Pictured from left to right, front row, Stacey Baker, Caddo Parish; Daryn Scriber, Claiborne Parish and Mason Kemp, Caddo Parish.2nd row: Matthew Brasseaux, Beauregard Parish; Alexia LaGrone, Lafayette Parish and Luke Seguin, Livingston Parish.3rd row: Annemarie Broussard, Vermilion Parish; Kathryn LeBlanc, Acadia Parish and Cailyn Simon, Vermilion Parish.4th row: Maeleigh Conner, Cameron Parish and Lauren Theall, Lafayette Parish.5th row: Trey Hains, Acadia Parish; Hayden McBride, Acadia Parish and Madison Waldron, Bossier Parish.6th row: Maddie Hamilton, Lafayette Parish; Amber Mills, Caddo Parish and Clay Zaunbrecher, Vermilion Parish.7th row: Mary Hargis, Avoyelles Parish; Cameron Russell, Acadia Parish and Anna Zaunbrecher, Vermilion Parish. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

BATON ROUGE, La. – Every year 4-H members from across the state look forward to the Louisiana 4-H educational awards trip, said LSU AgCenter youth development instructor Tanya Giroir.

“In addition to receiving awards, the winners are treated to meals and tours in New Orleans and the Baton Rouge area,” she said.

This year the seventh- and eighth-grade Achievement Award winners who attended the trip were Stacey Baker, Caddo Parish; Matthew Brasseaux, Beauregard Parish; Annemarie Broussard, Vermilion Parish; Maeleigh Conner, Cameron Parish; Trey Hains, Acadia Parish; Maddie Hamilton, Lafayette Parish; Mary Hargis, Avoyelles Parish; Mason Kemp, Caddo Parish; Alexia LaGrone, Lafayette Parish; Kathryn LeBlanc, Acadia Parish; Hayden McBride, Acadia Parish; Amber Mills, Caddo Parish; Cameron Russell, Acadia Parish; Daryn Scriber, Claiborne Parish; Luke Seguin, Livingston Parish; Cailyn Simon, Vermilion Parish; Lauren Theall, Lafayette Parish; Madison Waldron, Bossier Parish; Clay Zaunbrecher, Vermilion Parish; and Anna Zaunbrecher, Vermilion Parish.

Giroir said the trip would not be possible without the help of volunteer Angelia Conner of Cameron Parish and LSU AgCenter agents Joe Bairnsfather, Concordia Parish; Elizabeth Lynn, Bienville Parish, and Mike Lavergne, Beauregard Parish.

“The seventh- and eighth-grade achievement portfolios submitted by our winners were judged on leadership, volunteer work, service projects and their subject matter project records work,” Giroir said.

This year as in past years, Entergy New Orleans Corporation sponsored lunch at Café Reconcile, a restaurant that houses a program for at-risk youth.

“The 4-H’ers learned about this training that helps at-risk youth enter the hospitality and restaurant industries,” she said.

The 4-H’ers also had the opportunity to tour the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and New Orleans Arena.

The winners took a trip back in time at the National World War II Museum as they toured exhibits and experienced the Tom Hanks production of Beyond All Boundaries.

In Baton Rouge the 4-H’ers were treated to a jambalaya Sunday dinner by DEMCO, toured the LSU Rural Life Museum and visited LSU Tiger Stadium, Giroir said.

The trip concluded with an awards luncheon at The Club at LSU Square on the Baton Rouge campus.

Trip sponsors included the LSU AgCenter, LSU Rural Life Museum, DEMCO Dixie Electric Membership Corp., Entergy New Orleans, LSU Athletic Department, the Louisiana 4‑H Foundation and the 4‑H State Office.

Johnny Morgan