Entomological Foundation Science Project Contest

Great opportunity for those interested in entomology (insects). The Entomological Foundation is hosting a contest for ideas for science projects related to insects. If you are interested, please check out the flyer at the Travis County 4-H Website and look under the tab "upcoming events"

4-H Night at the Houston Astros

Saturday, October 2, 2010
Minute Maid Park
For ticket information, please check out the Travis County 4-H Website
look under the tab "Upcoming Events"

2010 4-H Billboards Across Texas

The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program has been given the opportunity to share the purpose of 4-H through a partnership with LAMAR Advertising during the 2010 National 4-H Week.

LAMAR advertising has donated 100 billboards throughout the state of Texas and their coverage area to feature the five different Billboard designs on the bottom of this page. Texas 4-H only has to pay for the printing of the signs. Therefore, we need help in spreading the word of 4-H in Texas!

We are in need of 100 donors that would like to be part of the "2010 4-H Billboards Across Texas" campaign. Each billboard will cost $135.00 and can be sponsored by a 4-H Family, a business, a 4-H Club, a County 4-H Council, 4-H Adult Leaders, or a Friend of 4-H. The estimated value of this billboard campaign is more than $100,000.00 so this is a great opportunity for us to market the Power of 4-H all across Texas!

The billboards will start going up the 2nd/3rd week of September and stay up through National 4-H Week scheduled for October 3-9, 2010. Since the billboard locations are based on availability at the time of the event it is difficult to know if one will be located close.

All donors to the project will be listed as an official donor to the 2010 National 4-H Week Campaign and have their family/business name listed on the Texas 4-H and Youth Development website. A sponsorship form can be found at travis4h.com under the tab "4-H Forms"

South Texas Winter Classic

Saturday, November 7th
Bee County EXPO Center
Lambs and Goats

For more information, please check out the travis4h.com website and look under the tab "4-H Livestock Information"

Travis County 4-H Extension Office Update

We have officially moved into a new temporary building. We are located at 5501 Airport at the north entrance in room 209. This room is on the 2nd floor so you can use the elevator.

When mailing items to our office, please continue to use our 1600 B Smith Road, Austin 78721 address. We are not changing where we will be receiving mail.

If you have any questions please let John or myself know; JJRiegler@ag.tamu.edu or cmtalley@ag.tamu.edu

State Recordbook Results

Matthew Evans and Hallie Casey both had 4-H Recordbooks that advanced on to the state level of judging. Hallie placed 8th with her Communication and Expressive Arts book and Matthew placed 2nd with his Environmental Sciences Open book.

Congratulations to the both of you! We are proud of your outstanding accomplishments!!

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

4-H participants can gain statewide or national recognition for demonstrating outstanding volunteer community service by joining in the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a prestigious, independent awards program that recognizes young people in grades 5-12 on the basis of their volunteer activities. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Last year, 137 county 4-H programs selected honorees in this prestigious youth recognition program, and 17 4-H’ers were among the 102 State Honorees for 2010. This recognition is extremely beneficial to 4-H’ers who have performed exemplary acts of service in their communities and to 4-H as a whole.

The Travis County 4-H program can nominate one middle school student (grades 5-8) and one high school student (grades 9-12). For those interested, please Contact Cory no later than October 15, 2010 - cmtalley@ag.tamu.edu

7th Annual Chocolate Lover's Festival

Check out the link below for more detailed information about the baking contest. This would be a unique learning experience for those involved in the Food and Nutrition Project.
http://www.lexingtontexas.com/clf.htm

4-H Enrollment for 2010-2011 Year

It is that time of the year again. If you are joining 4-H for the first time or will be rejoining, please go to 4-H Connect to either review and renew your profile or start a profile. If you have any questions, please let John or myself know.
Cory's - cmtalley@ag.tamu.edu
John's - JJRiegler@ag.tamu.edu

Heart of Texas 4-H Rabie Vaccination Clinic

Wednesday, August 11th
5-7 p.m. at the
First United Methodist Church
500 Pecan Street in Pflugerville

Rabies: Dogs and CAts - $5.00
Dog Vaccines: DHLP/Parvo/Corona - $15.00
Bordetella: (Kennel Cough) - $10.00
Cat Vaccines: PRCC/Feluk - $15.00
Complete yearly vaccine - $20.00
Flea & Heartworm preventative will be
Heart of Texas 4-H Club Fundraiser

A portion of the proceeds will go to help the Club with projects and community service work

Please come and support us!

For more information contact:

Austin Avenue Animal Hospital

Lana Tarlton - 238-1093

TCYS BBQ Cook-Off

TCYS BBQ Cook-off
January 14-15, 2010

Travis County Youth Show is proud to announce it's first annual BBQ Cook-off!
The BBQ Cook-off will be held in conjunction with the Travis County Youth Show
at the Travis County Exposition Center grounds.

Teams will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. You will not be considered
an entry until the form and payment are received.

If you have any friends that you would like to invite to participate in the cook-off,
please forward this information to them or send their contact information to us.

To get the 2011 BBQ Cook-off packet contact Dawn Hunt at dsphotos@sbcglobal.net
or 512-565-3520.

On behalf of the entire Travis County Youth show, thank you for your support.

2011 Beekeeping Essay Contest

If you enjoy writing then this is a contest for you. Check out the flier on travis4h.com for more information. Look under the tab "upcoming events" to find out more information.

District 10 Mega Meeting

The District 10 Mega Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at Schreiner University in Kerrville. This is the annual 4-H meeting with many different activities going on including:

· Project Development Committee Meetings with training and officer elections

· Concurrent workshops for volunteers and parents sponsored by District 10 VLAT

· District 10 4-H Council Business Meeting and Standing Committee Meetings

· District 10 Volunteer Leaders Association Business Meeting

Who should attend? EVERYONE!!! The event is open to all 4-H members, volunteers, parents, and Extension agents. There’s something for everyone so plan now to register and attend!

Schedule for the Day:

Mega Meeting will be morning/afternoon event this year. Lunch, one afternoon snack and a dance will be provided for all participants! This schedule will allow 4-H members and adults to network and enjoy a social time together after all the business Is over. This meeting will be held at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas (map enclosed). We will meet in the Floyd & Kathleen Callioux Campus Activity Center for all activities. One of the classroom buildings will be used for the Volunteer Leader Workshops. Below is the schedule for the day.

8:30-9:00 Mega Meeting Standing Committee – set up registration

9:00-9:45 Registration

9:45-10:15 General Session and instructions for the day

10:15-12:15 Project Development Committee Training/Workshops

10:30-12:15 4-H Volunteer Leader Training – Concurrent sessions will be offered. Volunteers will choose one session to attend for the 1 ½ hour time period.

12:15-1:30 Lunch

1:30-3:30 District 10 4-H Council Business Meeting and VLAT Business Meeting

3:30-5:30 Dance

5:30-6:00 Clean up & depart for home

If planning to attend this event, you must sign up with John at JJRiegler@ag.tamu.edu by August 13, 2010. cost for the day is $20.00.

Foods Workshop - Postponed

The Foods Project Workshop that was scheduled for Thursday, July 15, 2010 has been postponed. Due to the issues at the office, a new location needs to be determined and more time is needed to plan a great workshop. Keep watching the blog for rescheduling information.

Travis County 4-H Office - Update 3

The good news is that our email as been restored, so you may use my cmtalley@ag.tamu.edu account or John's email at JJRiegler@ag.tamu.edu. The office situation is still the same as we are not allowed to be at the office. I am in the process of rescheduling programs and the locations. The 4-H Banquet will still go on as planned. Invitations will be out in the mail soon. If you have questions, please try to send those via email at this time. There is a number where our receptionist can be reached so please call the health and human services main number, 854-4100 and ask for the Travis County Extension Staff.

Travis County 4-H Office - Update

Unfortunately, there is not much change since the post last week. John's (4-H Administrative Assistant) office has been deemed a disaster zone and no one is allowed to enter that office for any reason at this time (Per county risk management team). There is also no way to physically get into the office to retrieve any documents of any nature as his desks are blocking the door. We have also been told to not go to the office in general.

If you applied for awards such as Gold Star and any others that have interviews, we will not have interviews on the 13th. A date and new location will be announced for a later time.

I realize this is a huge inconvenience for all involved, but we also must adhere to the strict instructions of not entering the office as structural damage is a huge risk factor.

Travis County 4-H Office

4-H Families and Friends, the Travis County Extension Office experienced some major issues today with the rain and part of the roof collapsed. All agents and staff are okay and will be working from various locations. Please do not come by or call the office at this time. As changes are made, updates will be posted. At this time you may email Cory at travis4h@gmail.com.

USA Science Festival Kavli Video Contest

National 4-H Council is partnering with the USA Science & Engineering Festival, a national celebration of innovation in science held in Washington D.C. on October 23rd and 24th . The event is the country’s first national science festival and promises to be the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary celebration of the sciences in the United States. The culmination of the Festival is a two-day Expo that will provide more than 500 science & engineering organizations from all over the United States the opportunity to present hands-on, fun science activities to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Through this partnership, National 4-H Council has been alerted to a great opportunity for 4-H’ers to showcase the innovative 4-H Science work taking place across the nation. The Kavli Science Video Contest is looking for young people around the country to create and submit videos that answer the question "Why is science cool?"

Winning submissions will be creative, surprising, and “contagious” in terms of spreading youth enthusiasm about science to others. Videos might explore a specific scientific concept, demonstrate the wonders of nature, provide a glimpse into the future, show what scientific discovery has done for us in the past or simply explain why you think science is cool.

We are encouraging the entire 4-H system especially those that participated in the Films on video- SET in Urban Communities Kickoff and The Filmmaking Work Group to submit videos.

Who Can Enter – Individual students or groups from K-12 schools, home school networks, after-school programs, science clubs or any other organization the student is representing for the purpose of the Kavli Science Video Contest. All prize monies must go to an educational institution rather than an individual student.
Types of Videos Eligible - Videos should explain Why Science is Cool and may explore a scientific concept, provide a glimpse into the future or show us what scientific discovery has done for us in the past, or whatever else the inspires the entrant. USA Science & Engineering Festival videos must be 30-90 seconds in length, educational and suitable for general public screening.
Selection of Winners - Winning videos will be chosen by a distinguished panel of judges that includes Brian Schwartz, founder of Science & the Arts at the City University of New York Graduate Center and Sheri Potter, a founder of the Coalition on Public Understanding of Science (COPUS).
Deadlines and Prizes – The contest is open now and all entries must be submitted before midnight on July 15, 2010. First prize is $1,000 plus a $500 electronics gift certificate or HD Camcorder (valued up to $500) and a travel stipend to travel to Washington DC for the Expo. Second prize is $500, plus a $250 electronics gift certificate, third prize is $250, plus a $125 electronics gift certificate. The People’s Choice Award prize is $250.
Following in the footsteps of American Idol, America can vote on a People’s Choice Kavli Science Video Award through SciVee, a Web 2.0 site which helps scientists share their work with the general public.

Rules and a submission form can be found at:

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2010festival/contests/kavli-science-video-contest

Aqua Adventure Camp

Announcing... Texas 4-H Conference Center's Aqua Adventure Camp!

What better way to spend those hot summer days than on the water!

Who: ANY youth age 9-14 years

When: July 12-16, 2010

What: Canoeing, sailing, kayaking, water safety and survival, and MORE aqua learning and FUN!!!

For more information, please visit: http://texas4hcenter.tamu.edu (Information can be found under "Summer Camps & Programs")

Summer Sun Safety at Manor 4-H

Manor 4-H reminds all 4-H'ers out there to protect yourself from that blazing sun this summer! Studies show
that most kids getbetween 50%- 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before they reach the age of 18!!!! Have some fun staying safe- pick out a cool hat to protect your face and neck and shoulders, wear sunglasses of course and lots of sunscreen. Remember to put on more sunscreen after you have been out for a while. Kristin Griffin taught us in her program that all you have to do is take the SPF level on your sunscreen and multiply it by 10 then you will know how many minutes you can stay out in the sun before you need to reapply your sunscreen. The Skin Cancer web site (www.skincancer.org) states that a person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns! Have a great sunburn-free summer 4-H'ers!!!!!