St. Mary Parish 4-Hers attend 4-H University

St. Mary Parish 4-Hers were among the nearly 1,600 young people representing all 64 parishes in Louisiana that participated in 4-H University on the LSU campus June 17 to 20. The St. Mary Parish 4-H Program was represented by 47 members.
This year, St. Mary Parish had 27 4-H members compete in contests; 19 participated in the Clover College program; four members were elected to serve on state boards and one will serve on the 2014-15 executive board as he served as a National Conference Delegate this year. St. Mary Parish 4-H is sending the most Clover College participants in the state.
Louisiana 4-H members were able to choose from 41 different state contests to compete in or 12 different educational tracks in the Clover College program. In addition, elections for state office was held and members were chosen to serve on statewide boards for fashion, food and fitness, citizenship, performing arts, and science, engineering and technology.
St. Mary Parish members elected to state boards were Jhalon Thomas, executive board; Kaeley Hill, citizenship board; Ashton Landry, food and fitness board; Michael Mancuso, science, engineering and technology board; and Kentraell Benjamin, performing arts troupe.
Contest winners were:
—4-H Has Talent: blue ribbon, Jhalon Thomas and Kentraell Benjamin.
—Agriculture Demo: fourth place, Krista Hebert and Olivia Thibodeaux; and fifth, Grace Ibert and Shaye Polito.
—Environmental Conservation Illustrated Talk: fourth, McKaila Darden.
—FCS Demo: fourth, Ashton Landry and Kennedi Williams.
—Meat Identification High Individual: blue ribbon, Chris Ibert.
—Photography: blue ribbon, Kaeley Hill.
—Poultry Judging High Individual: blue ribbon, Trace Presley.
—The Louisiana Chef: blue ribbon, Madeline Williams.
—Wildlife Habitat Judging: state winner, Carl Taylor Stirling; and second place, Cassi McQuilling.
Contest participants were:
Diesel Operations: Austin Champagne; Dog Science: Tanner Guillotte; Fashion Review (ready to wear), Ashley Duhon; Meat ID: Jacob Rogers; Outdoor Skills: Kane Boudreaux, Marlena Darden and Brawley Andrews; Poultry Judging: Hannah Boudreaux and Oday Hebert; Public Speaking (any): Jalacia Alexander; Soybean Illustrated Talk: Caitlin Petitfils; and The Louisiana Chef: Henry Andrews.
Clover College participants were:
—Lights, Camera, Action: Bria Burrell and Alyssa Goodwin.
—Life is a Gumbo: Kelsey Charpentier, Rhea’ Patureau and Brooklynn Soprano.
—Fitness Frenzy: Kloey Cuvillier and Kylie Henson.
—Project Runway: John Davidson and Kayla DeGuzman.
—Beyond Maps & Apps: (in demand GIS/GPS skills): Jaismaran Delasbour, Maegan LeBlanc, David Nugent and Jalon Olivier.
—Forensics (the first 48): Myria Druilhet and Caroline Nini.
—Health Professions 101 (so much more than doctors and nurses!): Jenna Duhon, Demi Duncan and Averie Williams.
—Info U (developing your personal brand with information skills and social media): Karim Colar.
St. Mary Parish 4-H agents Jenni J. Ducote and Adriana Drusini along with Thu Bui, area fisheries agent, trained the 4-H members and attended the contest. Jimmy Flanagan, county agent for St. Mary Parish, also attended the event. Volunteers attending 4-H University as chaperones were Kirt Champagne, Joe’l Pellerin, Hollie Carline-Williams, Keri Hill and Ricki Lynn Patureau.