St. Martin Parish Cooperative Extension
114 Courthouse Street
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Phone: 337-332-2181

Website: www.louisiana4h.org/stmartin

Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

Social Media; Search “St. Martin Parish 4-H” on Facebook, & Instagram

Clover Event Calendar

November

• 6 Sweet Potato and Pecan Orders due to the 4-H Office
• 9 Validation Date for Market Lambs, & Commercial Ewes, Market Goats & Commercial Does, Beef & Dairy
  Commercial Heifers and Exhibition Poultry
• 16 Possession Date for Miniature Cattle
• 23 Camp Counselor Training
• 23 Junior Leader Meeting at 5 pm
• 24 4-H Fun Day & Pick Up Date for Sweet Potato and Pecan Orders (Livestock Barn at BBHS)

December

• 1 Possession Date for Swine & Validation Date for Market Hogs and Commercial Gilts. Also, possession deadlines for Exhibition rabbits for both Parish and District shows.
• 7 Junior Leader Meeting
• 12 Livestock Parent Meeting
• 18 Possession Deadline for State Rabbits

Note:

The 4-H Office will be closed from Wednesday, December 23, 2026, through Friday, January 1, 2027.

Clovers to All the Volunteers for Fall Fest

Fall Fest was held on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Fall Fest included a Beef, a Sugar, a Seafood, Family Recipe, an Edible Art Contest, a Pet Show, a Fall Photography Contest, a Rock Decorating Contest, and a Pumpkin Decorating Contest.

Stay Connected

St. Martin Parish 4-H offers lots of opportunities throughout the year.How can you keep up with all of the events? Stay connected!We publish a monthly newsletter that will be given to the 4-H members at their monthly club meetings. (If you are absent on the day of the 4-H club meeting, ask your school club leader for a newsletter when you return to school.)

We also have a St. Martin Parish 4-H website where we post newsletters, calendars, contest rules, and much more!The parish program is also connected through social media. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat.Join our pages today to stay connected and be active in 4-H this year!

The 4-H agents are also available at the office on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:30 pm at 337-332-2181. You can also email Mrs. Ashley at [email protected] or Mrs. Erica at [email protected]

4-H Fun Day

November 24, 2026

4-H Fun Day is for 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th grade 4-H members who want to learn about leadership, communication, and citizenship! The workshop will be held at Breaux Bridge High School in the boys gym on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 from 9:00am-11:00am.

Make plans to attend and be ready to learn all about STEM projects at Fun Day. (Please wear tennis shoes)

Pre-Registration Is Strongly Recommended so that we can have enough fun supplies for everyone. Please Pre-Register by using 4-H Online (v2.4honline.com) and select 2026 St. Martin Parish 4-H Fun Day deadline to register November 20, 2026. Sessions led by Jr. Leader club members. This is a free event.

4-H Fun Facts

The 4-H Motto is: "To Make the Best Better"

This motto challenges everyone involved in 4-H to do the very best job they can.

The 4-H Colors Are: Green and White.

Green symbolizes nature's most common color. White symbolizes purity.

The 4-H Emblem is: A green four-leaf clover with the letter "H" on each leaf. The H’s stand for: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health

Service Opportunity - Turn in Pull Tabs Today!

For over 15 years, we have collected pull tabs off the top of can drinks to help the Ronald McDonald house in Memphis, TN. This is a great service opportunity that is easy to complete.

What do you do? Collect as many pull tabs as you can from now until March 2, 2026. Collect them in a plastic Ziploc bag. Take the bag to school and give it to your school club leader. They will turn it into the 4-H Office.

What do we do with the tabs? We recycle them and receive money!

What do we do with money? We send the money to the Ronald McDonald House in Lafayette, LA.

To learn more about Ronald McDonald House, visit their website at:

http://www.rmhc-memphis.org.

St. Martin Parish 4-H Fall Commodity Fundraiser

The St. Martin Parish 4-H Foundation is hosting an annual fundraiser and will be selling both sweet potatoes and pecans. Proceeds from this sale will benefit the St. Martin Parish 4-H Program. The sweet potatoes are Louisiana grown on Garber Farms in Iota. The pecans are from Pointe Coupee Pecan Company.

Orders are due to the St. Martin Parish 4-H Office by November 6th.
Pick-up for the items ordered will take place on November 24^th from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Breaux Bridge High School Barn, near the football field. To order, fill out the form and return the completed form to the St. Martin Parish Extension Office located at 114 Courthouse Street, Breaux Bridge, LA. 70517. For questions or more information, please contact the St. Martin Parish 4-H Office at 337-332-2181.

Exploring Healthy Living- Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

Did you know that sweet potatoes are the most popular vegetable in Louisiana? They are high in nutrients like fiber and vitamin A and low in calories. That makes them nutrient dense. Fiber keeps you full longer and vitamin A is important for healthy eyes, skin, heart, and immune system. Sweet potatoes can help you stay alert in class and fight flu season. They can be enjoyed baked, smashed, boiled, or grilled.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon oil
4 medium sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:
Before you begin, wash your hands, surfaces, utensils, and vegetables.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Grease an 11X14 baking sheet with oil.
3. Wash potatoes. Remove ends. Do not peel.
4. Cut each potato lengthwise into wedges of roughly equal size. Place into a large bowl.
5. Toss potato wedges with oil.
6. Arrange wedges on pan in a single layer, without crowding.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until wedges begin to brown.

Remove from oven to turn each wedge. Return to oven for 15 minutes to brown.

Food Drive for the St. Bernard / St. Francis Food Pantry or St. Teresa Center

All 4-H clubs are, once again, invited to collect nonperishable food items and/or monetary donations for the St. Bernard / St. Francis Food Pantry or the St. Teresa Center for Works of Mercy. Clubs can organize the collection of items and arrange to have them delivered to the St. Bernard/St. Francis Food Pantry in Breaux Bridge or St. Teresa Center for Works of Mercy in St. Martinville on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

Some examples of needed items include: applesauce, canned beans, canned chicken or fish, canned vegetables, cooking oils, crackers, dried herbs and spices, fruit (canned or dried), granola bars, instant mashed potatoes, meals in a box, nuts, pasta, peanut butter, rice, powdered and shelf stable milk, soup, chili, and whole grain cereal.

Breaux Bridge St. Bernard/St. Francis Food Pantry 701 W. Bridge St.
7:00AM-5:30 PM

St. Martinville St. Teresa Center for Works of Mercy 600 S. Martin Luther King Drive
6:30AM-6:30PM

Junior Leader Club News:

Looking for a greater 4-H experience? Join the Jr. Leader Club to become more active in 4-H and in your community. The next meeting will take place on Monday, November 24^th at the 4-H Office from 5:00 – 6:15 pm. All 4-H’ers in 7^th-12^th grades are welcome. Dues for this club are $30. Those attending the meeting should bring a can good for the Food Drive.

Livestock News

Below are many important dates for livestock exhibitors and their families. Good luck with your projects! If you need assistance or have questions, please contact Mrs. Ashley Istre at 337-332-2181 or [email protected]

Livestock Possession Dates:

• November 9, 2026 Beef, Dairy, Sheep and Goats, and Exhibition Poultry
• November 2, 2026 Deadline to order Parish Broiler Chicks(possession takes place Thursday, December 3, 2026)
• November 16, 2026Miniature Cattle
• TBD State Broiler Order Deadline
• December 1, 2026 Swine and Exhibition Rabbits for Parish and District
• December 18, 2026 Exhibition Rabbits for State
• 30 days before show Meat Pen Rabbits (for Parish Show Only)
• April 1, 2027 Horses

Anyone not raising their animals on their property (home or farm) MUST contact the 4-H Office to request a possession hardship application. Completed hardship forms must be turned into the 4-H Office by the animal’s possession date.

Livestock Validation Deadlines:

Validation will consist of ear tagging the animal and pulling a hair sample for DNA Testing.

• November 9, 2026: All Commercial Beef Heifers, Commercial Dairy Heifers, Commercial Ewes, Commercial Does, Market Lambs, and Market Goats must be validated by the exhibitor and the properly identified validation envelope including the hair sample must be submitted to the 4-H Office along with the validation fees of $7 per animal.
• December 1, 2026: All Market Hogs and Commercial Gilts must be validated by the exhibitor and the properly identified validation envelope including the hair sample must be submitted to the 4-H Office along with the validation fees of $7 per animal.

Other Important Dates:

• November 9, 2026 YQCA Ethics Training at 5 pm 4-H Office

Livestock Show Dates:

• January 15-16, 2027 St. Martin Parish Livestock Show (Parish Livestock Barn on the Breaux Bridge High School campus)
• January 27-30, 2027 Acadiana District Livestock Show (Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette)
• February 13-20, 2027 LSU State Livestock Show (Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales

Shooting Sports News

Registered shooting sports participants received their project book(s) at the mandatory safety meetings. Reminders: Everyone must sign in and sign out at the designated location for each discipline. You will only get credit for the actual hours that you practice. No Exceptions. You must have the required 8 practice hours in each of your disciplines before the paperwork for the Regional Match is due. If you have not put in the required hours, you will not be allowed to register for the Regional Match. You must also turn in your completed 4-H portfolio to participate in the Regional Match.

Special thanks to all our shooting sports volunteers and the parish ambassadors for making this program a success.

Trivia

Each month, we will have a trivia contest in the Bayou Gazette newsletter.

If you email the correct answer to us, along with your full name, school you attend, and your grade level, by the deadline, you will receive a prize at your next club meeting. Remember, your answer must be correct!
November 4-H Trivia Question:
What topic was covered in the lesson this month?

Email us the answer along with your full name, the school you attend, and your grade level by 11/20/26 to: [email protected] or [email protected] if using a school email.

Congratulations September 4-H Trivia Contest Winners

Congratulations to the following prize winners: Head, heart, hands and health was the correct answer.

PP 4th: Tinsley Guillory, Divi Babin, Eastyn Dugas, Amelia Touchet, Coen Leger, Whey Champagne, Conner LeBlanc, Lincoln Williams, Kameryn Reynolds, Daiya Ledet SBS 4th: Matthew Bienvenu, Lily VanValkenburg BBE 5th: Madelyn Reed TE 4th/ 5th: Aubree Bertrand, Derian Alexander, Baya Johnson, Knox Hebert, Ivy Hawkins, Khyree Benjamin, Fransece Flugence CJH: Emmy Vidrine, Alivia Champagne, Ted Taylor PMS: Laila Singleton SBS: Hudson Durio, Stephen Castillo At-Large: Juliette Comb, Isaac Belaire, Lawless Guillot, Rowan Chastant, Carter Vitte, Weston Cormier, Sebastian Cantu, Emma Blanchard, Juliana Guirard, Karson Comb, Aiden Edgar, Owen Blanchard, Averi Theriot SMJH: Isabella Champagne BBHS: Marley Huval, Trenity Landy, Brianna Broussard, Aiden Devillier CHS: Xyailon Harmon, Rylei Pommier, Nicholas Taylor, Khloe Mire SMSH: Amari Cole

Congratulations October 4-H Trivia Contest Winners

Congratulations to the following prize winners: Nutrition was the correct answer.
BBE: Madelyn Reed, Ava Waguespack PP 4th: Emma DeRouen, Eastyn Dugas, Daiya Ledet, Coen Leger, Bohdi Champagne, Whey Champagne, Jagger Jordon, Kameryn Reynolds, Bennett Meche, Tinsley Guillory, Divi Babin, Eri’Ahna Arcement, Kensley Fitch, Aksel Gardemal, Embry Freeman, Addison Holloway, Gariella Rose, Kade Lastrape, Allon Easton, Lincoln Williams At-Large: Lawless Guillot, Anna Savoie, Juliette Comb TE 4th/5th: Isaiah Knott, Annabelle Knott, Lilith Ballengee, Baya Johnson, Ivy Hawkins, Knox Hebert, Fransece Flugence, Cole Menard, Tamara Cluse BBJH 6th-8th: Dezi Onezine, Kimber Brown, Richmond Brailey, Lauren Landry, Aniyah Broussard SBS 4th/5th: Matthew Bienvenu, Mila Mendard, Hudson Durio, Stephen Castillo SBS 6th-8th: Andre Olivier At-Large 6th - 8th: Juliana Girouard, Sebastian Cantu, Weston Cormier, Calais Varnado, Aaron Anderson, Ethan Latiolais SMJH: Isabella Champagne CJH: Paris Landry, Brylee Broussard, Brinley Broussard, Antonio Smith, Louis Kidder, Ted Taylor, Riley Hernandez BBHS: Deisy Chavez-Hernandez, Aiden Devillier, Marley Huval CHS: Aubrey Prioux, Khloe Mire, Adalyn Mistric, Paxton Wiltz, Nicholas Taylor, Rylei Pommier SMSH: Amari Cole At-Large 9th-12th: Aiden Edgar ARC: Knox Taylor, Jaxon Taylor, Jayson Vaughn, Alysa Thibodeaux, Tucker Thibodeaux, Brec Cortez, McKlain Cortez, Aubree Patin, Ally Patin, Gunner Chambers, Maggie Ardoin

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ashley Mrs. Erica
Ashley Istre Erica Poirier
4-H Agent 4-H Agent

It is the policy of the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, or disability. Should you need an ADA accommodation for your participation in any aforementioned activity, please contact the St. Martin 4-H office at 337-332-2181 no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. The LSU AgCenter provides equal opportunities and employment. Cooperating agencies: LSU AgCenter, Louisiana parish governing bodies, and the United States Department of Agriculture.