Thursday, October 30, 2014

4-H Natural Resource Program Reminders



The following bullets are reminders and updates of programs coming from the 4-H Natural Resources Office:
  • Shooting Sports Muzzleloading Coach Training – November 22-23 at the 4-H Center; registration deadline is coming up November 6th 
  • Shooting Sports Ambassador Program Applications open on 4-H Connect
  • Wildlife Habitat Education Project (WHEP) Practice Contests are set in Dallas, December 13th and Richmond, January 10th
  • D-6 Wildlife Challenge and Natural Resources Training in Fort Stockton, November 8-9; open registration to anyone in the state, deadline is October 31st
  • 2015 Shooting Sports Texas Team Application (for the 2015 National Invitational) registration closes November 13th
  • 4-H Archery Camp – January 23-25, 2015 at the 4-H Center; registration opens December 11th

Be sure to check the Shooting Sports Coach Training Schedule (http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/shootingsports/) for updates as additional District trainings are getting scheduled.  We have eight trainings coming up in the next five months. 

Major Livestock Show Registrations

This year we are trying a new method for collecting the major livestock show forms. Forms will be collected on Tuesday, November 4th at the Travis County Extension office. We will not start to collect forms until 6:00 pm. Agents and livestock mentors will be on hand to help with collection and reviewing of forms.
The reason for this change is so that families can get an idea of who will be going to the major shows and get to know one another. This will also allow for questions to be asked and answered form our veterans. The process can be overwhelming at times and we want to make sure all of our families have a great experience.

Updates and reminders regarding some of the shows:
 - Stay on top of the health requirements
 - Sandhills entries are due in November
 - Houston Poultry Show - has moved to a two day show, Broilers on March 11th and Turkeys on
   March 12th
 - Houston will have a Food Challenge

***We will have a notary on site for the Houston entry form***

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening!!

Wilbarger Creek 4-H - One Day 4-H Service Project

Great Job - Wilbarger Creek 4-H Club for showing your gratitude to area Pflugerville Fireman for your One Day 4-H Service Project.

Heart of Texas Fair Results

Several youth from Travis County Competed at the Heart of Texas Fair back in early October.

Livestock
Great job to Laine and Aaron Schmalzried on exhibiting your goats

Shooting Sports
Great Job to Kyliegh Lindholm and Bryson Rother on participating in this event.

Consumer Decision Making
Jr/Int Team - 1st Place - Erica Masi, David Dolliver, Martha Dolliver, Colby Warwick
                      4th Place - Anna Swartz, Emily Swartz and Will Whitaker
                      7th Place - Jonah Swartz, Anna Whitaker, John Paul Whitaker
                      2nd Place Jr/Int Individual - Erica Masi
                      4th Place Jr/Int Individual - David Dolliver
                      7th Place Jr/Int Individual - Martha Dolliver
                       9th Place Jr/Int Individual - Emily Swartz

Senior Team - 2nd Place - Anna Dolliver, Meredith Masi, Trent Warwick, Collin Warwick
                        2nd Place Sr. Individual - Meredith Masi
                        3rd Place Sr. Individual - Trent Warwick
                        10th Place Sr. Individual - Collin Warwick

Food Challenge
Jr/Int Team - 5th Place  - Erica Masi, David Dolliver, Martha Dolliver, Colby Warwick
Senior Team - 1st Place -  Sofia Ramirez, Anna Dolliver, Meredith Masi, Trent Warwick, Collin
                        Warwick

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

2015 Retreats at the Texas 4-H Conference Center


Goat and Lamb Showmen - Youth Leaders Needed

The 4-H CAPITAL program hosts its annual 4-H CAPITAL Classic Goat show for its members each year and they are always looking for teen leaders to assist with this event. The youth in 4-H CAPITAL are very excited and eager to have the showing experience that many of you have and this is the perfect opportunity to share your knowledge and skills.

Contest and shows are great, but the learning experiences are so important and vital to the overall experience of a 4-H project. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Cory at cmtalley@ag.tamu.edu. The event takes place in Burnet County at the Burnet County Fairgrounds on December 6th.

Ronnie Smith Memorial Buyers Group - Fundraiser


County 4-H Food Show - November 6th

Additional forms will be available soon for completing paperwork. County Food Show Registration and recipe forms are available below as well as the registration for the spooky desserts contest.
 The contest will be held at Holy Family Catholic Shool at 9400 Neenah Avenue, Austin, Texas 78717 (at the Grace Building). The event begins at 6:00 PM.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador Program



The Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador Program has been restructured and updated.  This includes the application process that is about to be open on 4-H Connect (http://texas.4honline.com).  Basic requirements and expectations and application instructions are available on the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports webpage (http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/shootingsports/) or by clicking on this link.

4-H Scholarship Workshop - Hosted by TAMU Collegiate 4-H

Are You A High School Junior or Senior?
Are You Planning on Attending College?

If so, join the Texas A&M University Collegiate 4-H Club for this 4-H Scholarship Workshop.






Saturday, November 8, 2014
9:30 am to 2 pm
Rudder Tower, Memorial Student Center Complex
Texas A&M University, College Station 
The Texas A&M Collegiate 4-H Club will be hosting a scholarship training for Texas 4-H members and parents who are wanting to learn about completing a 2015 Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship Application, or how to prepare and plan for applying in future years. 

The workshop will include:
  • Overview of the scholarship processing including the scoring and selection.
  • Criteria and eligibility
  • Detailed review of each section of application
  • Hints and tips for submitting a quality application
  • General information about college financial aid

Registration is $20.00 per person and includes all workshop materials, breaks and lunch.
Registration is limited to 150! 

Registration deadline is Monday, November 4, 2014  

To register, click HERE to download the fillable pdf registration form. 
Complete the form and mail with your payment to:  
4-H Scholarship Training, c/o Lauren Campion, 3203 Sandpiper Circle, Bryan, TX 77802

Location for the Training
Room 601, Rudder Tower, Memorial Student Center Complex
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Thank you for supporting the TAMU Collegiate 4-H Club 

Wildlife Habitat Education Project Practice Contests



Posted: 24 Oct 2014 02:50 PM PDT
The Wildlife Habitat Education Project, also known as 4-H WHEP, is a study in wildlife biology, ecology, and habitat management.  The curriculum doubles as the study guide for 4-H WHEP contests held in various locations around the state and around the calendar.  This curriculum, the 4-H WHEP Manual, is available on the 4-H Wildlife webpage (http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/project_wildlife/wildlife/) under the title 'Wildlife Habitat Education Project' in 6 separate pdf files.  Each file basically makes up a chapter of the manual.  As a curriculum, it provides education from a basic to advanced wildlife study depending on the depth a group would like to go.  Other resources would be necessary to provide a complete wildlife and habitat management study if the goal is in that direction.

As a contest resource, any 4-H WHEP contest around the state uses the manual as a study guide and a contest format.  The only portion that is not used for state level contests is the contest rules printed in the Manual, which are written for the National WHEP Invitational.  Separate Rules and Procedures are written for each contest within the state and posted with each contest's information.  A set of Generic Rules and Procedures are available on the webpage for use in getting to know the material and the contest in general. 

Practice Contests are held during the year to help prepare county teams and leaders for upcoming contests.  These practice contests are modified to accommodate a one day format.  The practice contests also differ in that official answers to the contest activities are provided verbally following each activity along with discussion and question answering providing a learning atmosphere.  Another difference is that adults are encouraged and expected to actively participate in the practice contest to better understand the contestant's point of view and to learn alongside of their youth.

Two Practice Contests are on the calendar at this time:
   December 13, 2014 in Dallas (registration opens October 25th)
    January 10, 2015 in Richmond (Fort Bend County)