Three Regional 4-H/FFA Beef Leadership Camps were successful in training over 300 hundred participants in the disciplines of the Junior Beef Projects, Character Counts training and Leadership development.  These three hundred club members, parents, and project leaders participated in the educational programs that were conducted in Lake Charles, West Monroe and Alexandria in the last month.  Mr. Jimmy Meaux (4-H Agent in Calcasieu) coordinated the Southwest Beef leadership camp held in Lake Charles; Mr. Jason Ables (4-H Agent in Ouachita) coordinated the North Louisiana camp held in West Monroe; and Mr. Rodney Johnson (4-H Agent in Rapides) coordinated the Central Louisiana Beef Leadership camp held in Alexandria according to Dr. Terry L. Dumas, Professor, Extension 4-H Livestock (Beef, Sheep & Goats).   We have held statewide camps in the past and this was our first effort to do these camps on a regional basis and we managed to triple the attendance and participation by club members, parents and project leaders according to Dr. Dumas.  Numerous agents, specialists, industry leaders and beef project volunteer leaders presented educational programs at these camps.  This was a tremendous effort by everyone involved and the camps were a huge success.   Plans are already under way to develop and conduct regional beef leadership camps for next year.

These camps were cosponsored by the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service of the LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Junior Cattleman’s Association, and numerous local and regional sponsors.