By 4-H Agent Jacque Fontenot

Each year 4-H members who are in the 8th-12th grade are eligible to participate in 4-H University to demonstrate their skills in more than 30+ competitive events. It is a culmination of a 4-H member’s year of hard work and dedication. Events range from Demonstrations, Automotive Care, Fishing Sports, Public Speaking, Fashion Revue, and more! Through competing, youth demonstrate life skills in teamwork, decision making, problem solving, resiliency, and many more.  Each competitive event allows youth an opportunity for personal growth, skill mastery, and other life skills vital to functioning members of society.  Students stay at LSU Baton Rouge for the week, maneuvering across campus and managing their time as they attend assemblies, educational sessions, and contests.

This summer, 17 students from Red River Parish 4-H participated in various contests and clover college classes, bringing 10 medals back home.  3 students won 4th place in the Next Healthy Food Star, for their Grand Bayou Stir Fry recipe using peaches from Ed Lester Farms.  Two students were elected as state ambassadors, Hannah Worsham (Wetlands Ambassador) and Addison Bounds (Shooting Sports Ambassador).

A special thanks to those that participated in fundraisers, including Rivertown for donations, so that these students could have this opportunity!

Award Winners and their specialty are:

Bryce Hunt (Fishing), Ben Moseley (Fishing and Visual Arts*), Rafe Suggs (Sports Broadcasting*), Cameron Jones (4-H Has Talent), Jacob Kellogg (Sports Broadcasting*), Adrianna Bradford (Next Healthy Food Star*), Cha’Destiny Taylor (Next Healthy Food Star*), BriAunna Taylor (Next Healthy Food Star*), Alaina Boyd (Personal Trainer), Fadasia Demery (Child Development), Makilah Murphy (Child Development*),

Elliot Grant (Robotics Clover College), Caitlyn Jones (Personal Trainer), Addison Bounds (Vet Set Geaux), Shirley Boyd (Vet Set Geaux), Katelynn Albright (ATV*), and Hannah Worsham (Photography*).

Adults attending included 4-H Agent Jacque Fontenot and Randarious Murphy, an adult volunteer.

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