Hebert recognized with gifts, songs at Achievement Day

Julie Hebert will be the first to tell you she is a fan of quotes and sayings.
So, there was no better time to pull her 4-H-related quotes out of the bag than Friday morning when she was recognized as the 2015 Acadia Parish 4-H Achievement Day honoree.
She referenced friendship, family, love, four-leaf clovers and 4-H, specifically, in her quotes as she thanked those who had impacted her life and had gotten her to this point Friday.
“I have so many to thank for being here today,” said Hebert.
Held at Midland High School, the day featured education, awards and fun for all 4-H’ers in attendance. Members from roughly 20 clubs filled the high school for the day’s activities.
Hebert got her start in 4-H as a fourth grader and only continued to grow with the program as she progressed from member to club leader.
After graduation from high school, she took on the role of 4-H leader in 1984. She then went on to McNeese University where she obtained a degree in education. She initially wanted to become a 4-H agent, but changed her major to education after she married and began a family.
Once Hebert started teaching, she did not forget her 4-H experience and began to share her wealth of knowledge of the 4-H program with her students. Her skills in teaching club members how to do a demonstration proved to be invaluable.
Hebert works tirelessly to promote 4-H and the values the club imparts. Over the year, she has seen her club members grow and blossom into successful adults, ready to take on the challenges of this world.
One of her main goals in the 4-H program is the community service program. Her club has a very positive attitude towards helping others as well as their school. They assist with fundraisers for Heavenly Hats, St. Jude’s, Shriner’s Hospital and food baskets for the needy to name a few.
Club members under her tutelage have grown as people as well as students and 4-H members, and it is for those reasons and more that Hebert was nominated and subsequently recognized this year.
“Four-H is more than just a club, we’re family,” she said. “I’m so proud to watch my junior 4-H’ers grow and develop through 4-H.”
Also recognized at the event was Ethan Breaux from Iota Middle School’s 4-H Club. Breaux’s design was chosen for the program cover. Breaux’s 8.5-inch by 11-inch drawing featured armed soldiers with the 4-H Pledge in the middle. His “Sound off for 4-H!!!!” also provided the basis for other club shirt designs and songs.
After opening items and before the clubs were adjourned to their educational programs, 10 of the clubs in attendance competed in the annual song competition, featuring 4-H centric songs to the tunes of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Uptown Funk” and “A Girl Worth Fighting For” and everything in between.
Winners of the song competition and other awards were presented in the afternoon session.