Just wanted to take a second to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope everyone enjoys some much needed time with family, and wonderful food! I am very thankful for Travis County 4-H members, families, and volunteers!
Consumer Decision Making
Contest:
Reminder!! Quality Counts or Character Counts MUST be completed by December 1st for all TCYS participants!!
Quality Counts and Character Counts Information
Quality Counts: If you plan to exhibit a
livestock project at the Travis County Youth Show, or a livestock project at
any of the major shows (Fort Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, Austin,
etc.), all youth are required to complete Quality Counts.
Quality Counts will need to be completed at three different
times during an exhibitor’s livestock involvement: Junior level (3rd
– 5th grade), Intermediate level (6th – 8th
grade), and Senior level (9th – 12th grade). All
exhibitors must have an active Quality Counts number in the correct age
division, or they will be disqualified. It is very important that during
registration, you put BOTH your 4-H and FFA information, regardless of which
you think you will show through so that all needed parties have access to your Quality
Counts information. Enrollment instructions and FAQ’s will be distributed as
well, and I highly encourage you to check with me that your Quality Counts
information is accurate and correct.
Each exhibitor must make 80% or higher to pass the test and receive
your ID number. You may take the test as many times as necessary.
-
Website with information: https://agrilife.org/qualitycounts/
-
Quality Counts Enrollment Information and Steps: https://texasyouthlivestock.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/QC-Enrollment-INSTRUCTIONS-Exhibitors-2021.pdf
-
Quality Counts FAQ’s: https://texasyouthlivestock.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Quality-Counts-FAQ-Updated-11.19.pdf
Character Counts: If you only
exhibit Youth Fair projects at TCYS (no livestock), all exhibitors are required
to complete the Character Counts (Six Pillars of Character) exam, through the
County level. At this time, not all records from past years are available, therefore
everyone will need to take or re-take the exam. Each exhibitor will need to
make a 90% or higher to pass. After you have submitted your test, you can view
your results immediately to determine if you need to re-take. You will also
receive an email if a re-take is necessary within a few days.
-
Website containing all content: https://charactercounts.org/character-counts-overview/six-pillars/
-
Link to the Google Form Exam: https://forms.gle/dMchq7EZSEAhYdhe8
All of the following exams need to be completed by 11:59 on
December 1, 2021. Any exhibitors that have not completed and passed their
needed exam, will be disqualified from participating in TCYS.
* Please note that if you entered any major livestock show,
you already had to have your Quality Counts information to me by time of entry.
*
Please also know that we have a LOT of 4-H names on our roster that do NOT have an up-to-date Quality Counts Number.... some never completed or passed the test, and others never re-took the exam when they moved up into the next age division. Please don't hesitate to verify information with me!
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to let me know.
Last week, we had an amazing group of kids participate in the Travis County 4-H Food Show! I am always amazed at their abilities to create such elaborate dishes, while also having the courage and confidence to speak in front of the judges!
Major Livestock Show entry deadlines are right around the corner!
Please get signed up for your Turn-In slot!
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Mikayla.herron@ag.tamu.edu
Travis County Swine Validation will take place on Saturday, November 13th! The Validation Committee will be traveling around the county to different FFA/School facilities, and 4-H members can choose the location they would like to attend!
We have had a LOT of interest in all things 4-H Natural Resources related! So, some great news! There are two 4-H Natural Resources Trainings coming up in November! These include the 4-H Sportfishing Project Leader Training in Jack County on November 13-14, and the 4-H Hunting Project Coach Training in Fort Bend County on November 20-21.
Fort Worth Entries are due by Thursday, November 4th at NOON.
ALL OTHER shows (San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, Rodeo Austin) will have a deadline of Monday, November 8th!
After November 8th, you will have a $25 late fee per entry, and once entries have been submitted and mailed by agent, you will be subject to show late fees and all postage required to mail.
Additional information and details will be sent over the next two days to the emails on file through 4-H Online.
Please use THIS LINK to sign up for your turn-in time!
Please let me know if you have any questions. Mikayla.herron@ag.tamu.edu
All Entries for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo must be turned in to the Travis County Extension Office by NOON on Thursday, November 4th!
If you are enrolled in 4-H Online, then you received an additional email with all the entry forms, details, and information. Contact your Club Manager for a copy of the email if you need that.
Please use the link below to sign up for your Entry Turn-In Time (since our office is still closed to the public).
Attention Travis County 4-H families! It’s that time of year!! Time for our County Food Challenge and Food Show Contests!!
Food Show:
Food Challenge:
Couple of reminders:
In case of advancement,
please mark your calendars for the District 10
4-H Fall Roundup Contests, taking place in Kerrville! The Fall Roundup Guide is attached as we will
follow District rules at our County contest. Please also take a peak as there
are other contests available that do not require participation at the county
level (FCH, Livestock, and Horse Quiz Bowl for example).
I know this is a lot of info,
so please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Don't Forget!! Pick Up for TCYS Plant orders is THIS Thursday, the 14th at Navarro High School (what used to be Lanier) from 4-6 pm!
Plants can be picked up by one representative per club if needed, but please let me know ahead of time so I can inform volunteers handling pick-up.
mikayla.herron@ag.tamu.edu.
Below is some information we have for an upcoming invitational CDM contest being held in Gatesville on Saturday, November 20th!
All Club Managers were just emailed the entry form and information, so please get with them or myself if you have any additional questions!
mikayla.herron@ag.tamu.edu
Drop Dead Deadline for Spring Major Broiler orders is extended to THIS FRIDAY (10/8)!
Club Managers have PDF copy (not blurry) of order form, so please reach out to them or me.
Please plan on dropping off your order form and payment to the Extension Office, in an envelope with "ATTN: MIKAYLA HERRON" on the front, so I can make sure it gets to me. I will send you an email confirmation once received.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, mikayla.herron@ag.tamu.edu.
ATTENTION!!!! With all of the upcoming events and entry forms due, please know that I will NOT sign off of entry/contest forms or events if you are not enrolled in 4-H Online!!
Also, there have been some technical issues preventing people from paying by credit card. I have some troubleshooting tips below (if blurry please email me and I can send you a copy). Credit Card is the preferred method pf payment as it makes the enrollment process almost instantaneous. Paying by check is fine however IT DOES TAKE TIME TO FULLY PROCESS. So please contact me first if you need to pay by check at mikayla.herron@ag.tamu.edu.
Please read this in its entirety as IT IS TIME FOR COUNTY SHOW ENTRIES!!!
Additional Info & Upcoming Deadlines:
2022 TCYS
Poultry:
All Broilers to be shown at
TCYS will place their order through the TCYS website (link above) by 5pm
on October 15th! PLEASE NOTE that your broiler order DOES
NOT serve as your TCYS Entry. You must still enter your project through
the official TCYS entry form.
For Turkeys: Please note when you pick up your Turkeys, TCYS requires a copy of your wingband paperwork for any exhibitor planning to show Turkeys at TCYS!
Please let me know if you
have any questions or concerns, and start making plans now to get with your
Club Managers if you have any conflicts!
Please click here to register for the Social Justice Summit. See flyer below for more information:
Join us for our first Travis County 4-H Council Meeting on MONDAY, September 27th! This will be held virtually at 7pm. Contact your Club Manager for additional information and the meeting link!
I also would like to share with you these photos from Scout's photo booth at the Travis County 4-H Awards Banquet held last month. Thanks again to the Goldsmith family for their amazing help in photographing the event! Have a great weekend everyone!
- 2021 District 10 4-H Mega Meeting (formerly known as District 10 4-H Conference): will take place on Saturday, September 25th at Comfort High School. This event is open to ALL 4-H members, parents, adult volunteers, and agents who would like to come learn more about 4-H and network within District 10. Registration for Mega Meeting will formally open on 4HOnline (v2.4honline.com) on Sept. 1st (Wednesday) and close Sept. 13th, 2021 (Monday). So, YES that means you have to be enrolled in the 4-H year before you can sign up for Mega Meeting! Cost is $30 per registrant, youth and adults (Lunch & T-Shirt Provided)
- Interested in Robotics???? Hill County will host an interactive robotics workshop in Hillsboro on September 22nd (workshop for Leaders & Volunteers) & October 23rd. Below are the flyers and information. Please contact Angie Nors, Hill County 4-H Agent with any questions at angie.nors@ag.tamu.edu
It was great to be back to have the Travis County Awards Banquet in person this year! I was unable to attend, but Willow Goldsmith was kind enough to take photos this year. I would like to share some of those photos with you below. Thanks to everyone who attended and helped out. Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!
