News Release Distributed 11/26/12
BATON ROUGE, La. – Two of the 10 Louisiana participants in the national students competing in the National 4‑H Poultry and Egg Conference recently (Nov. 14‑15) won first and second place in cooking competition.
The conference was held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.
Anne Catherine LeBlanc, of Vermilion Parish, won first place in the egg preparation demonstration contest for her dish, Celebration Cheesecake, and on her presentation skills. She won a gold pin and $250 cash.
Austin Gaspard, also of Vermilion Parish, won second place in the chicken barbecue contest. He was judged on his barbecue techniques, the finished dish and an illustrated talk on poultry. He won a gold pin and $200 cash.
Gaspard was coached by Shannan and Hilton Waits, both LSU AgCenter 4‑H agents in Vermilion Parish. Shannan Waits, who also coached LeBlanc, said the two students deserve the awards because of their dedication.
“They always give 100 percent to their projects and practiced countless hours for this national contest,” she said. “We are very proud of these two young leaders and know that the skills they are learning in 4‑H will serve them well throughout their lives.”
The Louisiana 4‑H Avian Bowl team placed ninth in the national avian quiz bowl contest. Team members were Jennifer Simmons and Crandell Cummings, both of DeSoto Parish; Trenton Brownlee, of Rapides Parish, and Megan Simon, of Lafayette Parish. Each team member won a bronze pin. The team was coached by Molly Usrey, LSU AgCenter 4‑H agent in DeSoto Parish.
Courtney Troxclair, of Lafourche Parish, placed ninth in the turkey barbecue contest. She was judged on her barbecue techniques, the sensory evaluation of the finished barbecue and illustrated talk on turkeys. She won a bronze pin and $50 cash. Her coach was Suzanne Troxclair, a 4‑H volunteer in Lafourche Parish.
The Louisiana 4‑H Poultry Judging Team placed 10th overall in the poultry judging contest, placing seventh in production hen judging and ninth in market egg grading.
Team members were Brandee Chenevert, Amber LaPrarie and Ja’Cobi Simon, all of Pointe Coupee Parish, and Megan Simon, of Lafayette Parish, who was the 10th high individual in the overall contest and the seventh high individual in production hen judging. The team was coached by Mark Carriere, LSU AgCenter 4‑H agent in Pointe Coupee Parish, and Charles Hebert, Lafayette Parish 4‑H agent.
Theresia Lavergne, LSU AgCenter poultry specialist, said the experience of competing in a national event is something that the kids will look back on with pride.
“This builds confidence and poise that they can use in other challenges throughout life,” Lavergne said. “The poultry is just a tool for them to learn how to present themselves.”
Bruce Schultz