Congratulations - Taylor Gibich

Taylor was selected to represent Texas on one of the Shooting Sports Teams at the National Shooting Sports Invitational. --- Congratulations Taylor!

Leadership Opportunities at Major Shows (SALE and HLSR)

Below are some dates in which youth are being requested to sing the National Anthem or recite pledges.

San Antonio Jr. Market Steer Show - February 25th, 26th and 27th

Houston Market Barrow Show - March 15th, 16th, 18th and 19th

If you are interested, please email Cory for more information.

2015 Texas 4-H Rules and Guidelines

Information about the 2015 Texas 4-H Roundup is available and can be found at the following link:
http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/roundup/

• Many of the contests are qualifying - meaning that a member must participate at the county and district level and places high enoguh at district to advance to the state contest.
• Several of the contests are invitational - meaning that you can sign up and participate provided you meet the age requirement.

If anyone is interested and has questions, please ask Cory.

D-11 Shooting Sports Training - Deadline to register is December 19th

We are please to announce that District 11 will be hosting a Shooting Sports Coaches Training for Rifle, Archery, Shotgun and Pistol in Victoria TX on January 10-11, 2015.

This training is open to any potential coaches across the state.

• Registration will be conducted through 4‐H Connect.
• Look for 2015 District 11 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches Certification - Archery, Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun.
• Registration opens on November 14 through December 19, 2014.
• Late Registration is December 20 – January 5, 2015
• Please pay close attention to the deadline!
• Cost is $120 for regular registration.  Late registration fee is $145.

Participants MUST have completed and passed the Background Check PRIOR to registering for the event, so if they have not completed this, they should do so IMMEDIATELY! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

Additional details:

• Registration will cover meals and course materials.
• Only one discipline certification (archery, pistol, rifle, or shotgun) is obtainable per participant per training.
• Lodging will not be provided for registrants.
• Event will begin at 8:00am on Saturday, January 10 and tentatively end at noon on Sunday, January 11, 2015.
• Tentative schedule, what to bring list, and release forms attached. Additional details will be sent to those that register.

2014 Travis County Consumer Decision Making Contest Results

Juniors
1st Place - John Paul Whitaker
2nd Place - Jonah Swartz
3rd Place - Anna-Laura Whitaker
4th Place - Carolyn Kruchefski
5th Place - Ava Smith
6th Place - Tyler Bloss
7th Place - Hailey Bloss

Intermediates
1st Place - Will Whitaker
2nd Place - Anna Swartz
3rd Place - Rachel Keese
4th Place - Emily Swartz
5th Place - Colby Warwick
6th - Place - Jared Moran

Seniors
1st Place - Meredith Masi
2nd Place - Collin Warwick
3rd Place - Trent Warwick
4th Place - Ishani Panyda
5th place - Ty Williamson
6th Place - Justin Moran

Online 4-H Recordbook Session - December 15th

Monday, December 15th, 7:30 pm - online at the link below
https://ebs-saba.ads.tamu.edu:443/GA/main/000000726c780000014a2a5136108146

The link above will open best in Internet Explorer or Chrome. Make sure your Java plugin is updated.

This will be a great opportunity to ask questions about 4-H Recordbooks and to become more familiar with the recordbook process.

2014 Travis County Food Challenge Results

Juniors:
1st Place - John Paul Whitaker, Jonah Swartz and Tyler Bloss
2nd Place - Carolyn Kruchefski, Anna-Laura Whitaker and Hailey Bloss
3rd Place - Rone Harris, Scout Goldsmith, Ella Rogers and Zack Winkleman

Intermediates:
1st Place - Colby Warwick, Javier Ramirez, Cynthia Bashara
2nd Place - Marie Young, Camilla Hope, Willow Goldsmith, Jay Rogers and Natalie DeMario
3rd Place - Anna Swartz, Emily Swartz, Rachel Keese, Will Whitaker and Ethan Forbes

Senior Team - 1st Place
Sofia Ramirez, Collin Warwick and Trent Warwick

2014 4-H Alpaca Wool Challenge and Community Service Project

The 4-H Clothing and Textiles project has a wonderful new opportunity for our 4-H members to learn and grow in their project work; the Alpaca Wool Challenge and Community Service project.

The Alpaca Wool Challenge and Community Service Project is a new statewide activity that unites Alpaca wool producers with Texas 4-H youth.  4-H members are challenged to create a knitted, crocheted, or woven item using yarn provided by TxOLAN Alpaca Association Alpaca producers. The skeins of wool provided range from 50 yards to 200 yards.  Items can be constructed by either an individual or a group.  All completed items will be sent to College Station to be judged.   An entry fee of $15 will be charged for each item entered.  Following the contest all items will be returned to be  donated to a charity of the person or group choosing.

For all of the 2015 Alpaca Wool Challenge Rules go to: http://fcs.tamu.edu/clothing/4h/community-service/2015-alpaca-wool-contest.pdf

To request Alpaca wool for the challenge go to: http://goo.gl/forms/Pphm7z0S4i ( a link is also available with the 2015 Clothing and Textiles packet at fcs.tamu.edu/clothing/4h/packet/index.php.)  A limited number of skeins of wool will be available, so don’t wait too long to make your request.  

A big thank you to TxOLAN Alpaca Association, which is an affiliate of the national Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, for providing Alpaca wool for our members to use in the challenge.  For more information about TxOLAN  go to: http://www.txolan.org/.  A list of members is included on their website.  

Healthly Lifestyles Invitational Pakcet of Information

Information, including classes and resources, for the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Invitational are now available on the healthy lifestyles webpage. An overview of the invitational contest that is held at Texas 4-H Roundup is attached for your information. Please share this with volunteers and 4-H members that may be interested in participating. As a reminder, invitational contests are open to intermediates and seniors.

This year, we will also be offering some online practice prior to 4-H Roundup, giving youth the opportunity to practice for the contest or try it out – even if they do not plan to participate in Roundup. More information on this will be forthcoming.

A training on the Healthy Lifestyles Invitational will also be conducted via TTVN WebMeeting at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 24^th for anyone interested in learning more. The link to the training is: https://ebs-saba.ads.tamu.edu:443/GA/main/00000130714600000149d29b3c9783a3.

2015 Keeping Essay Contest

Texas 4-H is very excited to announce the theme and guidelines for this year's 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest. This year's theme is “Planting for Bees from Backyards and Up." 

The deadline for this contest is January 9, 2015 and is open to all 4-H ages. These essays will be submitted to the National contest facilitators and are all eligible for cash prizes as follows: 

AWARDS:

National Cash Prizes to 3 Top Winners:

1st Place: $750.00

2nd Place: $500.00

3rd Place: $250.00

National Contest Sponsored by: The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc.

Texas Cash Prizes to 3 Top Winners:

1st Place: $300.00

2nd Place: $200.00

3rd Place: $100.00

Texas Contest Sponsored by: Alamo Area Beekeepers Assn., Central Texas Beekeepers Assn., Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Assn., Dino-Bee Beekeepers Assn., East Texas Beekeepers Assn., Harris County Beekeepers Assn., Marshall Beekeeping Assn., Trinity Valley Beekeepers Assn., and Williamson County Area Beekeepers Assn.

Full rules and details are attached and can be found at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/project_entomology/beekeeping/.  

2015 National 4-H Conference

Applications are now being accepted via 4-H Connect for National 4-H Conference, April 11-16, 2015 in Washington, DC. Please share with 4-H members and their families this outstanding leadership and citizenship opportunity. Delegates are housed at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Maryland, just one mile from the nation’s capital.

National 4-H Conference is the Secretary of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program. Youth ages 15-18 are encouraged to apply.  Delegates will be announced by December 23, 2014. Please note, this is a very quick turnaround, so do not delay in completing the application. 

The National 4-H Conference is a working conference in which youth and adults--at the invitation of the Secretary of Agriculture--assist in the development of recommendations to help guide 4-H Youth Development Programs nationally and in their communities. This event brings together youth, volunteer leaders, and state and county Extension staff members from across the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the Canadian Provinces.

  

LOCATION:

The 2015 National 4-H Conference will be held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. The National 4-H Youth Conference Center is located in a quiet, 12-acre campus-like setting in Maryland, one mile from the nation's capital, making it the perfect gateway to Washington, D.C.'s leaders, monuments and museums. The Conference Center is operated by the National 4-H Council. To read more interesting history on the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, visit http://www.4hcenter.org/center_history.html

WHO SHOULD APPLY?             

The National 4-H Conference requires youth who are focused and committed to working during the Conference and in their state. The Texas delegation will consist of 10 youth delegates, who need to engage in pre- and post conference work and participate in all scheduled conference activities. The minimum age requirement for a Texas youth delegate is 15 years old (must be by January 1, 2015). The maximum age for a youth delegate is 18.

APPLICATION PROCESS:           

Applications must be submitted online and certified through 4HCONNECT by December 19, 2014. Final selection of delegates will be made on the basis of the online application. The final selection of delegates will be announced on, or before, December 23, 2014. Please refer to the Application/Nomination for 4-H Recognition Form (4-H 3-2.041) to help you complete the online application. This form is available from the Library Tab of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program website (http://texas4-h.tamu.edu) under Achievement & Recognition Certificates.

COST:       

The delegate's share of registration, adult chaperone registration, lodging, airfare, meals, and transportation costs is $2,000.00. This registration fee will be due on January 23, 2015.

Volunteers Needed - D-10 Food Contests

We are in need of some volunteers to help judge and serve as group leaders at the District 10 Food Show and Food Challenge on Saturday, December 13th. The event will be held at Texas State University in San Marcos. If interested please email Cory at cmtalley@ag.tamu.edu.

For senior high youth, this is a great learning experience and LEADERSHIP opportunity for your 4-H Recordbook.

Livestock Workshops -Hosted by Bastrop County

4-H & FFA Swine Project Workshop

Please make plans to attend a Swine Project Workshop at the Bastrop Show Barn on December 6 from 10 a.m. to Noon.  Chuck Real of Real Hog Farms in Marion will present a program on swine project facilities, feeding/nutrition and show preparation.  We will also have some hogs on hand for live evaluation and discussion.  Chuck and his family have been raising purebred hogs and involved in the show industry for over 50 years.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leaders in the swine industry.  Please RSVP to the Bastrop County Extension Office if you plan to attend at (512) 581-7186 or Jason.mangold@agnet.tamu.edu by December 4, so we can have enough handouts.

Lamb and Goat Project Workshop

A Lamb and Goat Project Workshop has been set for Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Bastrop Area Livestock Show Barn.  Exhibitors should bring their goats and lambs to work with for showmanship practice at the conclusion of the educational workshop.  The educational workshop will be presented by Colt Sharpton, TAMU Sheep and Goat Center assistant manager, livestock show judge, and owner of Sharpton Club Lambs.  Mr. Sharpton will discuss facilities, health management and preparing for show.  Please RSVP to the County Extension office by December 4 at (512) 581-1786 if you plan to attend.

Market Broiler Workshop

A broiler workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bastrop Area Livestock Show Barn.  We will discuss housing, daily management and selection of show broilers.  Please RSVP to the County Extension Office at (512) 581-7186 by December 12 if you plan to attend.  Rachel Bauer and Barbara Tillman will present the workshop.