February Club Lesson

Citrus are among the oldest fruits known to man, and this month members will explore Louisiana's vibrant citrus industry. The most popular in our state are satsumas, navel oranges, Meyer lemons and kumquats. We will be identifying these vibrant fruits and celebrating the rich, tangy heritage that defines our state's unique harvest.

Achievement Day Service Project

Once again, the 2025-2026 Achievement Day Service Project will be can pop tops! All clubs will turn in the pop top donations at Achievement Day on May 4, 2026. All proceeds will go to Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, Tennessee. Please feel free to get the whole school involved and put out collection jars if you would like.

Photography Contest

Enter your best photos in our annual photography contest! This is open to all 4-H members. Youth may enter one photo per category. These pictures should be mounted on 8 ½ x 11 piece of black construction paper. The 4-H'er must be the one taking the photo; therefore, they are NOT allowed to be in the photo. The photo cannot be submitted in the contest if it was already submitted in a previous year. The categories are: People, Animals, Outdoor Shots, Promoting 4-H, Action Shots, Night Shots, Black and White, Agriculture. Be sure to put your name, grade, school and category on the back. All entries are due March 30, 2026, to the 4-H office.

Sewing with Cotton Apron Contest

This contest is open to all 4-H members with skill levels from beginners to advanced sewers! Participants will construct a cotton apron, showcasing their sewing skills and creativity. The apron is to be sewed/ constructed by the participant and turned in for judging. Aprons will be judged on design, workmanship, and originality. Participants will be judged in the following divisions- Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. Completed aprons must be submitted with the filled-out datasheet by the deadline March 30, 2026. The appearance portion of this contest will be conducted at Achievement Day on May 4^th. For all contest rules and information, please visit our website https://tinyurl.com/Acadia4HEvents

Ready to Wear Contest

The 4-H Ready to Wear Contest showcases youth participants who have selected outfits to demonstrate their skills in clothing selection, styling, and presentation. The show encourages creativity, confidence, and a sense of personal style. This contest does not require any sewing! This contest is open to all 4-H members in grades 4-12. Categories include grades 4-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. Completed packets must be turned into the 4-H office by March 30, 2026. The appearance portion of this contest will be conducted at Achievement Day on May 4^th. For all contest rules and information, please visit our website https://tinyurl.com/Acadia4HEvents

Record Book (Portfolio) Contest

Record books are due on March 30, 2026, to the 4-H Office. You can find all the rules and tips for completing a record book on our website, along with the portfolio document. https://tinyurl.com/Acadia4HEvents

So why complete a record book? There is opportunity for recognition amongst peers, scholarship preparation, monetary awards for youth in 4^th-8^th grades and educational trip awards for youth in 9^th-12^th grades.The real “why?” is that record keeping permeates almost all aspects of adult life skills. Critical life and career skill development including communication and writing, prioritizing tasks and information, and tracking progress toward personal goals.

What is project work?

4-H projects entails 6 or more hours of work/learning. This can include things such as sewing, gardening, photography, livestock, etc. 4-H projects can be outlined in various ways including 4-H project books, 4-H project activity guides, etc.

General Rules:

-Club leaders are to submit from their school all books for parish competition.

-Club members must fulfill all contest requirements in order to receive a blue ribbon placing.

-The project work described in a 4-H member’s record book should be true and it should be the work of the club member.

-Books submitted for current year without current year’s work will be disqualified.

-4^th- 8^th Grade members are allowed to type record sheets. All 9^th-12^th Grade books must be typed for competition.

-If applicable, please show three years’ worth of work.

-Youth may only submit one project entry per mission mandate/category.

Artist Trading Card Workshop

Discover the creativity and community behind Artist Trading Cards in this hands‑on workshop. After a quick introduction to the history and basics of ATCs, participants will create their own mini artworks and trade them with others in their session. All core supplies are provided. Participants are welcome to bring ephemera — stickers, lace, string, scrap paper, and other small embellishments to personalize their cards. Limited seating is available. Registration will take place through your 4-HOnline account.

Workshop Date: February 21, 2026

Location: 4‑H Office

Cost: $10 per person

Ages 9–12: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Ages 13 and up: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Come ready to learn, make, and share your own set of Artist Trading Cards. Registration closes on February 16, 2026.

Fun with Robotics

Join us for a free, fun-filled workshop all about Lego Robotics. If you like problem solving, building, tedious tasks, and working as a team, come to the workshop and see what's it all about. Open to all 4-H members. We will review a Lego competition rules and procedures discuss Lego robot programs, live program building and running of the robot on a game mat with feedback from the 4-H members, split into small groups and alternate between 'Lego robot building' and 'Robot programing and running the robot on a game mat.

Workshop Date: March 2, 2026, from 2-4 PM.

Location: 4-H Office

Registration will open on February 16^th through your 4-HOnline account. Spots are limited and the deadline to register is February 23^rd.

Spring Contest Day

Our Spring contest day will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026, starting at 5PM at the 4-H Office. Contests will include Journey into Jobs, Demonstrations, Meat ID and Poultry ID. Pre-registration is required for all Demonstrations and Journey into Jobs prior to the contest. Registrations are due by March 2, 2026. Please visit the link below to pre-register for a demonstration. https://tinyurl.com/26SpringContestDay

Journey into Jobs: This contest will help you prepare for future job interviews and applications. Contestants must complete an application in advance for this contest. Applications are division-specific (Division I: grades 4-6, Division II: grades 7-8, Division III: grades 9-12). Contestants will be interviewed, and asked questions related to a present or future career or job. All contestants are expected to dress nice and neat to best present themselves to the judges. The applications and interviews will be conducted as if the applicant has all required schooling/experience for the job posting chosen. Example: If you are applying to be a 4-H Agent, you would fill out the Education section as if you graduated from college or you would answer questions as if you went to college and received a certain degree. Applications can be found on our website (https://tinyurl.com/Acadia4HEvents), or you can pick one up from the 4-H office. All completed applications should be turned into the 4-H office in person, via email or fax. Everyone that submits an application will be interviewed on March 16^th.

Demonstrations: Open to all 4-H members. Individual and team (2 members only) will be accepted. Members of a team demonstration can be from different clubs and different grades but will compete in the oldest team members’ grade division. All demonstrations must be practiced and prepared prior to the contest. There is a limit of no more than one entry per category. Categories are Civic Engagement/Leadership, Healthy Living, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). A demonstration which was presented for a regional and/or state competition may not be presented by the same person or team on demonstration day. All demonstrations must pre-register using the link below. Any demonstration not pre-registered will be unable to participate. https://tinyurl.com/26SpringContestDay

Ag ID-New this year! Open to all 4-H members. The agriculture product identification contest is designed to showcase commodities that students encounter in their lives everyday while applying their product knowledge of produce, meat, and fibers and relate them to what is available in grocery stores. The contest format will consist of 20 multiple choice questions that may include but are not limited to: uses, method of growth, season, region grown, national ranking, economic impact to Louisiana, nutritional value, storage method, and production method.

Poultry ID: open to all members. No need to pre-register. The contest may consist of: Market Class-Judge one class of six dressed fryers according to U.S. Grades. Judge one class of six dressed hens according to U.S. Grades. Egg Class-Judge one class of ten broken out eggs (Judge one class of ten). External Quality-Judge two classes of 6 eggs for exterior quality. All the rules, regulations and study guides can be found on our website, https://tinyurl.com/Acadia4HEvents

2026 Beef Poster Contest

The contest is open to 4-H and FFA members between 4th and 12th grades. A 4-H or FFA member is allowed to win each division only once at the state level. Posters submitted to the state competition become the property of the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Beef Industry Council. The state winning posters may be used to promote beef at various events. Posters are due to the 4-H office by March 30, 2026.

1. 2026 LBIC Beef Poster Contest Theme: Raising the Steaks 2. Posters must be on “22 x 28” poster board only. 3. Place your NAME, ADDRESS, AGE, GRADE, SCHOOL & PARISH on back, upper right corner of poser. 4. Digital entries must be designed using one of the following programs: Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Canva. Digital designs should be formatted for “22 x 28” poster size prints. All digital entries must be saved in high-resolution 300 DPI in ALL of the following: original design file, .png file format, and .pdf file format. Digital designs should be saved to a blank jump drive, placed in a 3 ½x 6 blank envelopes labeled with Name, Address, Age, Grade, School & Parish on the front. 5. Posters and digital designs should generate positive images and promotion of beef (not live cattle production) using the indicated theme. Posters should promote beef without projecting any negative messages towards other agricultural commodities (chicken, pork, etc.). 6. Do Not use copyrighted materials. You may develop ideas from magazines, parents, friends, nutrition bulletins, Beef Ambassador Fact Sheets and meat publications but the end concept should be original and not copied material. No Templates may be used in the digital division. All design work must be original and from scratch, just as a poster would be designed. Pictures, clipart and materials (i.e., cartoon characters, advertisements, logos, etc.) that are copyrighted may not be used on the poster. The poster will be disqualified if copyrighted materials are used. Computer generated clipart may be used on the poster if it is not copyrighted material.

Recognition and Awards in the Following Divisions (parish contests): Division I - 4^th- 6th grades, Division II - 7th -9th grades, Division III POSTER 10th - 12th grades, Digital Division - 4th - 12th grades

(Those participating in the digital division must choose to do either a poster or digital. Cannot do both.)

Monetary awards will be given at the state level for winners.

2026 Dairy Poster Contest

Help encourage others to learn more about milk and milk products by drawing a billboard encouraging or promoting the consumption of milk and/or milk products and share knowledge with others. Any 4-H club member is invited to participate. Posters are due to the 4-H office by March 30, 2026.

1.Billboard design must be made on 22”x 28” regular poster board size only. 2. Do Not Attach anything to the poster that is more than ½” thick. 3. Do not use the commercial brand names of products on the poster. Do not use jingles, slogans, signs or pictures that are trademark or copyright protected on the poster. 4. Be Sure to print Name, Address, Grade, School & Parish on the back of the poster in the upper right-hand corner. 5. A 4-H club member is allowed to win first place in each division Only Once. 6.First place parish winning posters become the property of the Extension Service and will be displayed at statewide events. Monetary awards will be given at the state level for winners.

Livestock Sale Checks

Thank you, letters are due to the 4-H office, by March 3, 2026. If you exhibited a market animal this year and were in the parish livestock sale, we will begin distributing checks on April 1^st pending payment from the buyer. You must come by the 4-H office to pick up your check, they will NOT be mailed. In order to pick up your check, you must have turned in thank you notes, and the buyers must have paid. Checks will only be issued between April 1^st until June 15^th.

Livestock Judging Results

4th Grade:

• 1st- Andrew Meche- Rayne Catholic
• 2nd- Cooper Toepfer-Iota Elementary
• 3rd- Levi Sarver- Estherwood Elementary
• 4th- Mason Spaetgens- St. Francis
• 5th- William Mire- Lucky Clovers and Charlotte Schultz- St. Michael
• Blue Ribbon- Alyse Woods- Rayne Catholic

5th Grade:

• 1st- Harper LeBlanc-Rayne Catholic and Riley Mire- Lucky Clovers
• 2nd-Kip Hebert- Iota Elementary
• 3rd- Samuel Spaetgens-Iota Elementary

6th Grade:

• 1st- Wyatt Murphy- Richard Elementary School
• 2nd- Kalyn Toepfer- Iota Middle School
• 3rd- Mary Beth Schultz- Member at Large
• 4th- Bryant Meche- Rayne Catholic
• 5th- Stella Woods- Rayne Catholic

Blue Ribbons:

• Amelia Zaunbrecher- St. Francis
• Layton Manuel - St Francis Elementary
• Layne Oestriecher- Rayne Catholic Elementary
• Brandon Villanueva- Richard Elementary

4th-6th Team Placings:

1st- Rayne Catholic

• Andrew Meche
• Harper LeBlanc
• Bryant Meche

2nd- Iota Elementary

• Samuel Spaetgens
• Kip Hebert
• Cooper Toepfer

3rd- St. Francis

• Layton Manuel
• Amelia Zaunbrecher
• Mason Spaetgens

7th-8th Grade:

• 1st- Ellie DeRouen- Rayne Catholic and Cole Theriot- Mire Elementary
• 2nd- Vivian Moody- Rayne Catholic and Kaylee Meche- Rayne Catholic
• 3rd- Stella Hollier- Rayne Catholic
• 4th- Gretta Zaunbrecher- St. Francis Elementary
• 5th- Remy Shields- Iota Middle School

Blue Ribbon-

• Allison Reiners- Rayne Catholic
• Vivian Futch- Rayne Catholic
• Daxton Simon- Egan Elementary
• Eli Mire- Lucky Clovers
• Lyndi LaRue- Rayne Catholic
• Ryan Schultz- St. Michael
• Ella Ardoin- Rayne Catholic

7th-8th Grade Team Placings:

• 1^st- Rayne Catholic
• Ellie Derouen
• Vivian Moody
• Kaylee Meche

9th-12th Grades:

• 1st- Reese Shields- Iota High School
• 2nd- Camille Dore’- Notre Dame High School and Aubrie Theriot- Rayne High School
• 3rd- Kinslee Doucet- Iota High School
• 4th- Ryleigh Oestriecher- Notre Dame High School
• 5th- Lucy Mire- Lucky Clovers

Blue Ribbon-

• Amelia Fontenot- Lucky Clovers

Horse Clinic

We are once again offering horse clinics this year for FREE! This year Acadia parish will be offering horse clinics every month! We will again team up with master horsemen throughout the region. The first clinic will be held at the Acadia Parish Rice Arena on February 23^rd from 6-8 PM. In order to attend youth must be an approved 4-H member AND bring your own horse. For more information or questions, please call Emma Zaunbrecher Tyler at 337-366-2109.