Vermilion 4-H’ers win top prizes at national poultry, egg conference

For six members of the Vermilion Parish 4-H community, 2013 is closing on a high note.
Five Vermilion Parish 4-H members earned top spots and another placed in the top 10 during the recent Poultry and Egg Conference. In all, 11 Louisiana 4-H members took home top prizes from the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference held in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 20-21.
The 4-H Avian Bowl team won their national contest and brought home a gold pin, plaque and a $100 cash award. The team members were Austin Gaspard, Justin Punch, Connor Waits and Ty Zaunbrecher, all from Vermilion Parish. The team as coached by LSU AgCenter 4-H agent Hilton Waits. This marks the first time a team from Louisiana has ever won the national contest.
Also from Vermilion Parish, Anne Catherine LeBlanc won the National 4-H Chicken Barbecue Contest. LeBlanc was judged on her barbecue techniques, the sensory evaluation of the finished barbecue and her presentation skills in which she gave an illustrated talk on poultry. She won a gold pin, plaque and a $250 cash award. LeBlanc was coached by LSU AgCenter 4-H agents Shannan Waits and Hilton Waits from Vermilion Parish.
Vermilion Parish 4-H’er Kyrie Collins placed eighth in the National 4-H Turkey Barbecue Contest. Collins was judged on her barbecue techniques, the sensory evaluation of the finished barbecue and on her presentation skills, in which she gave an illustrated talk on turkeys. She won a bronze pin and a $50 cash award. Kyrie was coached by Shannan Waits and Hilton Waits.
Ascension Parish 4-H’er Viki-Dawn Landry, took fourth place in the National 4-H Egg Preparation Demonstration Contest. Landry was judged on her presentation skills and her dish – coconut cream pie. She won a silver pin and a $100 cash award. Landry was coached by Ascension Parish volunteers Katherine Beier and Hannah Landry.
The Louisiana 4-H poultry judging team placed sixth in the egg production judging section of the national 4-H poultry judging contest. The team included Zachary Hardy, Wade Steib and Courtney Weber, all from Pointe Coupee Parish, and Karen Robbins from St. Tammany Parish. In addition, Karen Robbins placed seventh in individual egg production judging. The team was coached by LSU AgCenter 4-H agent Mark Carriere from Pointe Coupee Parish.
LSU AgCenter poultry specialist Theresia Lavergne said the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference was held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition.