The 2010 Vermilion Parish 4-H Garden Contest was recently held for 31 4-Hers. This year’s contest was judged on Saturday May 29, 2010, by Lafayette Master Gardeners, Ronnie Lege, Peggy Simon and Lois Manual. They evaluated the 4-H’ers based on their ability to answer questions about their garden. They also scored the gardens according to the variety of vegetables or flowers planted, insect and disease control, garden display and harvest record, weed control, neatness, general appearance and site selection.

Many of the 4-H’ers have gone to raising their vegetables in a raised bed. This seems the best approach to successful 4-H backyard gardening. These smaller gardens are easier to care for and have much deeper and well aerated soil than what you normally find in the clay laden fields of Vermilion Parish. The use of compost and organic gardening methods are also prevalent among the 4-H crowd.

Winners in this year’s contest were recognized at the Daylily Festival at noon on Saturday, June 5, 2010, in the Cultural Alliance Center. During the ceremony, Stuart Gauthier, County Agent with the LSU AgCenter, presented a slide show of the winning gardens and contest judge, Lois Manual handed out prize money and ribbons. This year an Overall Best Garden in Show and Reserve Best Garden in Show were also selected.

Winners were:

4th – 6th Grade Division:

1st place, Adam Gapard, RRMS; 2nd place, Wyatt Broussard, MMCS; 3rd place, Celia Gauthier, Meaux Elementary; 4th place, Adrian Courville, Cecil Picard; 5th place, Sophie Vincent, FIEB; Blue Ribbon Winners are: Adam Courville, FIEB; Ally Marceaux, FIEB; Kristin Cabrol, 7th Ward; Dawn Bruton, KES; Colt Hardee, FIEB; Lori Lange, MMCS; Jace Stelly, FIEB. Red Ribbon Winners are: Hannah Guidry, FIEB; Jessica Bigbie, RRMS; Seth Suire, FIEB; Shelbee Leger, RRMS; Shelby Lemaire, RRMS; Ridge Herpin, RRMS; Shay LeBouef, 7th Ward; Chelsey Miller, Meaux Elementary; White Ribbon winners are: Victoria Frederick, JH Williams; Autumn Derouen, Meaux Elementary; Caroline Naomi, Cecil Picard

7th – 8th Grade Division:

1st place, Austin Gaspard, RRMS; 2nd place, Alex Clark, FIEB; 3rd place, Callie Gaspard, FIEB; 4th place, Jamie Montet, NVHS; 5th place, Danna Sonnier, NVHS

9th – 12th Grade Division:

1st place, Devin Marceaux, KHS; 2nd place, Janine D’Augereau, ARCH; 3rd place, Keisha Marceaux, NVHS

Overall Reserve Grand Champion:

Adam Gaspard, RRMS (4th -6th grade division)

Overall Grand Champion:

Austin Gaspard, RRMS (7th -8th grade division)

For more information about the 4-H garden contest, contact Stuart Gauthier, County Agent with the LSU AgCenter, Cooperative Extension Service at 898-4335 or come by and visit him at 1105 W. Port Street in Abbeville.