S t. H elena Vo ic e

QUICK OVERVIEW OF MONTHLY ACTIVITIES October

Rockets to the Rescue

Washington Parish Fair

Homecoming Parade/Comm. Service

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Carving/Painting Contest

Design pumpkin patch

Also livestock meetings and fundraiser

November

Shooting Sports Event—Southeast Region

Challenge Camp

Also livestock practice/sweet potato/citrus fundraiser

December Recruitment Day

Santa’s Healthy Living Workshop

Food baskets

4 t h Q u a r t e r 2 0 1 4

23 South Main Street, Suite B, Greensburg, LA

Mailing address: PO Box 1505, Greensburg, LA 70441

225/222-4136 or 4137

Visit our website: http://

www.lsuagcenter.com/

sthelena/

4-H Challenge Camp was held at Tickfaw State Park in Spring-

field, LA. November 11-13th. This camp is geared toward 7th

and 8th grade 4-H'ers through out the Southeast Region.

At Challenge Camp youth had the opportunity to stay two nights

which is a planned educational experience of group living in the

outdoors and includes being away from home. Youth are encour-

aged to develop soft skills needed to be successful. Youth also

had the opportunity to meet new friends and participate in sever-

al hands on activities.

This year St. Helena campers were Lyne’ Burton, Marvionna

East, Ja’Queilon Floyd, Dreveion Hitchen, Brittney Jackson, Brit-

tini Jacque, Zane Matthews, Jerliesha McClendon, Brant Muse

and Khristian Muse.

Adult Chaperons were Toni Melton-Youth Coordinator, Angela

Myles, 4-H Agent and Ahmad Robertson, ANR Agent.

4-H Challenge Camp

Inside this issue:

Homecoming Parade

Science Day

Fall Project

Pumpkin Patch

Livestock

2

Pumpkin Carving 3

Shooting Sports

Washington Parish Fair

4

Fall Garden

Seed Order

Cabbage

5

Club Recruitment 6

Healthy Living Workshop 7

Upcoming Events 8

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4-H Homecoming Pa-rade - 5th and 6th grade 4-H Officers represent-ed in the St. Helena Homecoming parade and perform communi-ty service at the same time. Picture Le’Naedra Moore, Matthew Guil-lory and Clay Preston

National 4-H Science Day -National 4-H Science Day ‘Rockets to the Rescue’ was an exciting, interactive learning experience that en-gaged youth in St. Helena Parish in con-ducting the Na-tional Science Experi-ment. The national 4-H event took place on October 8, 2014 at St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy. The 5th grade 4-H club was able to build and launch their own rockets and learn

about rocket science and aerospace engineering. Pictured in col-

lage: 5th graders –from SHATA Elementary, Aldrin Franklin, Brian Tan-ner, Moses Baker, DaVian Simmons, Lily Price, Nychelle Kendrick, Jamir-acle Scott, Dale Self, and Rishad Porter

School Fall Project—5th and 6th grade 4-H students were able to decorate their school for the fall. They wanted to design their own pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin Patch- Youth learned how pumpkins grow-students receive approximately 20 to 30 minutes of in-struction on how pumpkins are grown. Youth were able to select their own unique pumpkin from the patch – students actually walked through the Pumpkin Patch to take home a pumpkin. Youth were able to learn how to carve a pumpkin - Youth saw hands on demonstration on Pumpkin Carving and in-structions on how to safely carve their pumpkins when they got home. Teachers integrate a math lesson into the pumpkin experience by weighing and measuring each child's pumpkin (scale and tape measure were available).

Livestock- 4-H youth are getting prepared for the SU Annual Jr. Livestock Show. The livestock leader Mr. Harold Hughes has provided space for youth to care for animals during this process.

Pictured: top left—

Cody Murray, Moses Baker, JaQuan Myles and Kiven

Muse.

Front left back, Moses Baker, Volunteer Leola Holland, Shyjanah Hookfin,

Shermaine Pitts, Christopher Muse, Dale Self, Rishad Porter, Youth Coordinator,

Toni Melton, front right, Larry Self

Front row, Parish Jones, Tykerra Baham, Jordan Coleman, Le’Naedrea

Moore, Crystal Hughes, LaKiya Lee, Tia Stovall, Sa’Rya Travis, Deion Banks,

and Kiya Williams

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PUMPKIN CARVING/PAINTING CONTEST

Carved Pumpkins 5th Grade -Top left-Aldrin Franklin,

3rd place; Samara Hitchens, participation; Valencia

Tripps, 1st place; Issah Butler, 2nd place.

Carved Pumpkins—6th grade—top left, Shemar Bryer, 3rd

place, Mishae Varieste, 1st place; Keith Madison, 1st place;

Jamese Anderson, 1st place; Khia Gordon, 2nd place.

Carved Pumpkins– Devin Morgan, 1st place; Xavier Webber, 2nd

place; Tikera Baham, 3rd place.

Dorothy Nunnery, 2nd place; Alaya Burton, 3rd place, Genesis

Johnson, 1st place; Shandolyn Hurst, 2nd place.

Shooting Sports– Washington, Tangipahoa

and St. Helena was able to hold its annual

Shooting Sports Day on November 1st. St.

Helena had five youth to participate in this

event. Youth learned about the safety of ATV,

archery, air rifle and other areas of shooting.

Youth participating were top left, Christopher

Muse, Cody Murray, Shequan Myles, Deshon

Muse.

Washington Parish Fair—On October 16th, 4-H youth from St. Helena Par-

ish 7-12 graders, were able to attend Washington Parish Fair in Franklton,

La. At this event youth learned about exhibits of cut flowers, homemaking,

livestock and agricultural products. They came to experience the magic of

the Midway and the excitement of the PRO Rodeo, and even to just sit

under one of the tall pine trees and enjoy the good food.

Pictured top left volunteers, Ms. Daranaceia Williams, Ms. Debra Scott, Ms

Earnestine Banks, Ms. Stephanie Jackson, and Ms. Jeanette Myles.

Next picture, Cody Murray; bottom left– Ms. Daranaceia Williams, JaMya

Watson, Miesha Melton, Shermiracle James, Infinity Myles, Gregory Kelly,

Raven Jackson, Daranae Griffin. Botton right—Daranae Griffin.

Page 4 St . He l e n a V o i ce

On October 7, 2014 Ahmad R. Robertson, demonstrated best management practices for

growing a fall school garden. The students gained knowledge and training on site of plant

spacing, location, transplanting, irrigation, mulching, and cultivating of two vegetable

plots. St. Helena College & Career Horticulture Academy and Mr. Terry Guy Agriculture

Instructor planted winter Cole crops in the school garden. On November 21, 2014 St. Hele-

na College & Career Academy harvested fresh local grown horticulture crops. The stu-

dents planted collards, mustards, cabbage, broccoli, shallots, and lettuce in their raised

beds. The students planted different crop varieties in seedling trays 4 weeks prior to trans-

planting in their raised beds.

LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station now taking orders for sweet potato seed

orders. All orders must be received by January 23, 2015. All orders should be picked up no

later than March 13, 2015. Varieties for sale are Beauregard B63 & B14, Evangeline, Porto

Rico, O’ Henry, Jewel, Bush Porto Rico, and Heart O’ Gold. Contact Ahmad R. Robert-

son at the LSU/SU Extension office in St. Helena & Tangipahoa Parish or at arobert-

son@agcenter.lsu.edu

FALL GARDEN & SWEET POTATO SEED ORDER

Cabbage can be grown for six months in Louisiana gardens through

the fall, winter, and spring. It is a hardy plant, which makes it’s a val-

uable fresh vegetable that gardeners can enjoy during the winter

months. Cabbage can be transplanted from August through early

March. The crop transplanted in August, September, and October is

ready to harvest in November and December. Transplants set out in

November and early December will be ready to harvest in late Febru-

ary, March, and April the winter crop. Transplants set out in January

and February will be ready to harvest in late March to early May, the

spring crop. It takes about six weeks to produce cabbage transplants

from seed

Mr. Warner Hall transplanted four different varieties in his fall gar-

den test plots in September. I encourage all vegetable growers to

plant their seeds in seedling trays 4 to 6 weeks prior to transplanting

in the field. It adds value to your sustainable operation and increases

your yield economically. He recently harvested a 9.64 pound Bobcat

variety, his largest cabbage in 40 yrs. of growing horticulture crops.

In his trial test this fall Blue Vantage, Rio Verde, Bonnie Hybrid,

Savoy Ace, and Bobcat were the cabbage varieties planted.

CABBAGE

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Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center kicked off Club Recruitment Day , December 9, 2014 at St. Helena College & Career Academy in Greensburg, Louisiana. Southern University Youth Development Agent Nicolette Gordon said, “There are three awesome clubs that we will implement at St. Helena College & Career Academy, and we can’t wait to get started in January!” The three clubs are iLead (Interactive Leaders Engaging & Advancing Democracy), OMG (Outstanding Mature Girlz), and Y.E.S. Teens (Youth Educational Support Teens) that will serve as a conduit to the Y.E.S. After School Program that is underway in St. Helena Parishes 5th District. Stu-dents stopped by the SU AgCenter’s information table during their lunch shifts and registered in droves by using a life size Dave & Buster Pencil. Each student that could successfully write with the pencil walked away with an ice blue Sugar Cookie! The recruitment fun did not stop there! Mr. Douglas , the principal at St. Helena College & Ca-reer Academy kicked off the selfie craze! What an awesome way to kick-off Club Recruitment Day!

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The Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center (SUAREC) hosted its first ‘Santa’s Healthy Living Workshop’ following the Annual Town of Greensburg Christmas Pa-rade, on Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Forest Festival Park in Greensburg. Young Christ-mas enthusiast, and parents created healthy and edible arts & crafts in an effort to promote healthy snacking habits. Southern University Youth Development Agent Nicolette Gordon, was on hand to provide facts on all of the health benefits your body receives from eating healthy snacks. Youth Educational Support Teens (Y.E.S. Teens) Lewanna Lunzy, Rynisha Collins & Amanda Cater of St. Helena College & Career Academy dressed as Santa’s Elves and effectively managed each work station. Southern University AgCenter Agents Frankie Polland and Dana Isaac were on hand to teach teens between the ages of 13 – 17, along with their parents about the hazards of smoking.

We are still looking for Ambassadors for SUAREC Healthy Living Initiative for Youth! For more details on how you can get involved please contact Nicolette Gordon at the LSU/SU Ex-tension Office.

St . He l e n a V o i ce Page 7

Dec. 24th to January 1 –OFFICE CLOSECHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAY. RETURN JANUARY 2ND, 2015 January Science Fair 10—NASA, Stennis Space Center, south MS 16—Honor Cords due 19—office closed, MLK Day 22-24—District Livestock Show, St. Tammany February 12-13 Regional Science Fair, SELU, Hammond 14-24– State Livestock Show, Lamar Dixon, Gonzales 17– office closed, Mardi Gras 26-27 Parish Cookery Contest March 5-7 Southern Livestock Show 13-15 JLC On going monthly club meetings and jr. leaders meetings

UPCOMING EVENTS

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A very special thank you to the community, businesses and individuals of St.

Helena Parish for you support of the 4-H programs this year. We could not

have had such a successful year without your involvement. We will strive to

make the best better and to lead our youth in a positive way.

The LSU Agricultural Center, a statewide campus of the LSU System, and Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, a statewide campus of the Southern

University System, provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. Louisiana State Uniersity and A & M College, Southern University and A & M College, Louisiana

parish governing bodies, and United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Angela Myles, Assoc. Extension Agent, 4-H

Toni Melton, Youth Coordinator

Ahmad Robertson, Assistant Area Agent Agriculture

Bobby Bingham, Associate County Agent

Nicolette Gordon, Asst. Area Agent, Youth Development

Jennifer Guy, Administrative Coordinator