News Release Distributed 02/18/12

The awards to one volunteer and five young people were presented during ceremonies that concluded the 77th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The event ran Feb. 11-18 and attracted approximately 2,500 young people who exhibited about 7,000 animals.

Sponsored by the Louisiana 4-H Foundation and Louisiana FFA, the awards recognized young people and adults for outstanding contributions to or work in youth livestock programs. The awards were based on evaluation of each person's record book or a detailed application concerning his or her involvement with youth livestock projects.

The winners of the awards were Austin Wayne Gaspard of Vermilion Parish, Abigail Jenkins of St. Tammany Parish, Devin Michael Leblanc of St. Martin Parish, Joseph Maryman of West Feliciana Parish, Wade Raymond Morrison of Vernon Parish and Joshua Scott of Tangipahoa Parish.

The 4-H program is the youth development arm of the nationwide land-grant university system. It is operated in Louisiana by the LSU AgCenter and includes projects for youth on topics ranging from raising livestock to computer science, family life, environmental science and much more.

“Youth and adults who serve as volunteer leaders help us reach even more young people with our projects and programs, so we’re pleased to be able to honor some of them every year with these awards,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter. “We’re also happy to be able to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding young people who are excelling in their 4-H and FFA projects. They are just some of the shining examples in our youth development programs.”

Among the awards, the Attorney General’s Award recognizes volunteer 4-H leaders who have assisted livestock project members, and this year’s recipient was Joseph Maryman of St. Francisville, who has been a livestock project leader for 46 years.

Maryman has assisted numerous livestock project members over that time – with everything from teaching grooming and showmanship techniques to coaching them about good character. In addition, he has recruited parents to assist with setting up the Feliciana 4-H/FFA Livestock Show and has served as its show and mini farm manager for the past 10 years.

The C.W. “Dub” Kennedy Award is in memory of a former longtime manager of the LSU AgCenter’s livestock shows. It recognizes a 4-H’er for outstanding animal science records and work with various 4-H livestock projects. This year’s winner was Austin Wayne Gaspard, a ninth-grader at Kaplan High School.

Gaspard, 15, has been involved in the swine project for five years and also was named the State Beef Ambassador this year. His leadership extends beyond livestock projects, however. He also served as a camp counselor for 4-H camp last summer and was named the Outstanding Senior Club Reporter in his parish, as well as being a member of the state 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology Board. One of his philosophies is, “If you win, you succeed; if you lose, you learn.”

Superintendent of Education Awards are presented to students 13 years of age or younger who have excelled in 4-H or FFA livestock projects. The winners of those awards this year were Abigail Jenkins and Devin Michael Leblanc.

Jenkins is a member of the Fifth Ward Junior High School FFA Chapter in St. Tammany Parish and the daughter of Michael and Kelle Jenkins. Her livestock projects include beef cattle, swine, sheep and poultry. She is the president of her FFA chapter and a member of its parliamentary law team, livestock judging team, dairy cattle judging team, as well as serving as a public speaker.

Leblanc, 13, attends St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge and has been a 4-H’er for five years. Because his older siblings showed pigs, Leblanc has been attending livestock shows most of his life and started showing swine himself five years ago. He won first place in the Premier Exhibitor Contest at the Acadiana District Livestock Show, and in addition to his livestock projects, he is a member of the National Junior Beta Club, the Louisiana Pork Producers Association, the St. Martin Parish 4-H Junior Leadership Club, the National Junior Swine Association and other organizations.

The Governor’s Award recognizes 4-H or FFA members 14 years of age and older who have excelled in the livestock program. This year’s recipents were Wade Raymond Morrison and Joshua Scott.

Morrison, 16, attends Anacoco High School in Vernon Parish, and his 4-H livestock projects include goats and horses. He has won awards at the Louisiana State Fair and at his local, district and state livestock shows. Now, he says he also wants to explore different activities to help him gain confidence and become a good leader.

Scott is a senior at Loranger High School and a member of its FFA chapter. The son of Julius and Monette Scott of Loranger, he serves as an FFA chapter officer and has shown Angus cattle at the local, state and national levels. He also serves as the southeast district representative for the Louisiana Junior Livestock Association and is interested in attending college, majoring in animal science, and eventually working with FFA and 4-H livestock project participants.

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Contact: Terril Faul
Writer: Tom Merrill