D-5 Shooting Sports Coaches Training

The D5 4-H Youth Development Program is pleased to announce an opportunity for county 4-H programs to have adult volunteers, teen leaders and County Extension Agents certified as coaches in the following shooting sports disciplines: archery, pistol, or shotgun. The training and certification will be conducted on April 1 - 2, 2016 at the Houston County Extension Office in Crockett, Texas. The training will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 1st and conclude the following day as disciplines complete the necessary information.

Registration will open on Tuesday, March 1 and close on Friday, March 25^th at midnight via 4-H Connect, https://texas.4honline.com. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A CURRENT AND APPROVED 4-H CONNECT PROFILE TO REGISTER. Registration is non-refundable, but may be transferred to another person within the same county 4-H program.

Please see this information is shared with any potential coaches to ensure everyone is informed.  Listed below are the categories for which  individuals can register. An individual may only register for one discipline.

1. COACH – if the individual will lead the program, or have direct supervision of youth they should register for this category. A coach must be 21 or older. Cost is $120. The participant must register on 4-H Connect and be a screened volunteer.

2. ASSISTANT COACH – if the individual is between the ages of 14-20 they can assist a certified coach. Cost is $120. The participant must register on 4-H Connect and either be a screened volunteer or current 4-H member. If under 18 years of age, the individual must be accompanied to the training by a certified coach or adult participating in the training. An assistant coach can be upgraded to a full 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certification with no additional training once an assistant has reached 21 years of age and is an approved volunteer leader via 4-H Connect.

3. CERTIFIED COACH – coaches who are already certified and attending as a chaperone to accompany an assistant coach. Registration on 4-H Connect is required, but no fee will be accessed.

4. EXTENSION PERSONNEL – All County Extension Agents are welcome to attend as a professional development opportunity and become certified in a selected discipline. Registration on 4-H Connect is required, but no fee will be accessed.

If you have questions, please let me or Ms. Jo Smith, Houston County Extension agent, know. Additional details, waiver and a final agenda will be sent to those who register. This training will be open for registration statewide beginning March 1.

4-H Recordbook Workshop - May 5th

Youth Leadership Program - June 27-29, 2016

Horse Validation Information - due May 1st

As a reminder, horse validation via 4-H Connect is required for horses shown at the District and State 4-H Horse Shows.  Horses must be owned and validated by the 4-H member, their parents, grandparents, legal guardian, or sibling by May 1^st of each year.  A horse that has been validated before must be re-validated (and paid) each year, if it is to be shown.  The validation of multiple horses is encouraged, so the 4-H member has options, in case of an unforeseen accident, injury, or death of one of the horses.

Horse Validation Dates

March 1 – April 15 - $10/horse

April 16 – May 1 - $20/horse

May 1^st is the absolute deadline for validation of horses.

Instructions for families and county offices can be found at the following link: Click here for link. Please review and distribute to families in the 4-H Horse Project.  We will also have them posted to our website soon, along with other State 4-H Horse Show information. 

Capital Farm Credit Ag Day Video

Enter the Capital Farm Credit "What Agriculture Means to You" Video Contest for a chance to win scholarship and prizes! Deadline to enter and vote is March 15th: http://woobox.com/546jfv

STEM Youth Ambassador Applications

WE NEED A FEW OF YOU TO BECOME
A TEXAS 4-H STEM YOUTH AMBASSADOR

** Link to Application***

As a Texas 4-H STEM Youth Ambassador you

• Provide a youth voice in state, regional and national promotions of STEM initiatives

o   Represent 4-H in a positive light and serve as a youth voice for 4-H Science and the 4-H STEM Futures programs at interpretive events with such individuals and groups as:

§  Members of the Texas House of Representatives

§  County Judges and Commissioners

§  4-H Families

o   Serve as a spokesperson for 4-H Science and 4-H STEM Futures programs for local media interviews and other opportunities, as needed.

o   Share experience as a 4-H STEM Youth Ambassador through social channels throughout the year when participating in events nationally and locally.

o   Inform 4-H youth, 4-H volunteers, 4-H educators, University faculty and other interested persons about 4-H STEM Futures opportunities and resources.

• Connect with donors on local level to develop and implement STEM strategies

• Engage with the Lockheed Martin employee mentors/volunteers within your state and local area.  

Appaloosa Horse for Sale!

Drew is a 16 yr. old 16.0 hand Registered Appaloosa gelding (registered name is Drews Approval; foal date 4/26/2000). He's got some serious training under his belt. Knows how to sidepass, nicely collects and pivots off his hind. He would be an excellent Western Equitation mount or a nice lower level dressage horse. Wonderful trail horse - very safe! Fantastic horse for the young intermediate rider looking to move up. Sound and flashy. Loads, clips, farrier, etc. Coggins 1/2016, teeth floated 8/2015. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eyH3aRy5dA

http://austin.craigslist.org/grd/5459287218.html

$4000. Please call or text Hilary at 512-422-4255 or email andersen.hilary@gmail.com to arrange a showing. Serious inquiries only please.

Reminder Changes / Additions for Texas 4-H Roundup 2016

CHANGES FOR 2016

·          This year the Texas 4-H Program has adopted the National 4-H “4-H Grows Here” campaign.  The theme of the 2016 Texas 4-H Roundup will coincide.  Therefore, there will not be a logo and theme contest this year.

·          Youth MAY NOT participate in more than one contest in a day.

·          The Invitational Meat Judging and Identification contest will be held simultaneously with the qualifying contest on Wednesday.  The invitational contest will be open to individuals or teams of two, limit of three teams per county.

·          *NEW* Invitational contests on Tuesday this year:

• Livestock Skill-a-thon
• Robotics Challenge.  This contest will be limited to one intermediate and/or one senior team per county.  Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for a total of 24 teams.

·           The Invitational Swine Skill-a-thon contest will not be held this year at Texas 4-H Roundup.  The Livestock Skill-a-thon will serve as an alternative opportunity.

·           The Art Contest will not be held this year at Texas 4-H Roundup.

·           A Grilling Meat Science Workshop will be offered by the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science Meat Science Center on Thursday. 

·           The Science on a Sphere exhibit is planned to be open for viewing at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center.

·           The Healthy Lifestyles contest will be held on Tuesday.

·           The Recipe Rally – Dinner Tonight presentations will be held on Thursday.

·           4-H members will be able to participate in one Share-The-Fun category on Wednesday AND one Share-The-Fun category on Thursday.

·           A Share-The-Fun “Best of Show” will be selected each evening by audience participation through voting via text message.

·           Discover Scientific Method Research Poster Contest has changed the entry requirements.  An individual or team of two or three can compete.

·           The Leaders 4 Life contest has made changes to the “Question and Answer with Judges” and the “Community Service Interpretation” portions of the contest.  See rules for complete details.

·           The Archery match will be limited to 120 participants.  Entry will be on a first come-first serve basis.