01. Message from your 4-H Agent

Take time this month to try something new to make your best even better! Check out our upcoming 4-H activities that encourage you to use your head to clearer thinking, your heart to greater loyalty, your hands for larger service, and your health for better living. There is something for everyone in 4-H, so venture out and try something new today!

-Dr. Kali Zammit, St. Charles Parish 4-H Agent

02. 4-H Summer Overnight Opportunities: Applications, forms, and fees due April 1, 2026

During each summer, there are opportunities for youth to expand their 4-H experience by participating in statewide 4-H overnight opportunities. All applications, forms, and fees for the 3 major statewide 4-H events listed below will be due to our St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Office by April 1, 2026. Applications will be available on 4-H Club Google Classrooms, our St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter website, or may be requested through your 4-H Agent at kzammit@agcenter.lsu.edu.

4-H University:

• Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
• Event Date: June 23-26, 2026
• Age Requirement: For current 8^th-12^th graders
• Event details: 4-day, 3-night statewide college-like experience on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

4-H Camp

• Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
• Event Date: May 25-28, 2026
• Age Requirement: For current 4^th-6^th graders
• Event details: 4-day, 3-night statewide summer camp experience at Camp Grant Walker Educational Center in Pollock, Louisiana

4-H LOST Camp

• Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
• Event Date: July 30, 2026 – August 2, 2026
• Age Requirement: For current 7^th-8^th graders
• Event details: 4-day, 3-night statewide summer camp experience at Camp Grant Walker Educational Center in Pollock, Louisiana

03. Beyond Ready - Enrollment

Goal: To increase school & community club membership

Spotlight: 4-H Club Award Recipients

Congratulations to the following 4-H clubs who have met their 4-H Enrollment Goal:

• Ethel Schoeffner Elementary
• Lakewood Elementary
• Norco Elementary
• R. K. Smith Middle School
• St. Charles Borromeo (4^th grade)
• St. Charles Borromeo (5^th-7^th grade)
• 4-H CHEF Club
• 4-H Fashion Club
• 4-H Home School Community Club
• 4-H Jr. Leader Club
• 4-H Shooting Sports Club

Award Incentive: Each club who increases by at least 1 member will receive support for a 4-H club party and/or awards for the club’s 4-H members and 4-H Leaders. Clubs have until March 1, 2026, to reach their goal.

04. Beyond Ready - Leadership

Goal: To increase participation in 4-H Jr. Leaders & enhanced leadership opportunities

Spotlight: Enhanced Leadership Opportunities

Contact your 4-H Agent for more information on any of the following enhanced leadership opportunities:

• Parish 4-H Jr. Leader Club (7^th-12^th grade)
• 4-H University (8^th-12^th grade)
• State 4-H Boards & Ambassadors (8^th-11^th grade)
• 4-H Camp Counselor (9^th-12^th grade)

05. Beyond Ready - Civic Engagement

Goal: For every club to participate in a community service or service-learning project

Spotlight: 4-H Club Leaders

Thank you to all of our St. Charles Parish 4-H Club Leaders who continue to volunteer their time and effort to engaging our 4-H members in their community throughout the year. 4-H Club Leaders are asked to check their emails for information on reporting their club’s 4-H community service or service-learning projects from this year.

Award Incentive: Every club who reports participating in at least 1 service-learning cycle/project and/or 3 community service projects by March 15 will receive an award.

06. Beyond Ready - 4-H Camp & 4-H University

Goal: To increase attendance at 4-H Camp and to have at least 10 youth participate in 4-H University contests or Clover College program

Spotlight: Krewe de 4-H U

4-H University is a premium, statewide 4-H conference for 8th-12th graders. Enjoy a guided college-life experience on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge by staying in campus dorms, attending interactive classes, and competing in state contests to win premium awards. To learn more, complete the 4-H U Interest Survey.

2026 Event Dates:

• 4-H Camp (May 25-28)
• 4-H University (June 23-26)

4-H Camp, LOST Camp, and 4-H U Applications are due April 1, 2026.

07. 4-H Culinary Arts Contest (4th-12th grade)

To participate in the 4-H Culinary Arts Contest, 4-H members need to complete the 4-H Culinary Arts Registration Form by the submission date. 4-H members also need to bring 2 servings of their dish, cold and on ice, in a sealed, non-returnable container on the submission date for each contest between 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Office, located at 453 Spruce Street in Norco, La. See online form for all rules.

Upcoming 4-H Culinary Arts Contest Submission Dates:

• Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Beef
• Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Seafood

08. 4-H Photography Contest (K-12th grade)

To participate in this contest, complete the 4-H Photography Contest Online Form by the dates listed below. Official rules are listed in the online form. Contest submissions may be submitted early. No late submissions will be accepted.

Upcoming 4-H Photography Contest Dates:

• March 1, 2026: Still Life Photos

09. 4-H Beef Poster Contest (K-12th grade)

The theme for this year’s beef poster contest is: Raising the Steaks. This contest is open to K-12^th grade 4-H members. Only 4^th-12^th grade students are eligible to move on to the state level. All entries are due to the St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Office by March 1, 2026. Visit the Louisiana 4-H Beef Poster Contest online article for contest rules.

10. 4-H Dairy Poster Contest (K-12th grade)

This contest is open to K-12^th grade 4-H members. Only 4^th-12^th grade students are eligible to move on to the state level. Entries are due to the St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Office by April 1, 2026. Visit the 4-H Dairy Poster Contest web article for rules.

11. 4-H Records Contest (4th-12th grade)

To participate in this contest, 4-H’ers complete a 4-H Records Portfolio and submit it to our St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Office in one of the following ways:

• Google Classroom Assignment Submission
• 4-H Records Online Submission
• Print & Delivery Submission

For contest and submission details, read the 4-H Records Contest Online Form.

All entries are due April 1, 2026. No late submissions will be accepted.

12. 4-H STEM LEGO Design Challenge Contest (K-12th grade)

This contest is designed to put your creativity and knowledge to use by having you create your own LEGO design. This year’s LEGO challenge is: Beyond Ready for Work! Beyond Ready for Life! Create a LEGO scene and/or object representing a career of your choice. Complete the 4-H STEM LEGO Design Challenge Contest Form by April 1, 2026. Contest submissions may be submitted early. No late submissions will be accepted.

13. Parish and State 4-H Senior Awards (12th grade)

Graduating senior 4-H members are encouraged to apply for the following awards:

• Parish 4-H Senior Jacket – Parish application due date: February 1, 2026
• State 4-H Honor Cord – Parish application due date: February 1, 2026
• State & Parish 4-H Scholarships – Parish application due date: February 15, 2026

Note: Contact your 4-H Agent at kzammit@agcenter.lsu.edu at least 1 week prior to due dates for an application, rules, and eligibility requirements.

14. 4-H University (8th-12th grade)

State 4-H Summer Event Alert! - This Louisiana State 4-H adventure (4-days, 3-nights) is for current 8^th-12th grade 4-H members. This experience will be held June 23-26, 2026, on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La. Experience the college life by staying in campus dorms, attending interactive classes, and competing in state contests for a chance to win premium awards, including out-of-state trips. Complete the 4-H University Interest Form to receive more information about attending 4-H University. Applications for 4-H University will be posted to 4-H Club Google Classrooms and our LSU AgCenter website.

Parish Application Due Date: April 1, 2026

15. 4-H Camp (4th-6th grade) and LOST Camp (7th-8th grade)

State 4-H Summer Event Alert! – Both of these Louisiana State 4-H adventures (4-days, 3-nights) are an overnight summer camp experience for 4-H members at 4-H Camp Grant Walker in Pollock, La. 4-H Camp is for current 4^th-6^th grade members and will be held May 25-28, 2026. LOST Camp is for current 7^th-8^th grade members and will be held July 30, 2026 – August 2, 2026. Spaces to attend are limited. The basic cost for each camp is $200 with the option to purchase additional items. Scholarships and financial plans are available. Applications will be posted to 4-H Google Classrooms and our LSU AgCenter website. See applications for additional details.

Parish Application Due Date: April 1, 2026

16. 4-H Golden Clover and Emerald Achievement Award

These award applications are state-level awards to recognize 4-H members for their participation in Louisiana 4-H Youth Development Programming. The 4-H Golden Clover Award is for youth 14 years old or younger by January 1, and the 4-H Emerald Achievement Award is for youth 15 years of age or older by January 1. Applicants must achieve a specified point range listed on the application in order to qualify for the award. Contact your 4-H Agent at kzammit@agcenter.lsu.edu for an application. Application deadline: March 15, 2026

17. St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Advisory Process

Each year our St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter meets with leaders within our community to help identify needs within our community that our LSU AgCenter may address through educational programs, such as our 4-H Youth Development Program. Thank you to our community partners for their continued partnership and support.

18. St. Charles Parish 4-H Youth Advisory Survey

Now it’s your turn! We want to hear from you – our 4-H members! We hope that you have enjoyed participating in your 4-H club program throughout this year. We are asking 4-H members to complete our 4-H Youth Advisory Survey to help us address community needs and continue to improve our positive youth development program. This is an optional, voluntary survey. 4-H’ers who would like to participate should complete the 4-H Advisory Youth Survey by March 1, 2026. We greatly appreciate your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions.

19. Additional Information

To see the full version of the monthly newsletter for additional details and information, please download the PDF.

For questions or for more information, please contact your

St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter