Nearly 1,550 4-H’ers participated in 4-H University June 22-25, 2010, on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell)

News Release Distributed 06/28/10

BATON ROUGE, La. – Hundreds of Louisiana youth took home honors as state contest winners and alternates during the 96th annual 4-H University June 22-25 on the LSU campus.

All together nearly 1,550 4-H’ers participated in the event, which is the culmination of a year of activities in the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H youth development program.

Competition came in areas ranging from agricultural demonstrations to wildlife habitat judging and from career preparation to consumer decision-making.

Other events were noncompetitive, such as Clover College, which included activities ranging from learning about seafood to robotics.

Other programs offered included fashion design, understanding the legislative process, participating in service programs, and learning about Louisiana’s unique environment.

In addition to the contests and educational sessions, 4-H’ers elected state 4-H Executive Committee officers and 14 regional representatives. Another four were honored as 2010-2011 delegates to the National 4-H Conference.

“Louisiana 4-H is a unique educational program made up of outstanding young people from across our state,” said LSU AgCenter Vice Chancellor Paul Coreil. “We’re glad to provide high school students with an opportunity to visit the state’s flagship university, meet new people from all 64 parishes and test their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of subject matter areas important to Louisiana’s future workforce – all while having fun.”

Most of the first-place or state winners in more than 40 different contests were awarded educational trips or opportunities to compete in regional or national events.

The Louisiana 4-H officers elected were Gabe Stelly, St. Landry Parish, president; Jonathan Thibeaux, Lafayette Parish, vice president; Victoria Arnold, Sabine Parish, secretary/treasurer; Katelyn Dane Chargois, Calcasieu Parish, historian/reporter; and Hailey Johnson, Acadia Parish, parliamentarian.

Other members of the Louisiana 4-H Executive Committee, who also were elected to represent the seven regions of the state, were Bianca Brewington, Franklinton Parish; Buck Owens, Ouachita Parish; Daniel McFarland, Caddo Parish; Kayla Hullably, Bienville Parish; K’Lawrence McIntyre, Bienville Parish; Leah Ann Brown, Desoto Parish; Abigail Elizabeth Daire, Evangeline Parish; Austin Fontenot, Evangeline Parish; Kristen Morrison, Vernon Parish; Marcus Johnson, Avoyelles Parish, Robert Fusilier, Evangeline Parish; Whitney Bell, Ascension Parish; Darrell Griffin, St. Helena Parish; Emily Jenkins, Washington Parish; Remy Roper, St James; Cassidy Sonnier, Calcasieu Parish; Ashley Duhon, Vermilion Parish; Korey Ryder, Allen Parish.

National 4-H Conference delegates selected for 2010-2011 were Ashley Duhon, Vermilion Parish; Korey Ryder, Allen Parish; Leah Broussard, Vermillion Parish (Serving on the Food & Fitness Board) and Michelle Bourgeois, St Charles Parish.

In the 4-H University contests, the top two finishers – listed as state winners and first alternates – from across Louisiana were:

4–H Has Talent – State winner: Arianne Hertzock, St Landry Parish; first alternate: Jacqueline McCarthy, Iberia Parish.

Agricultural Demonstration Team – State winners: Andrea Deason and Dana Bennett, Union Parish; first alternates: Michaela Herpin and Haley Luquette, Vermilion Parish.

Agricultural Product Demonstration – State winner: Nicholas Saloom, Lafayette Parish; first alternate: Taylor Trahan, Vermilion Parish.

ATV – State winner: Jesse Lange, Vermilion Parish; first alternate: Trey Nelson, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Automotive (Individual) –State winner: Cody Lowery, Ascension Parish; first alternate: George LaCour, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Automotive (Team) – State winners: Cody Lowery and Kelsey Wilkinson, Ascension Parish; first alternates: Spencer Miller and George LaCour, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Bicycle – State winner: Derrick Beaudeaux, Vermilion Parish; first alternate: Alex Domingue, Acadia Parish.

Career Preparation Interview – State winner: Jonathan Thibeaux, Lafayette Parish; first alternate: Kylie Averett, Tangipahoa Parish.

Child Development – State winner: Laura Theall, St. Charles Parish; first alternate: Catherine Lirette, Lafourche Parish.

Compact Tractor – State winner: Connor Moreland, Concordia Parish; first alternate: Brooks Stroderd, Acadia Parish.

Computer Simulation – State winners: Angel Chang and Linda Ahiskog, Pointe Coupee Parish; first alternates: Taylor Arnouville and Gaelen Smith, Avoyelles Parish.

Consumer Decision Making – State winners: Jenna Smith, Brittany Domingue and Hannah Miller, Acadia Parish; first alternates: Sabrina Gould and Nikki Manuel and Shelby Miller, Calcasieu Parish.

Consumer Foods Judging (Team) – State winners: Jamie Granier, Daniel Triggs and Emily Torres, Lafourche Parish; Emily Boswell, Kristen Shreeman and Cullen McDaniel, Allen Parish.

Dairy Judging (Individual) – State winner: Kaitlynn Nichols, Jeff Davis Parish; first alternate: Joel Berken, Jeff Davis Parish.

Dairy Judging (Team) – State winners: Kaitlynn Nichols, Taryn McSpadden and Joel Berken, Jeff Davis Parish; first alternates: Lizz Oneal, Maia Delatte and Savannah Klier, Livingston Parish.

Diesel Equipment and Operations – State winner: David Fontenot, Evangeline Parish; first alternate: Clint Faul, Acadia Parish.

Dog Care – State winner: Michelle Bourgeois, St. Charles Parish; first alternate: Mary Johns, St. Charles Parish.

Entomology Demonstration Team – State winners: Jacob Bordelon and Robert Fusilier, Evangeline Parish; first alternates: Kristen Rachelle Smith and Morgan Lindsey Smith, Calcasieu Parish.

Environmental Threat Resolution – State winners: Shelbi Graft and Joy Jason, W Baton Rouge Parish; first alternates: Matthew Repp and Austin Mouton, Vermillion Parish.

FCS Demonstration Team – State winners: Anne Catherine LeBlanc and Paige Patout, Vermilion Parish; first alternates: Hailey Johnson and Hayley Fogleman, Acadia Parish.

Fashion Review/Casual Outfit – State winner: April Gros, Assumption Parish; first alternate: Nadia Dinwiddie, E Feliciana Parish.

Fashion Review/Creative Choice – State winner: Victoria Caldarera, St. Charles Parish; first alternate: K. Jade Pilcher, Caldwell Parish.

Fashion Review/Ready to Wear – State winner: Brittany Doise, Jeff Davis Parish; first alternate: Julia Comeaux, Iberville Parish.

Fashion Review/Special Occasion – State winner: Lincoln Pearce, Sabine Parish; first alternate: Karen Bergeron, Assumption Parish.

Fishing Sports – State winner: Cole Starkey, Tangipahoa Parish; first alternate: Brandon Dale, Lafayette Parish.

Fishing Sports Team – Brandon Dale, Max Perret and Jacob Bordelon, Lafayette Parish; first alternate: Austin Kent, Morgan Graham and Lucus Glaser, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Forestry Study – State winner: Megan Farmer, Sabine Parish; first alternate: Stephanie McBride, Acadia Parish.

Horticulture Demonstration/General – State winners: Austin Gaspard and Jace Harrington, Vermilion Parish; first alternate: Luke Vanderlick, Avoyelles Parish.

Horticulture Demonstration/Use – State winners: Laura Couvillon and Hannah Simon, Vermilion Parish; first alternates: Alanna Falke and Lacy Falke, Allen Parish.

Horticulture Judging (Individual) – State winner: Brice Ben Lewis Lafayette Parish; first alternate: Haley Jewell, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Horticulture Judging (Team) – State winners: Haley Jewell, Monica Debetaz and Lauren Meaux, Pointe Coupee Parish; first alternates: Baron Andrus, Keisha Marceaux and Amanda LeBlanc, Vermilion Parish.

Insect Identification and Survey – State winner: Alphonse Coco, Tensas Parish; first alternate: Leah Delahoussaye, Vermilion Parish.

Livestock Judging (Individual) – State winner: Tyler Braud, Ascension Parish; first alternate: Adam Barrilleaux, Ascension Parish.

Livestock Judging (Team) – State winners: Tyler Braud, Katie deVeer and Adam Barrilleaux, Ascension Parish; first alternates: Daniel Laurent, Cody Scott and Jade Jenkins, Livingston Parish.

Meat Evaluation, ID and Judging (Individual) – State winner: Dylan Ortego, Lafayette Parish; first alternate: Matthew Greene, Vermillion Parish.

Meat Evaluation, ID and Judging (Team) – State winners: Ellen Bairnsfather, Ethan Allen and Cade Crum, Concordia Parish; first alternates: Emily Bratcher, Dylan Ortego and Lani Dickerson, Lafayette Parish.

Nutrition Illustrated Talk – State winner: Mikaela Carender, Webster Parish; first alternates: Brooke McNeal and Krista Bordelon, Avoyelles Parish.

Outdoor Skills (Individual) – State winner: Johnny Thevis, Avoyelles Parish; first alternate: Nicholas Giron, Tangipahoa Parish.

Outdoor Skills (Team) – State winners: Peter Ashley, Emily Fulton and Mark Touchton, DeSoto Parish; first alternates: Hunter M. Terrell, Christopher Trahan and Ryan Gilbert, Calcasieu Parish.

Photography – State winner: Dillon Richard, Jeff Davis Parish; first alternate: Mary Kate Colligan, Acadia Parish.

Plant Science (Individual) – State winner: Janine d’Augereau, Vermilion Parish; first alternate: Hunter Littleton, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Plant Science (Team) – State winners: Janine d’Augereau, Alaina Stelly and Dustin Landry, Vermilion Parish; first alternates: Katie Kindy, Gretchen Goodman and Hunter Littleton, Pointe Coupee Parish.

Poultry Judging (Individual) – State winner: Cindy Edwards, Terrebonne Parish; first alternate: Tracie Farmer, Livingston Parish.

Poultry Judging (Team) – State winners: Ariel Bergeron, Cindy Edwards and Jared Fontenot, Terrebonne Parish; first alternates: Chelsea Phillips, Gabriel Henning and Tracie Farmer, Livingston Parish.

Public Speaking/Any Subject – State winner: John LaCour, Pointe Coupee Parish; first alternate: Wendy “Alex” Varisco, St Tammany Parish.

Public Speaking/Cooperatives – State winner: Charles Koch, Vernon Parish; first alternate: Daphne Collins, Richland Parish.

Resource Management – State winner: Jenna Price, Vernon Parish; first alternate: Britney Broussard, Vermilion Parish.

Small Engine Demonstration – State winner: Gerald Ducote, Avoyelles Parish; first alternate: Katie Crosby, Lafourche Parish.

Solutions Unlimited – State winners: Rachael Guidry, Zachary Dupuis and Hannah Martin, St. Martin Parish; first alternates: Kayla Magee and Whitney Bell, Ascension Parish.

Soybean Illustrated Talk – State winner: Elizabeth Dartez, Acadia Parish; first alternate: Hailey Perry, St. Landry Parish.

Sports Broadcasting – State winners: Daniel Peshoff and Meagan Johnson, Cameron Parish; first alternates: Nicholas Guidry and Seth Bouvier, Lafourche Parish.

Wildlife Habitat Judging – State winner: Julie Barrios, Sabine Parish; first alternate: Amanda Wolff, East Baton Rouge Parish.