4-H Is For Everyone 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Through experiential education activities, 4-H participants gain knowledge and life skills enabling them to become positive, productive, capable and compassionate members of their communities. Caldwell 4-H Club members have fun together and “Learn By

Doing”. 4-H clubs offer a world of opportunities to learn new things, go new places and meet new people. A 4-H club is an organized group of youth; the members elect their own officers and operate as a democracy in action. Most Caldwell 4-H clubs have monthly meetings at parish schools. To join, students will complete an enrollment form and pay club dues. Monthly newsletters containing information about upcoming 4-H events are given to members at each meeting. Members are excused from class to participate. More information on the Caldwell Parish 4-H program can be found at lsuagcenter.com/caldwell. Caldwell 4-H is also on Facebook. For up-to-date Caldwell 4-H news, “Like” the page at facebook.com/caldwell4h.

Caldwell 4-H Reminder Texts Caldwell 4-H reminders and updates can be sent to your phone by following the directions below. Don’t have a mobile phone? Go to rmd.at/62ecd on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifications.

Text the message @62ecd to the number 81010 If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @62ecd to (281) 394-4246

4-H Summer Camp Seventy Caldwell 4-H members, 5 junior counselors and agents Jana Bennett and Jim McCann traveled to Camp Grant Walker in Pollock to attend 4-H Camp from June 5 – 9. During the week long camp, 4-H’ers from Caldwell, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Tangipahoa and Tensas parishes had the opportunity to participate in many fun activities with each day offering something new to excite, engage and encourage personal growth in campers. Mornings at camp offered a choice of one of seven educational tracks with interactive lessons encouraging campers to explore and experiment in areas of food and fitness, general arts, outdoor adventures, wetlands, hunter safety, water safety and science, engineering and technology. Afternoon sessions were filled with recreational and free-time activities. A varied daily schedule encouraged children to get out and get moving with hands-on learning, interactive games and a variety of sports.

Marsh Maneuvers teaches 4-H’ers about Louisiana Coast Caldwell 4-H member Stormy Prough along with other 4-H members from across the state traveled to the southern edge of Louisiana this summer to learn about the importance of Louisiana marsh and coastal environments during Marsh Maneuvers, a five-day camp based at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge located near Grand Chenier. Campers learned to throw a cast net, observed wildlife, learned about marine and coastal ecology, fished and toured The McIlhenny Tabasco Factory on Avery Island where campers also planted smooth cordgrass to protect shorelines from erosion. The group studied the new 2017 state master plan developed by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority after learning about the many causes of coastal erosion and saw where a shoreline protection project will be constructed later this year to slow down wetland loss.

4-H University was “Out of this World” Nearly 1,500 4-H’ers from across the state won educational trips, participated in educational programs and selected new officers for the 2017-2018 school year during 4-H University held in June on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. 4-H U consists of 37 competitive contests, 11 Clover College tracks, electing new state officers and regional representatives for the state 4-H executive board and selecting national conference delegates and members of six state leadership boards. In the competitive contests, youth contended for trips to the Gulf Coast, West Virginia and Dallas and vied for the right to represent Louisiana 4-H in several national

competitions and win cash prizes. Nearly 250 members attended Clover College tracks which are non-competitive and focus on education and exposing young people to campus life. 4-H U contests and programs are held across the LSU campus giving 4-H members a college-like experience. Representing Caldwell 4-H at this event were Ethan Ross, Grace Crockett, Randi Smith, Abbie McCann, Stormy Prough, Cassidy Adcock, Leslee Bennett, agent Jana Bennett, volunteer Nicki McCann, agent Jim McCann, Ethen Smith, Gabe Lavigne, AJ Hunter, Jackson McCann, Jacob Black, Tracer Houston, Erin Finley and volunteer Chris Bennett. Congratulations to Erin Finley who blue ribboned in Fishing Sports and Jackson McCann who blue ribboned in ATV.

The Caldwell Clover September 2017

If you have a disability which requires assistance for your participation in a meeting, please contact Jana Bennett at 318-649-2663.

The LSU AgCenter is a statewide campus of the LSU system and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Northeast District and LSU State Horse Shows 4-H youth from throughout Louisiana competed in district and state horse shows held this summer at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe and the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. Horse show contestants participated in riding events in the western division, hunter division, speed division and ranch division. In addition, 4-H’ers competed in public speaking, demonstrations, quiz bowl and horse judging, which provided an opportunity for youth to develop skills in communication, analytical thinking, character building and equine science. The purpose of the 4-H horse program is to provide young people opportunities to participate in a series of activities designed to improve citizenship, character, sportsmanship, horsemanship, competitive spirit, discipline and responsibility. Caldwell 4-H members Macie Arthurs, Daisy Duke, Shelby Floyes, Hadley Smith and Mia Volentine competed in speed events at the Northeast District Horse Show. In the 13 & Under division, Shelby Floyes placed 5th in Barrel Racing and 7th in Stake Race. In the 14 & Over division, Mia Volentine placed 3rd in Barrel Racing; Hadley Smith placed 4th in Pole Bending and 10th in Barrel Racing.

Junior Leader Club 4-H members in grades 7-12 are invited to join the Caldwell 4-H Junior Leader Club, an after-school project club in which members are active with service learning projects, assist with 4-H and community activities, serve as camp counselors and have lots of fun! We hope you will join us at our first meeting of the 2017-2018 school year on Wednesday, October 4 from 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. at the Prekindergarten Center. Club dues which includes a t-shirt are $25 for an individual membership or $40 for a family membership of two 4-H’ers.

Caldwell 4-H T-shirts It’s time to place your order for a 2017 Caldwell 4-H t-shirt. The short sleeve, heather blue shirt with the design shown in the picture on the left will be $15. You must pay for your shirt when you place your order. Make checks payable to Caldwell 4-H. To place your order contact a 4-H Junior Leader, your 4-H club leader or the 4-H office located at 106 Jackson Street in Columbia. Deadline to order is October 16. Youth sizes are S-XL; adult sizes are S-3XL. Shirts will be delivered to students at school.

Clash of the Clovers – Challenge Camp 2017 Defend the honor of the Clover during the 2017 Challenge Camp to be held Thursday, October 5 through Saturday, October 7 at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock. Challenge Camp is for 6th – 8th grade 4-H members only and is a unique camping experience with awesome team-building activities and games. For this years’ camp, Clover Clans will design a tower of shelter that must hold the entire clan and be able to withstand all manner of inclement weather. Clover clans will learn how to make decisions for the best of the clan and to defend their clover tower. In the process, campers will improve their communication and leadership skills, practice teamwork and make memories to last a lifetime. You are guaranteed to have fun, make new friends and find your hidden strengths. Camp fee is $85 and is due to the 4-H office in Columbia by September 18. Campers will leave on Thursday after school and return to the 4-H office on Saturday.

Night with the Tigers 4-H Night with the Tigers will be Saturday, September 30 when LSU will play Troy at Tiger Stadium on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. This is LSU’s homecoming game. Tickets are $15 dollars and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/4hcoagame. After purchasing your tickets, you can forward a personalized link to friends and family so that they can purchase tickets in the same section and you can be seated next to each other. Join Louisiana 4-H and the LSU College of Agriculture for a tailgate in Parker

Coliseum before the game to enjoy free food, games and giveaways.

Leaf Identification Contest Entries for the Leaf ID contest are due to the 4-H office on Friday, November 3. Participants will submit a binder of 15 pages of leaves, one leaf per page, which have been collected during the current school year. Tape each leaf on a separate piece of construction or copy paper and identify the leaf using a pen or marker. Be specific when identifying leaves. For example, if a leaf is from a Southern Red Oak, write Southern Red Oak, not just Oak. If a leaf is from a Long Leaf Pine, write Long Leaf Pine, not just Pine. Remember to write your name, school and grade on the front cover of your binder. Entries submitted after November 3 will not be eligible for cash prizes. Contest divisions will be Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 20 4-H Leader Forum in Rayville Sept. 18 Deadline to register for Challenge Camp Sept. 27 Youth Ag Field Day in Winnsboro Sept. 30 4-H Night with the Tigers, Tiger Stadium LSU

Oct. 5-7 Challenge Camp at Camp Grant Walker Oct. 14 Louisiana Art and Folk Festival Oct. 26 Louisiana State Fair opens

Nov. 3 Leaf ID contest entries due Nov. 8 LSU College of Ag recruitment event, Delta Community College, Winnsboro Nov. 8 Deadline to preregister for Fall Foods Festival Nov. 13 Fall Foods Festival, Union Central Elementary Nov. 27 Garments and forms due for Fashion Revue

Dec. 4 4-H Fashion Revue Dec. 8 4-H Hamburger lunch fundraiser Dec. 15 Photography contest entries due

4-H Club Meeting Schedule for October

Oct. 2 Homeschool Club 2:00 – 2:45 PM Oct. 3 Columbia Cloverbuds 1:00 – 1:30 PM

Columbia 2:00 – 3:45 PM

Oct. 4 CPHS 9:47 – 10:17 AM CPJHS 10:30 – 11:30 AM OBCA 12:20 – 3:00 PM Junior Leader Club 4:15 – 5:15 PM Oct. 5 Grayson Elementary 1:00 PM- 2:40 PM Union Central Cloverbuds 3:20 – 3:50 PM

Oct. 20 Union Central Elem 9:10 – 11:00 AM

Visit our website: www.LSUAgCenter.com Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service William B. Richardson, LSU Vice President for Agriculture