Reminders & Upcoming Deadlines

Happy Monday!  Below are some reminders for upcoming deadlines and events:

• October 1-7 is National 4-H Week - please let the Extension Office know what your Club has planned!

• Tuesday, 10/3: (Extended) TCYS Plant orders due at 5:00 PM at http://traviscountyyouthshow.org/page.aspx?ID=2358

• Thursday, 10/5: TCYS Broiler orders are due in the Extension Office

• Saturday, 10/7: One Day 4-H

• Saturday, 10/7: Annual Gator Swamp Stomp Fundraiser

• Monday, 10/16: Travis County FCS Ambassador Applicatons are due via email (https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/4-h-programs/4-h-forms/ at the bottom of the page)

• Tuesday, 10/17: Major Show Lamb, Goat, and Heifer Validation at Hendrickson High School

• Friday, 10/20: TCYS Entries are due at the Extension Office

2017 TAMU Collegiate 4-H Scholarship Workshop

If you are a 4-H'er in high school, this is a WONDERFUL opportunity to get an idea of how to start working towards improving your 4-H Scholarship Applications as you get closer to becoming a graduation senior!  Last year, Travis County 3 graduates received a combined total of $50,000 in scholarships from the Texas 4-H foundation!

2017 State Photography Workshop

This is a great opportunity for 4-H'ers interested in starting or improving their photography skills!

2017 National 4-H Week is here!!!

Hill Country Livestock Judging ContestT

To access registration information and form, click here.

Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo Ag Robotics Contest Results

Congratulations to the members of both teams!

2017 Brown County Classic - Lamb, Goat, Steer, Heifer, and Swine Shows

D-9 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Training

We’re pleased to announce that District 9 4-H will be hosting a Shooting Sports Coach Certification Training for Archery, Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun in Conroe on November 11-12, 2017.

See the participant letter for more details. Click here.

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

• Registration will be conducted through 4‐H Connect.
• Look for 2017 D9 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certification Training (Conroe)
• Registration will be open starting September 27 and closes October 18, 2017.
• Please pay close attention to the deadline!
• Cost is $120

 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 be the responsibility of the participants.
• Event will begin at 8:00am on Saturday, November 11 and tentatively end at noon on Sunday, November 12, 2017.
• Tentative schedule, what to bring list, and release forms can be found on the website or within the attached letter. Additional details will be sent to those that register.

Visit the website to view more details (including lodging information): https://d94-h.tamu.edu/d-9-shooting-sports-leader-coach-training/ .

2017-2018 4-H Enrollment Reminders

As our 4-H Year is winding up and our Clubs are planning their 4-H year and becoming more active, we have a few enrollment reminders for both youth and adults.

These reminders are VERY important for youth, if a youth does not have an active profile in 4-H CONNECT, we can't approve entries or send letters of excuse to schools if your enrollment is not current.

What is the 4-H Year?

• The 4-H year is considered to be September 1 through August 31 of each year.

WHO needs to enroll?

• Any Youth in grades 3-12 wanting to participate in 4-H Activities (Club meetings, projects, contests, shows, etc.) youth in grades K-2 may also enroll as Clover Kids
• Any Adult who would like to register for District and State 4-H events such as Roundups, Congress, etc.
• Any Adult who wants to participate as a Volunteer (Club Manager, Project Leader, Chaperone, advisor, etc.) is required to enroll annually

WHEN should you enroll?

• As soon as possible!  If your club is chartered, you can enroll in your club as early as August 15th
• If you are submitting Livestock Show and Contest entries, we will not sign and submit them until you have an active profile.  

How much does it cost?

• 4-H Member Enrollment from August 15 to October 31 is $20
• 4-H Member Enrollment is $25 beginning on November 1
• Adult Volunteer Fee is $10 (covers insurance policy for volunteers)
• Adult Criminal History check is $5 (volunteers are screened every 2-3 years)

How long does it take profiles to be approved?

• Adult Volunteer screenings and approval can take up to 2 weeks after their initiation
• Youth enrollment and approval takes under 1 week if you do not need to transfer Counties
• If you reside in another County, but want to participate in our County, you must complete a County Transfer Form and a profile in 4-H Connect

WHERE do you sign up? 

• In Texas 4-H CONNECT: https://tx.4honline.com

I'm new to 4-H, what do I need to do to enroll in 4-H CONNECT?

• Step 1 - Go to https://tx.4honline.com and create a log in
• Step 2 - When you first create your login, you will create a Family Profile with your mailing address and contact information
• Step 3 - When you have completed your Family Profile, you will need to add your Family Members as individuals under your Family Profile
• Step 4 - once you submit the individuals, wait for approval and attend your 4-H Club meetings!

For Questions:

• Call the Extension Office at 512-854-9600 and ask to speak to John or Mellanie

Please remember to update you information annually:

Cooke County 4-H Open Invitational Archery Tournament

For registration form, waiver and map, click here.

D-8 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Training

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

• Registration will be conducted through 4‐H Connect.
• Look for 2017 D8 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certification Training (Stephenville)
• Registration will be open starting October 9 and closes October 27, 2017.
• Please pay close attention to the deadline!
• Cost is $120

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 be the responsibility of the participants.
• There is a home Tarleton football game this weekend.  So book your rooms now! There is a small room block at the Holiday Inn Express for $109 per night.  Mention: District 8 4-H Shooting Sports Room Block.
• Holiday Inn Express
  121 Lockhart St.
  Stephenville, TX  76401
  254-965-8899
  http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/stephenville/stpes/hoteldetail
  $109 per night
  Mention: District 8 4-H Shooting Sports Room Block
• Additional hotels are listed on the website.  
• Event will begin at 8:00am on Saturday, November 11 and tentatively end at noon on Sunday, November 12, 2017.
• Tentative schedule, what to bring list, and release forms can be found on the website. Additional details will be sent to those that register.

Junior Leadership Retreat

Register online at texas4hcenter.tamu.edu and click on the "Register Now" button.

2018 Travis County Youth Show (TCYS) Updates!!!

UPDATES:

• There have been some updates to the TCYS Rulebook from last year - it is available at http://traviscountyyouthshow.org/livestockshow/ at the bottom of the page under “Documents” – all changes have been marked in red

• One update to be noted for group projects is that all checks for group projects will be written to the club, not individuals, this year – please make a plan ahead of time for addressing this

• It is never too early to start fundraising and getting involved with the local booster clubs to help you out at auction.  Please encourage your club members to start visiting and talking to local businesses about their projects and invite them to the auction!

• Housing request forms are due to the TCYS office at the time of the species validation.  If an exhibitor is not keeping their animal at the school farm or at their primary residence, they will have to submit an animal housing request form. For example, if an exhibitor is keeping the animal at Grandpa's place down the street, they would need a housing request form.  These can be found in the rulebook.  Additionally if an exhibitor is going out of town and the animal will be out of the care of that exhibitor and/or moving their animal off of the property address listed on their validation forms for more than 48 hours each, TCYS must be notified by the exhibitor or AST/CES office.  Failure to follow these 2 rules, will result in disqualification. 

• Social Security Numbers are required on all entries – they will not be accepted without them

• TCYS Poultry Order Information
• The order form is available at http://traviscountyyouthshow.org/livestockshow/ and is due to our office Thursday, October 5^th
• TCYS will not be accepting personal checks for these orders, please bring cash or a check payable to “Travis 4-H”
• A family may order 25 birds and share these birds with 2 or more exhibitors in that family. Additionally, each exhibitor may order up to 75 birds each. The hatch date is still TBD and the exhibitor will need to bring their own form of transportation for the birds (ie boxes, crates, etc).

• Youth Fair Plant Orders
• 2018 plant orders are due online by 5PM on October 2, 2017.
• Plants will be picked up at the Clifton Career Development School on October 13, 2017 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Each exhibitor may submit for their own plants through this online tool. If you would like to submit for your entire club or a family submits for more than one exhibitor, they will need to add the exhibitors name and the classes of plants that are being ordered for that exhibitor. This is required when you submit for more than 1 exhibitor at a time, entries will not be accepted without this.
• Plant orders may be placed online here: www.traviscountyyouthshow.org/youthfair

• Youth Fair Recipe Submissions:
• Recipe(s) must be submitted electronically by November 29, 2017.
• Recipes will be reviewed by the Recipe Review Committee. If recipe is disqualified, exhibitor will have 5 business days to resubmit a recipe for approval after notification from TCYS Recipe Approval Committee email explaining issues with recipe. Recipes may only be re‐submitted once, if disqualified the first time. All recipes must be preapproved in order to compete in the 2018 TCYS Youth Fair. Exhibitor will receive a reply via email if the recipe is approved. The approved recipe will have a TCYS watermark on it. The exhibitor will be required to print out this attachment, with the watermark and present it at checkin. Entries without this approval will not be accepted at Checkin. TCYS WILL NOT resend recipes after December 15, 2018.
• Additionally, recipes should be submitted in it's entirety. For example, a pie crust and filling should be submitted as 1 submission, not 2. A cake should be submitted with the cake, frosting and any filling in 1 submission. 
• Baked Division Recipes may be submitted online here: www.traviscountyyouthshow.org/youthfair

• The deadline for TCYS entries to be turned in to our office is October 20, 2017.  TCYS is using a new entry system this year and we want to make sure that we get everything submitted with minimal errors.  ANY entry submitted during or after November 2^nd to TCYS incurs the $250 late fee for which exhibitors are responsible.  

The most current schedule as of today (9/25/17) is below.  Please be aware that it could change between now and the show.

Cotton Country Classic - Updated!

2nd Annual Montague County Youth Classic - Rabbit Show

2017 Travis County 4-H Food Challenge

2017 Travis County 4-H Food Challenge

November 6, 2017 at 6:00 PM

Location:  Travis County Extension Office, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin 78721

Must register by October 31

$10 per team (pay that evening, checks payable to Travis 4-H or cash)

Two teams per age division will be able to advance to the District 10 contest

Food Challenge Guidelines:  https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/4-h-programs/4-h-events/

Registration:  https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/4-h-programs/4-h-events/registrations/

Bowie Austin Lamb & Goat Prospect Show

Breeding Sheep and Boer Goat Validation Reminder

If you are planning on exhibiting breeding sheep and registered boer goats, please see the reminders of ownership deadlines below from the State Validation Office.  We are required to double check and enforce these.  Please let us know if you have any questions.  

"Please remind exhibitors of registered breeding sheep and registered boer goats that the ownership deadline is October 1^st, 2017.  Purchase, delivery, possession and registration must all take place on or before October 1^st, 2017.  Bucks, ewes and does must be registered in the Herdbook of their Association in only the name of the junior owner on or before October 1, 2017.  Partnerships, including siblings, are NOT eligible for Junior Shows.   Registration papers will be needed at county validations and will be uploaded to the online validation site at https://www.texaslivestockvalidation.com/Index.aspx."

Judy Moore Sheep and Goat Jackpot

Top of Texas Showmanship Clinic