Red River Parish 4‑H has had an exciting and productive start to the 2025–2026 year, engaging youth across the parish through hands‑on learning, community service, competitions, and leadership opportunities. Club members have been learning how important agriculture is to their daily lives during monthly club meetings. 4‑H continues to offer its school enrichment programs, including School Gardens at Red River Elementary and Riverdale Academy, as well as STEM lessons at Riverdale Academy, including new Drones and SeaPerch robotics activities.

A variety of project clubs also meet monthly, offering youth a chance to explore interests through Chefs, Explorers, Livestock, Junior Leaders, STEM, and Shooting Sports. The Explorers Club took two educational trips this fall—touring a local cotton gin and visiting both the National Park Service site in Natchitoches and the Grand Ecore Visitor Center in November. Their adventures are taking them to Lake Bistineau State Park this week. The Chefs Club are preparing for the Food Challenge Competition this spring. They also prepared and delivered special treats to first responders in October. Shooting Sports kicked off practices this semester, averaging about 35 youth participants. Junior Leaders, a project club for 7-12th graders, meets monthly participating in parish, regional, and state activities, such as the Natchitoches riverbank trip during the holiday season. Two junior leaders were selected as NW Ag Ambassadors. The STEM club has been busy preparing for the Esports competition this spring, as well as Robotics competitions next fall. The Livestock club is also busy, meeting each month and sharing their 4-H animal projects in parish, regional, and national shows, earning top awards.

Youth represented Red River Parish 4‑H in a variety of parish activities, including the Fall Break Hibachi Workshop and the Winter Break Craft Workshop. 4-H families enjoyed a night out at the 4-H Night with the Mudbugs this month.

4-H Members did an excellent job at the State Fair, with livestock projects, competitive exhibits, talent show, nutrition quiz bowl, BB gun contest, and teens serving as AgMagic school‑tour helpers.

The Red River Parish Forestry Team earned top honors this fall, placing 1st overall, with individuals placing 1st, 2nd, and 4th. The team will advance to Nationals in West Virginia in July 2026.

Red River Parish 4‑H continues to emphasize service and citizenship through monthly club meeting donation drives for First Responders. Teen volunteers also served at the Operation Christmas Child Packing Center. In December, members adopted nursing home residents for holiday gifting.

The parish wrapped up the semester with the Pumpkin Decorating Contest and the Christmas Cookie Contest, showcasing the imagination and spirit of local 4‑H members.

Students are still encouraged to enroll in 4-H by requesting a paper enrollment form from the 4-H office, or completing their enrollment online at https://v2.4honline.com

The current focus for 4-H is “Beyond Ready” because the 4-H program continues to help these students strive to be beyond ready for life, not only with mastery of skills, but with character development. This is just one way that 4-H is striving to “Make the Best Better!”

Shared by Jacque Fontenot