Record book and award forms due June 18th

Don’t forget...record books, year pin check list and award forms are due to the extension office on or before June 18^th!

If you don't know what a record book is or are unsure of the new changes and want to meet with me to go over the infromation. 

The forms can be downloaded or the link to the online system is http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/youth_recordbooks#centra. 

We will need judges for county and district judging.  This is a GREAT way to get ideas to help your child with their recordbook!!  Older members can also help judge younger books and there is a jr. rally on the day of the district judging for the younger members to participate in while parents judge.  If your're interested in dates and details, let me know.

SPRING 2012 PAPER CLOVER CAMPAIGN

SPRING 2012 PAPER CLOVER CAMPAIGN –

May 2-13, 2012

Tractor Supply organizes a spring and fall Paper Clover event where shoppers can support their 4-H youth programs by making donations upon check out at the store registers. For every $1 donation, shoppers will receive a paper clover to sign and post in store windows.

Include a donation with your next purcahse and encourage frinds and family members to do the same!

Bastrop County Horse Show

The Brush Poppers 4-H Horse Club had their annual horse show last Saturday at the arena in Elgin.  They had a lot of fun activities for a great show! 

Summer 4-H Activities

If you would like to help organize and run a photography and/or cookie contest (food and nutrition) for LEADERSHIP in these projects, let me know ASAP.  There is an opportunity to do this in conjunction with Western Days in Elgin on Saturday, June 23^rd.

If you would like to help decorate and/or ride on the 4-H float PROMOTE 4-H for Western Days contact the 4-H Sweetheart, Amanda Dale, at jdale1015@aol.com.  Decorating will most likely happen on Friday June 22^nd and the parade is the morning of June 23^rd in Elgin.

If you signed up to nurture pine seedlings (forestry, outdoor, community service), they are ready to be picked up.  You should be receiving an email from Janice on specifics but you can pick yours up at the office (unless she’s made other arrangements with you).  Don’t forget to bring a check if you haven’t paid for yours.

If you are interested in helping lead or attend workshops this summer in photography, clothing & textiles or food & nutrition.  Let me know ASAP (especially if you want to help plan so you can increase your leadership in these projects).  I’m looking at dates in June to offer workshops so will need to plan activities soon. 

Is there another project you want to increase your leadership?  Let us know and we can work on finding a way for you to do that!

Nutrition Science Academy

Youth ages 13-17 who are interested in exploring nutrition science will participate in hands-on activities in university classrooms and labs. See this promotional flyer for more details.

State Wide 4-H Photogrpahy Workshop

Learn new and basic photography techniques at the Statewide Photography Workshop! The first day will be filled with photography sessions such as the evolution of cameras, still life photography, editing your photos with Photoshop and much more! The second day will be a field trip to the antique tractor fairgrounds where we will take pictures of tractors, old buildings, people in costume, and horses.

Schedule and speakers to be posted soon:

http://agrilife.org/bell4h/projects/photographyproject/statewide-4-h-photography-workshop/

 

June 21 and 22, 2012

June 21st: 8:45am- 4:00pm (Check in: 8:00-8:45am)

June 22nd: 8:30am- 12:00pm (Check in: 8:00-8:30am)

$20 for youth and adults

Entry Deadline: June 4, 2012

WAY TO GO BASTROP COUNTY!!!

UpDate on Operation Bit of Home Community Service Project!
Here is the final tally on the State community service, Operation A Bit Of Home, DVD collection for troops in Afghanistan:
• 285 DVDs donated
• $85 donated
Seven counties or clubs participated: Brush 4-H, Williamson County, Denver City 4-H, Bastrop County, Washington County, Montgomery County and Bell County. We exceeded our goal by 185 DVDs! A big thanks to everyone that participated.

Thank you to all the members who contributed!

4-H Healthy Lifestyles Invitational

Looking for an opportunity to participate in Texas 4-H Roundup? Give the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Invitational a try! Youth may enter the contest, held on Thursday afternoon, as an individual or a member of a team. More information is available online: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/healthy_lifestyles

Texas 4-H Outdoor Challenge

This contest, scheduled for June 30-July 1 at the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood, is for all 4-H members, and includes events such as Rifle, Fishing, Archery, Shotgun, Canoeing, Swimming, Orienteering, Camping Skills, Outdoor Safety and Wildlife Identification. Teams include 2 people (same age division) and can include 2 males, 2 females or 1 male & 1 female. Click here to get more details.

4-H Photography Contest with State Dog Show

If you're interested in photography and dogs, this may be ther perfect contest for you!! Pictures must be taken from last July to the time registration ends on May 11th (on 4-H Connect).  Rules can be found on our county website, bastrop-tx.tamu.edu.  

Cross Timber Lamb and Goat Camp - June 22-24

Texas AgriLife Extension Service-Erath County and the Erath Lamb and Goat 4-H Club will be hosting a lamb and goat feeding and showmanship camp on June 22-24, 2012 at the Tarleton State University College Farm. 

Registration is $100.00 per exhibitor and $50.00 per adult.  Adult supervision is required.  Registration is open to exhibitors that will be enrolled in the 4-H or FFA program for 2012-2013 year.  Registration is limited to the first 50 lamb and 50 goat exhibitors.  Forms can also be downloaded http://erath.agrilife.org 

The flier, registration form and TSU Waiver of Liability are attached.  Both youth and adults needs to complete the waiver of liability.  If anyone has questions they can contact the Erath County Extension Office at 254-965-1460 or erath@ag.tamu.edu      

D7 & 10 Leadership Lab - June 26-28, 2012 - in NEW BRAUNFELS!

District Leadership Lab will be nearby in New Braunfels June 26-28. Registration will be on 4-H Connect May 15-31 with NO LATE REGISTRATION. Cost is $235 per 4-H member and includes dinner on the 26th, all meals on the 27th, breakfast and lunch on the 28th, as well as admission to Schlitterbahn. All District 4-H Council officers and county delegates should plan on attending! All participants must be at least 13 years of age by the date of Leadership Lab. No graduating seniors (unless current District Council officer) may attend. Forms will be due by June 1st.

One of the major events of Lab will be the election of officers for the District 10 4-H Council. Council Officer applications are due to the District Office by May 1, 2012 (postmarked). If you're interested in running for office, contact Sarah or Rachel.

Texas Pork Leadership Camp

Who can attend? 4-H or FFA members who:
1. Will be enrolled during the 2012-13 school year as high school juniors or seniors, and this year's high school graduates.
2. Have a definite interest in the pork industry and/or swine projects
3. Are willing to speak out for the pork industry through public appearances
4. Are interested in devoting 5 1/2 days of long hours to meeting interesting people and gaining a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the pork industry
5. Must be approved by a selection process that will include evaluation of the written application and interviews (in-person and/or by telephone)
6. If accepted, must complete online Quality Counts or Youth PQA Plus training before arriving for Camp.

Texas Pork Leadership Camp is a unique opportunity for 16 high school students to experience the Texas pork industry from "Conception to Consumption." This Camp give an in-depth view into all aspects of the pork industry, while engaging students in issues and activities concerning the pork industry. The Pork Leadership Camp teaches leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and other personal skills while the participants are learning about the pork industry.

The goal of Texas Pork Leadership Camp is to provide select 4-H and FFA students with an excellent learning opportunity about the pork industry and assist in developing and improving their leadership and communication skills, and to create well-informed advocates of the pork industry.

Texas Pork Leadership Camp is a week-long bus tour throughout the state of Texas and part of Oklahoma that enables students to tour production facilities, packing plants, processing plants, wholesale and retail markets, universities and other facilities which encompass the pork industry in Texas. For 5 1/2 days and nights the students travel, live, and work together as teams and individuals in the most hands-on experience available to 4-H and FFA students. Throughout the Camp the students are engaged in media training, real life industry situations, discussion sessions and daily educational assignments.

Cost is $350, if accepted. Applications are due by April 16, 2012.

Interested? Contact the Extension office to get the application and informational packet.

2012 State Youth Water Camp

The 2012 State Youth Water Camp will be July 8-12, 2012, at the Bentley 4-H Center in Monahans, TX. The Camp is open to high-school youth who are interested in water conservation and water issues, and who are willing to work in teams. Adult project leaders may also apply, but must pass a background check before participating.

State Youth Water Camp is a five day educational camp planned to teach high school youth the importance of water stewardship, train them in water conservation and preservation, and illustrate how our water resources are being used by industry, agriculture and municipalities. We accomplish this through hands-on experiences, guest speakers, and field trips. The Camp is co-sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Upper Pecos Soil & Water Conservation District.

Applications and information are available at: http://ward.agrilife.org/ or from any AgriLife Extension office. Applications must be received in the AgriLife Extension office in Ward County by May 18, 2012. Participants will be informed of their acceptance by May 31, 2012. Registration is $150.00, due in the AgriLife Extension office in Ward County by June 8, 2012. Soil and water conservation districts, ground water conservation districts and youth organizations are sources of scholarships. Water Camp is open to all Texas youth, but space is limited so we encourage early registration.

For more information, call the AgriLife Extension office in Ward County at 432-943-4112/2682.

New 4-H Recordbook Forms

As we’ve been reporting on the 4-H News Blog and Newsletter, the Texas 4-H Record Keeping System has been going through some changes. Part of the change brought an online version of the record keeping system (http://4hreports.com). This system provides 4-Hers the option of completing their entire record keeping process online. However, it is not mandatory to do so. In addition to offering the online system, a set of forms is available to assist youth in their record keeping skills in other ways. These forms, in both Word and fillable PDF versions, can be found online at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/youth_recordbooks.

58th Annual Youth Range Workshop - June24-29, 2012

The purpose of the Youth Range Workshop is to recognize outstanding youth, develop leadership skills, and provide advanced training to 4-H and FFA youth interested in practical range ecology, ranch and natural resource management. A goal of the workshop is that youth participants will return to their local communities and serve as leaders to educate youth and other audiences about the value and management of the rangeland resource. The workshop will be conducted at the Texas Tech University - Junction, in Junction, Texas. A total of 40 youth will be accepted to the 2012 Workshop.

Participants are exposed to actual land management practices and decisions through field trips to Menard and Mason County ranches and the Kerr Wildlife Management Area. The field trips bring out facts on decision-making, goals of land ownership and the responses of vegetation to practices conducted for livestock, wildlife and range restoration. Time spent at the local ranches helps the participants get a glimpse of real management directed at having livestock and wildlife enterprises.

If you are interested in participating in the Youth Range Workshop, please contact the Extension office for a recommendation, as class size is limited. More information about the Youth Range Workshop is available on the web. The announcement, brochure and application can be found at www.rangelands.org/texas/youtheducation.htm

2012 Texas 4-H Horse Validation Program Update

Beginning with this year's Horse Validation Program the process will now be all electronically completed using the 4-H CONNECT online management system. ALL 4-H members who wish to show in a District or the State 4-H Horse Show(s) or to be stalled in the Comal County 4-H Horse Barn will be required to validate their horse(s) on the 4-H CONNECT system.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR VALIDATION PROCESS, YOU MUST:

- Have a family and youth member profile established on 4-H Connect.

- Be an active/paid youth member of Texas 4-H for the 2011-2012 4-H year.

- Have digital photos of your horse(s) from the front, left side, and right side. These photos must be accessible for upload during the validation process. (see details below)

- For registered horses, you need to have a pdf copy of your horse(s) registration papers for upload (if you don't have a pdf of your registration papers, Janet can help you with that!).

IMPORTANT: Horse Validation is completed for EACH HORSE and will cover all 4-H youth members in that family profile. However, when validating your horses on 4-H CONNECT, you will select ONLY ONE 4-H youth member to conduct the validation under. Once a horse is validated, validation paid, and you begin registering for the District Horse Show, the validated horse(s) can be moved to the appropriate 4-H member(s) who will be exhibiting that horse in the show.

OTHER FACTS ABOUT THE HORSE VALIDATION PROCESS FOR 2012:
- Validation will be open from April 1 to May 1, 2012. Any horse validated before or after this date will not be accepted as a legitimate validated animal.
- An illustrated step-by-step instruction guide for families is available for download and reference from both the Texas 4-H website and the Texas AgriLife Extension Animal Science - Horse Section website.
- Validation cost for each horse will be $10. Each 4-H family validating a horse(s) will need to print an invoice for each horse and provide the invoice(s) and check to the county Extension office. The county Extension office will deposit these funds and cut one check for all validations.
- There is no limit to the number of horses that can be validated in the process.
- Ownership requirements are the same - The horse must be owned solely by the 4-H
member, his/her parents (biological or stepparents), brother, sister, grandparents, or legal guardian. Horses under lease to, but not owned by any of the named persons, do not qualify. Horses owned in partnership or jointly with any person other than those previously listed do not meet ownership requirements.- In the past there was a Grade Horse worksheet that included the need for sketching markings and colors of horses. That form is no longer required, however, it is a requirement for ALL horses that photos of the front, left side, and right side are uploaded during the validation process. The entire horse MUST be in the photographs. Photos should be as close as possible and markings should be clearly visible. The photo should be in jpg or gif format.
- A pdf or jpg of the registration papers will be uploaded for registered horses. If you are not able to scan papers, contact Janet and she can help you.


BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW SYSTEM, IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED THAT YOU DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE IN CASE OF ANY COMPUTER, PHOTO, UPLOAD ISSUES!