Club explores more than just livestock

There is a new 4-H club open to St. Tammany children between the ages of 9-19 that has been meeting only since November, but it's already generating lots of excitement from its members and parent volunteers.

The St. Tammany Agriculture and Livestock 4-H Club was organized late last fall when parents of home school students and several Covington High students found a common interest in a club that focused on a rural lifestyle.

According to Janie Kelly, LSU AgCenter Associate Extension agent, many of the children who were interested in forming the club either participate in livestock shows or are interested in agriculture. Although livestock and agriscience are the common ground for this group, individual members also pursue other interests.

"Some of the members are from Covington High who had been active in 4-H and missed the 4-H experience since the school does not have a club," Kelly said. "Some of the other members are home school students who were 4-H members at large but were missing out on the interaction with peers that a 4-H club provides."

Those who helped form the club were also looking for the opportunity to have workshops and activities focused in their area of interest and were open to investigating new interests.

Home school student Harold Mizell, 11, is one of the organizing members who was looking for the opportunity to interact and socialize with other children who share his interests.

"When I was a 4-H member, the dynamics of a group learning and interaction was a big part of my youth, and Harold wanted that as well," said his mother, Melinda Mizell.

While Harold Mizell shows commercial heifers, Angus cows and chickens at livestock shows, he is also working on two other 4-H projects: horticulture and forestry.

"Four-H is not just about livestock, although many of the children around here do show livestock as part of their 4-H project," she said. "But even the children in this new club who do not show livestock enjoy working together as a group and often help each other with their project."...