2018-2019 Validation Order Forms have been posted for Major Broilers, Swine, & Heifers

VALIDATION TAG ORDER INFORMATION

Validation Tag orders have been posted to https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/4-h-programs/4-h-livestock-information/; simply click on the link and scroll down to the appropriate specie(s).  Direct links to the forms are also provided below:

PDF and Fillable PDF Forms have been posted for the following Validation Tags:

2018-2019 Major Swine Validation Tags:

• 2018-2019 Major Show Swine Validation – 4-H Orders –PDF Form & Fillable PDF Form
• Due by 12 Noon on Friday, September 14th, at $20 each
• Late Tags accepted until 12 Noon on Thursday, September 20th, at $30 each
• Our Extension Office must postmark our order by the morning of September 21st

Heifer UINs:

• 2018-2019 Heifer UIN Order Form – PDF Form & Fillable PDF Form
• Late Heifer UIN orders are due by September 18th for $30 each
• If you already ordered a UIN and did not validate in June, you do not need to reorder 

2018-2019 Major Show Broiler Orders:

• 2018-2019 Major Show Broiler Orders – PDF Form & Fillable PDF Form
• Due by 12 Noon on Friday, September 14th
• Late Orders accepted until 12 Noon on Friday, September 21st with $25 late fee
• Our Extension Office is post-marking these as soon as possible on the 21st in order to secure an early spot on pick up days

Do You Know that Travis County 4-H Has Livestock Mentors?!

Please see the informational letter about our Livestock Mentors!  The online Project Request Form is currently available for any requests!

2018 Youth Hunter Education Camp - October 26-28

2018 College Prep 101 - 10/8/18

2018 Lake Travis FFA Lamb & Goat Show - 11/3/18

Please see the flyer below for the upcoming Lake Travis FFA Lamb & Goat Show.

2018 District 10 4-H Conference - 9/29/18

The 2018 District 10 4-H Conference will be held Saturday, September 29th at the Comfort High School in Comfort, TX.  This conference will feature three (3) tracks (2 for adults and 1 for youth).  These sessions will offer various training on available contests, scholarship opportunities, volunteer resources, and much more.           

Conference will begin with a brief group session and then will break into the different tracks. Once all sessions are complete, the District 10 4-H Council Meeting will be held.  Lunch and a T-shirt are included in your registration.  The registration fee is $30 per person when registering by September 14th on 4-H Connect. Information regarding the sessions and registration can be found below.  If you have any questions, please call the Extension Office at 512-854-9600 and ask for Julissa or Mellanie.

2018 Buda Buckle Bash - 10/7/18

Please see the flyer below for the Buda Buckle Bash on October 7, 2018

2018-2019 Livestock Show Deadlines & Reminders!

Below are some of the associated deadlines for Livestock Show entries this year!  Please stay tuned for Show updates on the Blog and from your Club Managers.  

Please remember that the entry deadlines posted directly on the Livestock Show websites are the entry deadlines for County Extension Agents and Ag Teachers to sign, seal, and submit everything from their office.  Entries are due to the County Extension Office at an earlier date (as listed below) to allow us time to catch errors, enter everything online, and make sure that everything that you ordered is correct.

Please also be advised that we are implementing a new policy - there will be a $25 late fee for entries submitted after the County deadline.

Texas 4-H Road Show Opportunities

The Texas 4-H Center Road Show is back! We will bring 4-H Camp games and activities to your club, County, and District events! Activities include 9-Square in the Air, 4-H Camp Giant Pants, Pony Hops, Line Dances, tug of war, Alaskan baseball, and much more! Email me at cari.snider@ag.tamu.edu or call 325-784-5482 to get your event on our schedule!

2018 Glen Rose 4-H Shooting Sports 3D Archery Fundraiser - 9/22

The Glen Rose 4-H Shooting Sports Club will be hosting their annual 3D Archery Fundraiser on September 22, 2018 at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, TX. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

2018 District 8 Shooting Sports Coach Training - Stephenville - 10/27 to 10/28

2018 South Texas Double Trouble Prospect Steer and Heifer Show 11/3

Please find information for the South Texas Double Trouble Prospect Steer and Heifer Show held on November 3, 2018 at the Cowboy Fellowship in Jourdanton Texas.  

2018 Guadalupe Co 4-H Livestock Judging Contest 9/22

2018 Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo 10/19 - 10/21

The 2018 Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo will be conducted October 19, 20 and 21 at the Brazos County Expo Complex (located at 5827 Leonard Rd, Bryan, TX 77807). Please find the attached file containing the BVF&R Livestock Schedule. For the BVF&R, exhibitors submit their own entries at https://brazos.fairmanager.com/ For general rules or specific information go to https://www.brazosvalleyfair.com/p/events/livestock or call 979/821-1450.

Exhibitors will need their Quality Counts verification number and entries must be submitted by mid-night, September 28, 2018.

Junior Livestock Show Scholarships: $1,500 scholarship will be awarded in Ring B to the Grand Champion animal in each junior/prospect show. $500 scholarship will be awarded in Ring B to the Reserve Grand Champion animal in each junior/prospect show. Division Champions in each junior/prospect show will be awarded $250. Each show must have sixty head entered total and each Division/Breed must have five or more head entered in the previous year’s show to be eligible for division/breed scholarships and buckles in the current year.

2018 Texas 4-H Shooting Sports National Team Application - Due 9/27/18

The application for the team that will represent the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Program at the national championships in Grand Island Nebraska is now open on 4-H Connect.  

Please have the prospective team members go to the shooting sports webpage (https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/shooting-sports/ ) and read the “Texas Team Application Information” before they fill out the application.  It is under the “National Championships and Texas Team” heading.  

Some notes to keep in mind:

• The deadline for application is September 27, 2018.  To be considered, all applications MUST be in by that date.
• The date of the match in Grand Island is June 23-28, 2019. 
• There will be a mandatory Team meeting in February 2019 at the 4-H Center in Brownwood for the participants that have been selected.

2018 Texas 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza

The Texas 4-H Rabbit Advisory Board has been hard at work to put together a statewide Rabbit event for 4-H members in Texas. It is with great pleasure, that I announce the return of the Texas 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza!

This years event is scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, TX. Entries will be open on 4-H connect from August 15-September 3, 2018.

2018-2019 Travis County Swine Validation Update

Due to Area 12 scheduling the Area LDE contest on November 17th, our Travis County swine validation will take place on November 10th and 11th most likely following the similar format of years past.  

I understand that the Duncan Pig Sale has not occurred so we will have a single day/single location late validation for people who have purchased late pigs.  The late validation date and time is TBD.  As soon as we receive info from the state office concerning tags we will be sending it out.

2018 Cotton Country Classic - 10/20 - 20/21

2018 Medina County Lamb & Goat 9/15-9/16

2018 Medina County Steer & Heifer Prospect Show 9/7-9/9

2018-2019 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.) isrequired 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 Julissa or Mellanie

Please remember to update you information annually:

New Quality Counts System Update

The new Quality Counts System is not quite ready to be released - the program itself is complete, but they are currently working on making the system more user-friendly and easy to navigate.  Please know that they are working tirelessly to get this out as soon as possible.

In the meantime, youth exhibitors wishing to enter the State Fair of Texas or Heart ‘O Texas Fair may still get verified on the old system at: http://qc.wieghatgraphics.com/. Verification on the new system will only be required for entry into Spring major livestock shows.

Thank you for your patience!

2018-2019 Major Lamb/Goat Validation Tag Orders Posted - Due Monday, August 27th

The tag order form for 2018-2019 Major Lamb & Goats has been posted on the Travis County 4-H website and is also directly available by clicking HERE.  Please note that the form and payment must be returned to the Extension office by 12:00 PM on Monday, August 27th.  Tags cost $18.00 each.  Due to our Agents' schedules, we will have a hard time accepting late tag orders; please accept our apologies. Please feel free to email Mellanie at MLMickelson@ag.tamu.edu how many tags you are planning to order so that we can accommodate you if timing is an issue.

Major Lamb & Goat Validation will be held:

• Date: Tuesday, October 16, 2018
• Time: TBD
• Location: Hendrickson High School Ag Barns (6324 Cele Road, Pflugerville)
• Remember that TLBA tags need to be in the lamb's ear BEFORE they come to validation

2018 Texas 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza Educational Program

More information coming soon!

2018 Glen Rose Jackpot Show - Save the Date 9/15/18

Save September 15th for the  lamb and goat jackpot show at Oakdale Park in Glen Rose, TX! Pool will be open and RV Spots will be available.  More info to come!

2018 NCHA Cutting Horse Judging Contest - Youth participation opportunity!

Below you will find a flyer for the 2018 judging contest hosted by the National Cutting Horse Association November 30 – December 1^st in Fort Worth.  This has been a strictly collegiate contest in previous years, but this year NCHA is including youth! This is an excellent learning opportunity and NCHA has some great prizes including scholarship money, buckles, trophies and more.  Please pass this info along to any horse judging teams in your county that might be interested. They will be sending out more info, including entry forms, as we get closer to the event.  

2018 South East Buyers Group Annual Swamp Stomp - 9/29/18

2018 Floral Design Workshop

Reminder - RSVP for the banquet by August 9th!

2018 District 10 4-H Conference - Save the Date!