Red River Parish 4-H members have been busy kicking off the new year with hands-on activities, leadership opportunities, community service projects, and plenty of fun. From representing the parish at the state level to giving back to the community, local 4-H members are already making the most of the opportunities the program offers.

The Junior Leaders started the year with a back-to-school meeting filled with laughs and messy activities, while other clubs began meeting and welcoming members. Those who enrolled early received a special treat when Peyton Caldwell and his mother, Erikka, brought their Pey-Pey Ice Cream Treats truck to celebrate the start of another 4-H year.

Several Red River Parish members have also taken on leadership roles beyond the parish. Morgan Moseley and Joseph Shaver were selected as Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassadors, a position recognizing their accomplishments in shooting sports, leadership, citizenship, and service. The two attended the Shooting Sports Ambassadors Summer Board Meeting at Tall Timbers Camp, where they worked with fellow ambassadors from across the state to plan activities and develop their leadership skills.

Katelynn Albright is also representing Red River Parish as a Northwest Ag Ambassador and has attended her first meeting of the year. She has been sharing her knowledge locally as well, leading a goat milk soap demonstration during a Livestock Club meeting. Members helped make a batch of soap and each received some to take home.

Local 4-H members have also had opportunities to share their experiences with community leaders. Alyssa Young, Daniel Grigg, and Lauryn Bradley spoke at a town council meeting about their summer 4-H experiences. Other members addressed the Red River Parish School Board, sharing what they had learned through camps, community service, Marsh Maneuvers, Clover College, and competitions at 4-H University. Their presentations highlighted the many ways 4-H encourages young people to develop confidence, leadership skills, and a willingness to try new things.

The Red River High School 4-H Club has been active in school events, including operating a booth during Meet the Bulldogs Night. The club thanked leader Mr. Arnold and Magnolia Outfitters for sponsoring awards. Members also worked in the concession stand during a Bulldog football game, gaining experience in teamwork, responsibility, and hard work.

Red River Parish 4-H member Dusty Halbmaier, known as “The Kid in the Can,” made a special appearance during the Red River Rodeo.

Hands-on learning has been another big part of the new year. Fourth graders at Riverdale Academy and Red River Elementary School helped clean up their school gardens in preparation for a new growing season. During the September Harvest of the Month meeting, students also had an opportunity to sample squash.

Project clubs are underway, offering members a variety of interests to explore, including Livestock, Junior Leaders, Explorers, Cloverbud LEGO Robotics, STEM activities, Esports, Shooting Sports, and 4-H Chefs.

Community service continues to be an important part of the program. During National 4-H Week, Junior Leaders decorated and packaged cookies for community members. Special thanks went to volunteer Jennifer Breedlove, who made the cookies and helped students decorate them.

The Junior Leaders continued serving others during fall break with a visit to the Council on Aging, where they sang, made soap, and played bingo with participants. They also delivered cookies to several local businesses.

Members throughout the parish are participating in a food pantry donation project. The first collection of donated items has already been delivered to a local food pantry, with Riverdale’s third through sixth grade club currently leading the friendly competition. The competition continues through the end of October, but donations are welcome throughout the year.

With so many activities already underway, Red River Parish 4-H is looking forward to another year of learning, leadership, and service. Enrollment is still open, and students interested in joining are encouraged to get involved and take advantage of the many opportunities available through 4-H.

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