01. Message from your 4-H Agent

Get ready to get growing by learning new things and gaining new experiences through your involvement in the 4-H Program. Check out our monthly newsletters, websites, and social media platforms to learn more about the many opportunities that 4-H offers. Don’t forget to add those special dates to your calendar. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact me at 985-785-4473 or kzammit@agcenter.lsu.edu. I look forward to working with you this year and seeing you grow into the best version of you through 4-H!

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

02. Celebrate National 4-H Week – October 5-11, 2025!

St. Charles Parish 4-H members are encouraged to celebrate 4-H throughout this week by participating in daily challenges. Complete the National 4-H Week Online Form each day. See online form for more details. (No late entries will be accepted.)

03. Beyond Ready - Enrollment

Goal: To increase school & community club membership

Spotlight: St. Charles Borromeo 4-H

Thank you, St. Charles Borromeo, for supporting 4-H. All 4^th-7^th grade students will enroll in 4-H. Students are on their way to completing 4-H enrollment forms. Mrs. Lenni Martinez, the 5^th-7^th grade 4-H Leader, has agreed to provide class points and prizes to encourage everyone to complete and return their enrollment form. She is charting their progress with their own Beyond Ready Meter! Great idea, SCB 4-H!

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.

04. Beyond Ready - Leadership

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

Spotlight: 4-H Jr. Leader Club (for 7^th-12^th graders)

Upcoming Opportunities:

• October 1, 2025: Due date for Camp Counselor Application for 4-H Regional Challenge Camp
• Thursday, October 2, 2025: Volunteer at United Way of St. Charles Battle for the Paddle
• Monday, October 20, 2025: 4-H Jr. Leader Meeting & Social

The 4-H Jr. Leader Club is open to 7^th-12^th grade students. For more information or to join the club, contact your 4-H Agent.

05. Beyond Ready - Civic Engagement

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

Spotlight: Service-Learning & Community Service Resources

4-H Leaders will receive resources on conducting a service-learning and/or community service project with their 4-H clubs. Contact your 4-H Agent with questions.

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: Save the Dates!

For 4^th-6^th graders: 4-H Camp (May 25-28, 2026)

For 8^th-12^th graders: 4-H University (June 23-26, 2026)

Stay tuned each month for highlights, scholarship opportunities, and more!

07. 4-H Pumpkin Decorating Contest (for K-12th graders)

This year 4-H members (K-12^th grade) have the opportunity to compete in 2 pumpkin decorating contests (4-H Contest & Farmers’ Market Contest)! The rules are as follows:

• One entry per person. No artificial pumpkins. Pumpkin display must not exceed 25 lbs. Do not write or display your name on your entry. Participants can draw, paint, or decorate the pumpkin. You may also use objects, materials, and/or paper to decorate your pumpkin. Materials may be glued or pinned to the pumpkin. Pumpkins must be appropriate and child friendly. All pumpkins will be entered into the 4-H Contest and the German Coast Farmers’ Market Contest. If you would like to keep your pumpkin, you will need to pick it up at the Farmers’ Market (held outside the East Bank Regional Library) on Saturday, October 25, 2025, between 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon at the Master Gardener Booth. Any pumpkins not picked up by the designated time at the Farmers’ Market will be donated to the community.

You have 2 ways to submit your pumpkin:

1.Drop off your entry at the St. Charles Parish LSU AgCenter Office on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

2.Sign up to attend the LSU AgCenter Pumpkin Decorating Workshop on October 23, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the East Regional Library. Pumpkins and decoration supplies will be provided. Entries created at the workshop may be entered in the contests. Registration to attend the workshop opens October 9, 2025, through the St. Charles Parish Library.

08. 4-H Culinary Arts Contest (for 4th-12th graders)

All 4-H members are encouraged to participate in the culinary arts contest. These contests help our 4-H members grow in their cooking experience and skill level while enjoying quality time with families who assist them with the safety rules and sharing of traditional family recipes. The 4-H Culinary Arts contest will be split into different submission dates. Members will need to complete the 4-H Culinary Arts Registration Form by the submission date to be considered for judging. All rules are posted on the online registration form.

Next 4-H Culinary Arts Contest Submission Date:

• Tuesday, November 18, 2025: Louisiana Commodities (Pecan, Sweet Potato, and Rice)

4-H members are asked to bring 2 servings of their dish 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, which is located at 453 Spruce Street in Norco, La.

09. 4-H Record Book Contest (for 4th-12th graders)

Throughout the year, 4-H members are encouraged to keep records of any and all 4-H and non-4-H leadership, community service, and awards in which they have participated or received. All 4-H Record Books will be due to the 4-H Agent by April 1. More information on this contest will be posted in your School 4-H Club Google Classroom. Contact your 4-H Agent with any questions or for more information.

10. Regional 4-H Challenge Camp

This Regional 4-H overnight adventure (2 days, 1 night) is for current 7^th-8^th grade 4-H members and will take place on November 11-12, 2025, in Amite, La. Participants will enjoy challenge activities while making friends with other 4-H members from throughout the parish and Southeast Region. Complete the 4-H Regional Challenge Camp Online Application for consideration to attend. Eligible 10^th-12^th grade 4-H members may apply to be a camp counselor for this event. See application for details and fees. Camper & Counselor Parish Application Due Date: October 1, 2025.

11. State 4-H Spark-Action-Change Summit

This State 4-H overnight adventure (3 days, 2 nights) is for current 7^th-8^th grade 4-H members and will take place on February 19-21, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops, tours, and service projects. Highlights include an exclusive tour of the Louisiana State Capitol, inspiring talks from local change-makers, and interactive workshops. Space is limited. Complete the 4-H Spark-Action-Change Online Application for consideration to attend. See application for details and fees. Parish Application Due Date: October 15, 2025

12. State 4-H Camp Catch Phrase Contest

This Louisiana State 4-H opportunity is for current 4^th-6^th grade 4-H members. Create a 7-word slogan, complete with illustrations for the Louisiana State 4-H Camp Catch Phrase Contest. The winning design will be selected as the theme for 4-H Camp during the 2026 summer season. The design will be featured on all 4-H Camp t-shirts. The winner will receive a $50 prize. Contact your 4-H Agent for details.

4-H Camp Slogan & Design Parish Due Date: October 15

13. State 4-H Fashion and Beyond On Tour Day Camp

This Louisiana State 4-H adventure (1 day) is for current 5^th-12^th grade 4-H members. This experience will be held January 19, 2026 (in Crowley, La.) or January 24, 2026 (in Alexandria, La.) Selected participants will learn basic sewing skills and enjoy creating various fashion projects. Space is limited. Complete the 4-H Fashion Camp Online Application for consideration to attend. See application for details and fees.

Parish Application Due Date: November 15, 2025.

14. How do I sign up to join a 4-H Community Project Club?

4-H Project Clubs are clubs that focus on a specific 4-H project-related area. Youth can be enrolled in both a school club and a project club. These are considered separate clubs. Additional fees may apply per each project club. If you are interested in learning more about our 4-H Community Project Clubs, you can sign up to receive information in 2 different ways:

• When completing your enrollment form, select the project club(s) that you are interested in receiving information as your secondary clubs.
• Email the 4-H member’s name, grade, school, and interested project club(s) to stcharles@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Visit our websites and social media outlets during National 4-H Week to learn more about each club.

15. St. Charles Parish 4-H Community Project Clubs

4-H Cloverbud Community Club

4-H members in K-3^rd grade are called “Cloverbuds.” They engage in non-competitive 4-H programming. Some schools have 4-H Cloverbud programs. The 4-H Cloverbud Community Club is a separate club that meets once a month to participate in hands-on activities in an assortment of 4-H-related areas.

4-H CHEF Club

The 4-H CHEF (Cooking, Healthy Eating, and Fitness) Club is for St. Charles Parish students in 4^th-6^th grade. This club meets once a month to participate in hands-on cooking demonstrations, fitness activities, and more!

4-H Fashion Club

This club is for any 4^th-12^th grade St. Charles Parish student. This club meets on a monthly basis to participate in hands-on sewing and fashion projects. This club is for beginners to advanced sewers and students interested in fashion.

4-H Home School Community Club

This club is for any K-12^th grade St. Charles Parish home school student. This club meets once a month to participate in 4-H projects and is open to all home school groups. The club focuses on promoting and working on parish 4-H projects and opportunities.

4-H Shooting Sports Club

This club is open to students at least 10 years old by January 1, 2026, through 12^th grade. Potential disciplines offered this year include rifle and archery. This club participates in practices to prepare for invitational, regional, and state 4-H Shooting Sports competitions. Volunteers interested in being instructors should contact the 4-H Agent. This program is offered based on certified volunteer instruction and availability.

4-H Jr. Leader Club

This is a Youth Volunteer Leadership Club for St. Charles Parish students in 7^th-12^th grade. This club meets at least once a month to participate in teambuilding and leadership activities, service projects, and social events. Members build leadership skills while meeting new friends from throughout all middle and high schools in St. Charles Parish and beyond. Members can also gain service hours.

16. 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