a lot of fun this year. You get what you put into your 4-H experience. So what does it mean when you sign up to be a 4-H member? How do you have a positive experience as a 4-H member? Expectations of 4-H Members in order to have a great 4-H experience: • Get INVOLVED-Make things happen • Join the Jr. Leader Club • Have FUN • Participate/Take Part in Events, Activities, and Contests • Make Friends • Participate in Meetings • Volunteer to do Community Service • Have a good attitude during 4-H events • Complete your project book and portfolio • Join the Jr. Leader Club • Be a Mentor for a project club • DO YOUR OWN 4-H WORK!!!!! • Attend 4-H Achievement Day • Ask Questions if you are Confused!

How To Stay

Connected? St. Martin Parish 4-H offers lots of opportunities throughout the year. How can you keep up with all of the events? Stay connected! We publish a monthly newsletter that will be given to the 4-H member at their monthly club meetings. (If you are absent on the day of the 4-H club meeting-ask your school club leader for a newsletter when you return to school.) We also have a St. Martin Parish 4-H website where we post newsletters, calendars, contest rules and much more! Check it often. The parish program is also connected through social media. We are on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Join our pages today to stay connected and be active in 4-H this year!

The 4-H agents are also available at the office on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:30 pm at 337-332-2181 or by email at: lbrumbaugh@agcenter.lsu.edu (Ms. Laura)& hguidry@agcenter.lsu.edu (Mrs. Hope).

Attention- MENTORS needed

We need YOUR help! This year there will be 3 project clubs for 4th-6th graders. All 7th-12th grade 4-H’ers are eligible to become mentors of these clubs. Project Club mentors will be asked to participate at the monthly meetings of the clubs. You may be asked to assist 4-H agents and adult volunteers planning meetings; teaching club meeting lessons; playing with the youth during transitions; leading games; and encouraging the youth to do their best. To become a mentor, select which club you would like to work with and email the 4-H agents at stmartin4h@yahoo.com to let them know you are interested. They will respond to your email giving you some training materials before you attend the first project club meeting. This would be GREAT experience to include on a resume or college scholarship! Here are the project clubs you can choose to work with and a few of the upcoming meeting date, time, and location. Schedule: SET Project Club October 7, 2015 @ the 4-H Office, 5:00 pm-6:15 pm November 11, 2015 @ the 4-H Office, 5:00 pm-6:15 pm Arts Project Club October 20, 2015 @ Parks Middle School, 3:30 pm-4:45 pm November 10, 2015 @ Parks Middle School, 3:30 pm-4:45 pm Fitness Foodies Project Club November 12, 2015 @ the 4-H Office; 5:00 pm-6:30 pm December 17, 2015 @ the 4-H Office ; 5:00 pm-6:30 pm Questions: Call 337-332-2181 or email stmartin4h@yahoo.com

Fall Fest Contest

Day Save the Date: November 7, 2015! All 4-H members are invited to join us at the 1st contest day of the year, 2015 4-H Fall Fest! Fall Fest will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the 4-H Office in Breaux Bridge (114 Courthouse Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517). What do you do at Fall Fest? At Fall Fest, you can enter the Pet Show and the Pumpkin Decorating Contest. A complete booklet of Fall Fest contest rules will be distributed to those interested at the October club meetings. Questions: Call 332-2181 or email hguidry@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Shooting Sports News 4-H members who plan to participate in the shooting sports program must select the outdoor skills/shooting sports project on their enrollment card. If you sign up for shooting sports, you will be contacted by mail about the registration process, fees, future workshops, trainings, practices, and safety clinics. Project books will not be distributed until the first shooting sports practice/safety meeting, which will be announced at a later date. **Please note that there are extra fees and requirements for those involved in the shooting sports program. Adult support is required. An adult must attend all events with youth.

Livestock News Youth who are 9 years old prior to January 1, 2016 are able to participate in the livestock project. 4-H members who plan to raise animals and take part in the livestock shows must select the appropriate project(s) on their enrollment card. If you will be exhibiting a livestock animal for the 1st time this year, please contact the 4-H office at 332-2181 immediately so you can be placed on our mailing lists in order to receive important information. The 4-H agent that works with livestock is Ms. Hope Guidry. Please contact Ms. Hope at 332-2181 or hguidry@agcenter.lsu.edu directly with any questions.

MESS FEST-September 28th Jr. Leader Club “Messtival of Fun” Looking for a greater 4-H experience? Join the Jr. Leader club to become more active in 4-H and in your community. Please join us for the annual Mess Fest Jr. Leader club party! Come learn what the club is all about. When: Monday, September 28, 2015 from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm. Where: 4-H office (The 4-H Office is located at 114 Courthouse Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517.) All those in 7th-12th grades who are interested in the Jr. Leader club are welcome to attend. Come learn about the Jr. Leader club, meet new people, and get MESSY as we play games! We will be playing the following games: Messy Tug-A-War; Drip, Drip, Drop; Watch Your Step; Sponge Launch; Cheetos-Toss; Cakerate; and of course-Marshmallow Dodge Ball!!!!!!!!! Wear clothing & shoes that can get dirty. Bring a towel. Questions: Call the 4-H office at 337-332-2181. The Jr. leader club is a group of St. Martin Parish 4-H members who gather once a month and attend workshops. We also like to go on trips, learn new things ,and have fun! Hope to see you at Mess Fest!

Life Lessons for the Road Ahead Do you want to travel down a road filled with potholes and unexpected turns or one with smooth pavement and a beautiful view? This year at your club meetings, you will learn life skills to prepare you for the real world. Topics will include budgeting, finances, healthy living, and decision-making. We will focus on things you wished you knew at 18! Get a crash course in life lessons for the road ahead.

“It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability. “

Life Lessons Trivia

Question Each month, we will have a trivia question in the Bayou Gazette newsletter. If you email the correct answer to us, along with your full name, school you attend and your grade level, you will receive a prize at your next club meeting. Remember, your answer must be correct! September 4-H 7th-12th Grade Trivia Question/Activity: This month the trivia contest is not a question, but an ACTIVITY. Read the articles and Kid President Video found on this page of the newsletter. Think about your life “perspective” or “purpose”. Take a selfie and email your selfie along with a description of what your life “perspective” or “purpose” is. The selfie should depict your description. Email us the selfie and description, along with your full name, the school you attend, and your grade level by Monday, September 28, 2015 to: stmartin4h@yahoo.com in the body of the email.

St. Martin Parish Cooperative Extension 114 Courthouse Street Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 337-332-2181 Fax: 337-332-2870 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Website: www.louisiana4h.org/stmartin Facebook: St. Martin Parish 4-H Page (Hit “LIKE”) Twitter: St. Martin Parish 4-H (Hit “Follow”) Pinterest: St. Martin Parish 4-H

Life Perspective Life purpose or perspective is an incredibly powerful force that will direct your life and determine your legacy. One day you will want to look back on your life and say, “Mission Accomplished”. Life purposes can be revealed either sooner or later. They are usually discovered through personal reflection or the inspirational lives of others.

App of the Month: Leadership

and Values (by Concordia University)

Words from Kid President….. When forming life perspective here are some thoughts from Kid President’s “A Letter to the Future” video. Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti. Don’t Judge Someone Unless You’ve Walked a Mile in their Shoes. Also, don’t steal their shoes. Make a ruckus for Good. Be Bold. Be Kind. Be Awesome. Repeat. When Life Gives You Lemons-Make Lemonade, Drink It, and then You DANCE! Tomorrow will be better because how awesome you are today!

This app allows you to consider 52 common leadership values and add one or two of your own. Through a series of forced-choice activities, you will select and make explicit your five top core leadership values.

Download at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/leadership-values-by-concordia/id393107178?mt=8 Or by scanning QR code to the left.

Get Inspired About your

Future:

A Letter to the Future

From Kid President Watch the YouTube video from Kid President by visiting the website or scanning the QR code below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j393lNECNGw&list=PLzvRx_johoA-YabI6FWcU-jL6nKA1Um-t&index=43

SW Region Challenge Camp Registration Form

Due: October 14, 2015 Cost: $70.00

Name:___________________________ Gender: M F

School/Club:____________________________________

Mailing Address:________________________________

Street

_______________________________ _____________

City Zip Code

Phone Number(s):_______________________________

Parent/Guardian Name(s):_________________________

Grade: 7th 8th

T-Shirt Size (all adult sizes): AS AM AL AXL AXXL AXXXL

List any Allergies or Special Needs:

______________________________________________

Camp fee: $70.00 (includes transportation, meals, t-shirt, & lodging)

Make checks payable to: St. Martin 4-H Foundation

Payment plans can be set up with the 4-H office

Due: October 14, 2015 to the 4-H Office

Send Form and Fees to:

4-H Challenge Camp

114 Courthouse Street,

Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

Wild, Wild SouthWEST Challenge Camp

Details Grab your boots and jeans because it’s time to saddle up and get ready for an adventure at the:

Wild, Wild, SouthWEST 4-H Challenge Camp Challenge Camp Date: November 18-20 2015

Location: Grant Walker Educational Center in Pollock Eligible Campers: 7th and 8th Graders who have not attended Challenge Camp before

Camper fee is $70.00 per camper. This fee includes meals, lodging, t-shirt, & transportation. are limited-Sign up Today!

Transportation will be provided by the 4-H office. 4-H Youth will actively participate in:

-An Amazing Wild Race - Outdoor Challenge Activities - Indoor Challenge Activities

- Teambuilding Activities - Group Challenges

AND MUCH MORE….. Parishes Attending: 13 (Acadia, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Iberville, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, St. Mary, St.

Martin, Terrebonne, West Baton Rouge)

Registration and camp fee is due to the 4-H Office by October 14, 2015 with payment (we have a drop box if you need to utilize it).

You will be excused from school!