October

1-7 National 4-H Week

3 Beef Appreciation Day (by invitation)

4 4-H Performing Arts Auditions (8-12 grade)

12 Jr. Leader Meeting (8-12th grade)

15 Fall Fest

16 Dog/Pet Show

Bike Rodeo

Rice/Beef Cookery

Engineering Contests

17 Jr. Leader Beach Sweep Field Trip

19 Officer’s Training-RRMS

20 Deadline for 4-H Theme Contest

Rice Festival Cookery Contest

30 Pumpkin Workshop

November

4 Fishing Clinic (7th-8th graders)

6 Possession Deadline for Sheep, Goats, Beef, and Dairy

9 Jr. Leader Meeting

10-11 Cattlemen’s Classic Livestock Show

13 Possession Deadline for Mini Beef

16 Personal Development Contest, AHS

23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday-Office Closed

You MUST complete both paper enrollment card (turned in at school) AND the 4-H Online enrollment to be a 4-H member in good standing this year. If you have not completed the Online enrollment, please click on this link and follow the steps on the screen (or refer to your paper enrollment packet for step-by-step instructions): Sign In (4honline.com)

Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes. Transportation options depend a lot on where you live and your budget. Bicycles are a valuable form of transportation for many people and a source of exercise and enjoyment. Maintaining a bicycle and learning the rules of the road are a very important part of staying safe.

Purchasing a vehicle is a big step. It’s worth taking the time to understand all factors involved (price, insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc.) to make informed decisions. Responsible vehicle owners know the importance of regular maintenance to keep costs down and keep the vehicle running safe and smooth.

Keep track of everything you do in 4-H throughout the year easily on our annual 4-H Award Application found here: 2023-2024 Award Application.pdf

These are due in the 4-H Office on April 9, 2024 and will be used to identify Outstanding Club Members and also for invitations to 4-H Summer Camp for 4th - 6th graders and 4-H LOST Camp for 7th -8th graders.

The Vermilion 4-H Junior Leader Club kicked off their year at a meeting on September 14th at the 4-H Office in Abbeville. Everyone was encouraged to bring rice to be donated to the Christian Service Center in honor of National Rice Month. Members donated 250 pounds of rice for the effort. New and old members enjoyed Taco Thursday and ate tacos cooked by Kinsey Waits and served by volunteers.

President Kinsey Waits gave a presentation on this years’ service-learning project, the Wonderful World of Wetlands. Members will study coastal conservation and work on several projects throughout the year to help preserve the disappearing wetlands along our coast. The first service project planned is a beach sweep at Rutherford Beach on October 17th and the year will end with a trip to Savannah, Georgia where members will visit wetlands in the area and learn about conservation efforts there.

Vice-President Andrew Courville put together a game of Environmental Jeopardy. Members were put in teams, and everyone learned fun facts about the environment. The team with the most points won a prize. The Vermilion 4-H Junior Leader Club invites all 8-12th graders to join the club. The meetings are always fun, and you have the opportunity to meet and get to know 4-H members from across the parish.

Contest is open to all Vermilion Parish 4-H members.

· Design ONE slide with a 4-H Theme.

(Think about catchy bulletin boards or posters you have seen.)

· Only ONE (1) entry per member is allowed.

· Should include a 4-H Clover somewhere on the slide.

· Do not use copyrighted graphics.

· Deadline is October 20, 2023

Theme entries will be judged, and the winning theme publicized in November. We will reference this theme throughout the year, but the big focus will be at our annual 4-H Achievement Day held at Kaplan High School on March 23. The winner’s 4-H club will be encouraged to decorate a backdrop for Achievement Day and the winning theme will be spotlighted at the event.

How to Submit:

If your school has a “4-H Google Classroom”:

· Create your slide in Google Slides

· Submit through your 4-H Google Classroom

All Other Students:

· Create your slide in Power Point, Google Slides, Canva or other program

· Email as ATTACHMENT to swaits@agcenter.lsu.edu by the deadline.

· In the text of the email – list your name, school, and grade.

DATE: Monday, October 16, 2023

PLACE: Cecil McCrory Exhibit Building; 1105 W. Port Street, Abbeville

REGISTRATION: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

SHOW BEGINS: 9:00 a.m.

Rules and Regulations:

· Exhibitors must be a Vermilion 4-H’er, but it is not necessary to be enrolled in the dog or pet project.

· All dogs must be on a leash while at the show.

· All dogs must be well behaved (no biting, excessive barking or lunging at people) and under control at all times. Disruptive dogs will be disqualified and removed from the building.

· All dogs and pets must be either owned by or cared for by the exhibitor.

· An exhibitor may show one or more dogs or pets, but can enter each class only once.

· Only animals in good health may participate. Sick dogs or dogs with skin disorders may not participate. Proof of dog’s rabies vaccination (tags or certificate) must be shown at registration.

· Any form of abuse applied to animals may lead to disqualification.

· Exhibitors will be responsible for cleaning up after their animals.

· Ribbons will be given to the first five places in each class and in each division (4-5; 6-8; 9-12).

· Livestock (beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, horses, and poultry) are not allowed in this competition.

DOG Classes include:

1. Best Groomed Dog

2. Most Obedient Dog

3. Exhibitor-Dog-Look-A-Like Contest

PET Classes Include:

1. CATS:

a. Must be leashed or caged

b. Will be judged on cleanliness, grooming, and conformation

2. MARINE:

a. Must be restrained in an aquarium, cage, etc.

b. This class will include fish, shellfish, reptiles, and amphibians

c. The criteria for judging will be decided upon by the judges once the variety of the exhibits in the class has been viewed.

3. MISCELLANEOUS:

a. Any pet not fitting into any of the previous categories will be placed in this category

b. The criteria for judging will be decided upon by the judges once the variety of the exhibits in the class has been viewed

4. MOST UNUSUAL PET:

a. All species will be judged in one class

b. Dogs are not allowed in this competition

c. Judging criteria will be based upon the variety of exhibits in the class

d. Entries in this class must have been shown in one of the first three classes in the Pet Show Division

5. BEST DRESSED PET:

a. All species will be judged in one class

b. The criteria for judging will be based on final appearance and creativity

c. Entries in this class must have been shown in one of the first three classes (cat, marine, or miscellaneous)

d. Dogs are not allowed in this class

DATE: Monday, October 16, 2023

PLACE: Cecil McCrory Exhibit Building, 1105 W. Port St., Abbeville

REGISTRATION: 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.

BIKE RODEO STARTS: 1:00 p.m.

The Bike Rodeo is open to any Vermilion Parish 4-H club member. A participant must compete in all obstacles to be eligible for a ribbon. It is suggested that you bring your own bike. The events are listed and explained below. Set them up at home and practice them for best results. Ribbons will be given to the champion in each division.

Divisions will be: 4-5th; 6th-8th, and 9-12th grades.

Louisiana bicycling laws can be found online at Laws Pertaining to Bicycles

Below are a few of the laws related to bicycling:

**Traffic hand signals to be used by cyclists on Louisiana roads can be found below. These hand signals should be used during the competition at the Bike Rodeo.

**With regard to any bicycle used on a public roadway, public bicycle path, or other public right-of-way, no parent, guardian, or person with legal responsibility for the safety and welfare of a child shall knowingly allow any of the following:

- Such child under the age of twelve to operate or ride as a passenger on a bicycle without wearing an approved helmet of good fit fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.

- Such child who weighs less than forty pounds or is less than forty inches in height to be a passenger on a bicycle without being properly seated in and adequately secured to a restraining seat.

The rider takes a moving start and makes 3 complete figure eights within the lane.
Scoring: Two demerits each time foot touches ground. Three demerits each time tire touches any border line. Ten demerits for breaking pattern.

From a riding start, the rider maneuvers slowly, between the pairs of obstacles. When the rider has gone the entire distance, he or she turns and repeats the ride in the opposite direction.

Scoring: Two demerits each time foot touches ground. Two demerits each time tire touches obstacle. Ten demerits for not passing between every pair.

From a riding start, the rider travels the entire length of the line with both tires touching the line at all times.

Scoring: One demerit each time a tire leaves the line. Two demerits if foot touches ground. Five demerits for stopping.

From a riding start, the cyclist zig-zags between the pairs of obstacles. When the rider has traveled the entire distance, he or she turns and repeats the ride in the opposite direction.

Scoring: Two demerits for touching foot to ground. Two demerits each time a tire touches an obstacle. Ten demerits for not passing between every pair.

The rider follows the pattern in the diagram giving proper turn signals for each turn.

Scoring: Two demerits each time foot touches ground. Five demerits for failing to give signal or for giving improper signals. Three demerits for touching border line with tires. Ten demerits for breaking pattern.

NEW Recipe Form: RECIPE FORM.pdf

The Rice and Ground Beef Cookery Contest will be held on Monday, October 16, at the 4-H Office Meeting Room in Abbeville. Registration of the dishes will be from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. and judging will begin at 10:00 a.m. Contestants must be a current 4-H member. Dishes may be picked up once judging is complete, which should be around noon.

For Food Safety Concerns, after preparation, the food entry must be chilled to refrigerator temperature. Dishes must be transported on ice, in an ice chest to the contest. Even dishes that are not normally refrigerated, (cakes, cookies, etc.) must be turned in cold. Dishes not chilled and transported in this manner will not be eligible to place 1st. No recipe containing raw eggs will be accepted.

Only 4 servings of the dish are to be submitted - NOT the entire dish. No placemats, flower arrangements, or additional decorative items will be allowed.

First Place in each category will be eligible to compete in the Area Cookery Contest on March 4, 2024 in Crowley.

A member may enter only one dish in each category.

Categories:

• Rice Main Dish
• Rice Side Dish
• Rice Dessert

General Requirements

* Bring a prepared rice dish to the contest. The dish must contain at least one (1) cup of cooked rice. Wild rice is not a cultivated rice in Louisiana and does not meet the requirement of 1 cup of rice. Dishes containing rice products, such as rice cereal, rice flour, etc. must also contain cooked rice. Example: Traditional rice krispie treats do not meet the contest requirements.

*Bring one copy of the recipe on the official form to the contest. The recipe must contain the name of the dish, how much rice it contains, and clear preparation instructions.

*ON BACK of recipe - please print child’s name, school and grade.

*REMEMBER!!! Only bring 4 servings of the recipe to enter in the contest.

*DO NOT BRING THE ENTIRE DISH!!

Note: For each category, a minimum of one (1) pound of GROUND BEEF must be used.

Categories:

• Low Calorie Main Dish —The dish should have less than 300 calories per serving. Please indicate calories per serving on recipe.
• Quick & Easy Main Dish —The dish should be ready to serve in less than one (1) hour. The time for each step and for cooking or baking must be written on the recipe.
• One Dish Meal — The dish should provide foods from at least three of the five main food groups of the “My Plate” food guide. Write food groups on the recipe. Food groups include: grain, vegetable, fruit, protein and dairy.

*Bring one copy of the recipe on the official form to the contest. The recipe must contain the name of the dish, how much ground beef it contains, list all ingredients, and clear preparation instructions.

*ON BACK of recipe - please print child’s name, school and grade.

*REMEMBER!!! Only bring 4 servings of the recipe to enter in the contest.

*DO NOT BRING THE ENTIRE DISH!!

The 2023-2024 Vermilion 4-H Engineering Contest will be held Monday, October 16 at 4:00 pm at the 4-H Barn in Abbeville. The contest is open to 8-12th grade members. The contest will offer Tractor Driving, Zero Turn Mower and ATV operation. To be eligible for a placing contestant must complete both the written test and driving portion of a contest. Contestants are not required to compete in all three events to participate. Course descriptions and diagrams are included below to help you prepare. Reminder all three of these contests are 4-H University qualifying – winners will have first choice to take part in the state contest. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Hilton at 337-898-4335 or email at hwaits@agcenter.lsu.edu.

All members are invited to participate in the annual 4-H Officer Training which will be held on Thursday, October 19 at Rene Rost Middle School in Kaplan. The workshop will take place from 4:30-5:30 pm and will be very beneficial to members who are officers in their school clubs. A member does not have to be an officer to attend, everyone is welcome! This is a great opportunity to strengthen leadership skills and get to make new friends.

The International Rice Festival, held in Crowley, will host its annual Rice Cookery Contest on October 20, 2023. Members are not excused from school for this event, but dishes may be delivered and entered by a parent or someone else on behalf of the member.

The full set of rules including categories, awards and entry form can be found here:

Rice Festival Cookery Contest Rules 2023.pdf

Come PAINT your pumpkins with 4-H on Monday, Oct. 30, at 6:00 pm

This year, we will only be PAINTING pumpkins (no carving).

Bring your own pumpkin - we will supply the paint!

Cost - $5.00

We will accept up to 200 participants for the clinic. To participate, fill out the registration form by October 20, 2023.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/pbbj6JxPUj

The Vermilion 4-H Fishing clinic is scheduled for Saturday November 4, 2023, at the Broussard’s Beach in Henry. This year’s clinic is only open to 7-8th grade members. Please complete the registration form found here: https://forms.office.com/r/Yq7vprpZfR

The Broussard Beach facility will allow us to offer several hands-on activities this year including:

· Actual Fishing experience

· Canoeing

· Casting

· 4-H University Fishing contest activities

· Cast netting from a pier

· Boating safety

If you have any questions regarding the clinic, please contact Mr. Hilton at 337-898-4335 or by email (hwaits@agcenter.lsu.edu )

All members in the 6th - 12th grades will be asked to submit a 4-H portfolio along with their completed project books. This year's deadline is Friday, March 1, 2024. Because it's easier to keep up with this throughout the year, we are posting a link to the portfolio document here: 2023 BLANK Portfolio - UPDATED.pdf

You can download this typeable document and save it on your computer so you can update it each time you do an activity.

Find our 2023-2024 Vermilion 4-H Calendar, complete with club meeting schedule here:

https://lsuagctr-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/swaits_agcenter_lsu_edu/EVbyzFJiZaZHq0pHrWJy14UBDqrai1JQi-GA1oZ2QO_Vww?e=eQF3ag

Membership and participation in activities and events are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, veteran status or disability. Should you need an ADA accommodation, please contact our office at (337) 898-4335 no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. The LSU AgCenter is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cooperating agencies: LSU AgCenter, Louisiana parish governing bodies, and United States Department of Agriculture.

For more information about the Vermilion Parish 4-H Program contact:

Vermilion 4-H

LSU AgCenter

1105 W. Port Street

Abbeville, LA 70510

337.898.4335