A group of Louisiana 4-H members competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition Nov. 8-21 in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo provided by Jason Holmes News Release Distributed 11/25/14
BATON ROUGE, La. – A group of 43 Louisiana 4-H members competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition Nov. 8-21 in Louisville, Kentucky. The students were selected at the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport, where they won the LSU AgCenter’s Beef and Sheep Educational Award Trip.
Jason Holmes, LSU AgCenter regional livestock specialist in Union Parish and coordinator of the trip, said going to the exposition is a significant accomplishment.
“The purpose of the trip is for the students to experience participating in the largest livestock show in North America,” Holmes said. “We also have an excellent opportunity to educate people from northern states about the Brahman breed and its role in the Southeast.”
Getting ready for the competition helps 4-H’ers gain life-long skills such as responsibility, honesty and how to have a “can do” attitude, Holmes said. The youth are consistently recognized at the event for their politeness, knowledge and passion for exhibiting animals, he said.
Louisiana 4-H’ers have attended the North American International Livestock Exposition every year since 1974. There has been a beef trip since 1946, when Louisiana 4-H’ers attended the Chicago International Livestock Exposition.
Louisiana is one of the only states besides Kentucky and Indiana from which students can complete an internship at the expo, Holmes said. Interns this year were Kerrigan Fitch, of Iberia Parish, and Kealy Stelly, of Lafayette Parish. Interns are selected each year as winners of the LSU AgCenter Beef Premier Exhibitor contest.
The following 4-H’ers attended the exposition with beef cattle:
Hannah Barrilleaux, Ascension Parish
Jared Barrilleaux, Ascension Parish
Blaine Spencer, Avoyelles Parish
Ethan Wiley, Avoyelles Parish
Bobbie Schlomer, Beauregard Parish
Abby Henry, Calcasieu Parish
Jaselyn Roussell, Calcasieu Parish
Logan Vest, Calcasieu Parish
Dalton Guidry, Cameron Parish
Jace Roussell, Cameron Parish
Daryn Scriber, Claiborne Parish
Chase Cornet, Desoto Parish
Griffin Kennedy, East Baton Rouge Parish
Alyson Fontenot, Evangeline Parish
George Adam Faulk, Franklin Parish
Dylan Darbonne, Iberia Parish
Logan Richard, Lafayette Parish
Alex Smith, Lafayette Parish
Katelin Cooper, Lincoln Parish
Harold Mizell, St. Tammany Parish
Hannah James, Tensas Parish
Kellen McKoin, Tensas Parish
Taylor Vinson, Tensas Parish
Fallon Plaisance, Tangipahoa Parish
Madison Plaisance, Tangipahoa Parish
Tori Doucet, Vermilion Parish
Cash Bailey, Vernon Parish
Colby Lingo, West Carroll Parish
Peyton Bickham, West Feliciana Parish
The following 4-H’ers attended the exposition with sheep:
Kathryn LeBlanc, Acadia Parish
Joshua Lessigne, Acadia Parish
Katelyn Dowies, Allen Parish
Eden Schexnayder, Ascension Parish
Maci Schexnyder, Ascension Parish
Reed Bearden, Bossier Parish
Caroline Dupree, Bossier Parish
Riley Lear, Bossier Parish
Blake Shamsie, Bossier Parish
Kalee Wich, Bossier Parish
Hallie Boudreaux, Calcasieu Parish
Madison Frazier, Calcasieu Parish
Katlyn Mathews, Claiborne Parish
Sydney Stevens, Calcasieu Parish
Olivia McClure