2016 Texas 4-H Congress

I am happy to announce that the selections for the 2016 Texas 4-H Congress have been made and the slots have been filled.

Representing District 10/Travis County as a -

     Lobbyist:  Sofia Ramirez

     Press Corps:  Ishani Pandya, Javier Ramirez, William Whitaker

     House/Senate Members:  Caitlyn McCauslin and Erica Masi   (* please note that exact roles will be  determined by the state office)

Congratulations to all!

Reminder:

4-H members attending Texas 4-H Congress will be required to submit at least one bill prior to their registration to the event being accepted. To learn more on how to write a bill, download the “Preparing a Legislative Bill for Texas 4-H Congress”.  To submit a bill, go to the Bill Submission Form website.

2016 District 10 4-H Fashion Show and Duds to Dazzle

Don't forget that the Duds to Dazzle and Fashion Show components of the 2016 District 10 contests were moved.  The new location is:

Guadalupe County Extension Office

210 E. Live Oak

Seguin, TX 78155

There has also been a change in the schedule.  The new schedule is:

8:30              Registration
9:00              Duds to Dazzle Judges orientation
8:40-9:10     Check Duds to Dazzle kits
9:10              Duds 2 Dazzle Participant Orientation
9:30              Set-up Textile and Storyboard display
9:30              Duds to Dazzle begins
10:30            Duds to Dazzle ends
10:40            Duds to Dazzle judging
12 noon        Duds to Dazzle awards *** subject to change depending on tabulation time***
12:30            Fashion Show Registration – Judges/Contestants
1:00              Fashion Show Judges and Participant Orientation
1:30              Fashion Show Judging begins
3:00 pm        Fashion Show Awards (this includes announcement of Storyboard and Textiles
                     placings)      *** subject to change depending on tabulation time***

All other aspects of the District 10 4-H Round-Up will be held at the original location in Lockhart.

2016 Award Forms

We are trying something new this year and have put the annual Achievement Banquet award forms on the Travis 4-H website.   Click here to access the forms.  The award forms have retained the same format as the paper forms of the past, but allow for instant submission to the Extension office. A spreadsheet of club applicants who have applied for awards will be forwarded to club managers for their approval.

Help Wanted

The District 10 contests to be held on April 30 are in need of assistance.  Due to a variety of reasons (leave, health issues, vacancies), there are insufficient county agents to fill all the needed judge slots.  If you would like to assist with judging in Lockhart on Saturday, April 30, please contact John at (512) 854-9600 and let him know of your interest.

2016 Texas 4-H Round-Up

* To use links found in this flyer, please use the posting on our website, www.travis4h.com/4-h-events.

2016 State Fair Swine Tags

The 2016 State Fair Swine Tag order form has been posted on the Travis County 4-H website.  Click here and scroll down to the Swine section.  Orders for these tags must be received in the Extension office by April 22, 2016.

Travis County 4-H Camp

Please help us spread the word on the exciting 4-H summer camps scheduled at the 4-H Center this summer. They have two new camps added to their schedule this year. A 4-H Beginner Shooting Sports camp and a 4-H Fishing Camp! Reserve your camp spot today with a $25 deposit by registering on their website http://texas4hcenter.tamu.edu/.  Final payments for camp are due on June 14^th. Travis County 4-H will be attending Camp III.

2016 Travis County Textile/Fashion Show Results

The Travis County 4-H 2016 Textile/Fashion Show was held last week.  Congratulations to our Blue Ribbon winners!  Good luck as you advance to the District contest.

Junior Division (Grades 3-5)
Fashion Show (Construction) - Category: Everyday Living                 Anna-Laura Whitaker
Fashion Show (Construction) - Category: Semi-formal to Formal       Lauren Walton

Textile Show - Category:  Kitchen Item                                                Claire Whitaker

Intermediate Division (Grades 6-8)
Fashion Show (Construction) - Category:  Semi-formal to Formal      Rachel Keese
Fashion Show (Buying) - Category:  Semi-formal to Formal               Korinne Stanley
Fashion Show (Buying) - Category:  Special Interest                           John Paul Whitaker

Senior Division (Grades 9-12)
Fashion Show (Buying) - Category:  Business/Interview Attire           Will Whitaker

Austin Kennel Club Dog Show

The Austin Kennel Club Dog Show will be held the weekend of April 16 and 17, 2016.  The organizers have once again asked if Travis 4-H might offer some of our members to assist with the show.  They are asking for two (2) assistants per day, from 8:00 AM to about 4:00 PM, at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane.  The youth will primarily help in keeping the facility clean.  Lunch will be provided.

To sign up, or for more information, please contact Mr. George Armstrong at (512) 461-3972 or via email at sundownms@att.net.

TCYS Scholarship

Did you know that the Travis County Youth Show offers a scholarship to high school seniors?  Did you know that there are yet to be any applications received by the TCYS committee reviewing said scholarship applications?  If you are a high school senior and fulfill the various requirements, please have your completed application postmarked by Wednesday, April 13.  You may find the application and more information here.

Blinn College Livestock Judging Camp

East Austin Garden Fair 2016

Travis 4-H is looking for youth to volunteer to help with this event.  We will sponsor a "bike blender" and operate the popcorn machine.  If you would like to assist, please email John and let him know when you might be available.

2016 Pork Leadership Camp

The Texas Pork Producers Association is once again hosting its Texas Pork Leadership Camp, June 20-25, 2016. The TPPA Camp is an intense, progressive and thought- provoking week, full of activities, tours and presentations featuring all aspects of the pork production industry from Farm to Fork!  Youth participating in the camp will have the opportunity to visit with world leading commercial hog operations, top university and industry professionals and tour large scale harvesting and pork processing plants.  More information and an application can be found here, then scroll down to Swine.

2016-2017 Heifer Validation

We have received notice that the heifer registration and validation process will begin soon.  Between April 1 and April 14, please contact John (jjriegler@ag.tamu.edu) and let him know if you plan on entering a heifer in any of the shows next year. 

Silent Auction at Texas 4-H Round-Up

The Texas Association of Extension 4-H Agents is coordinating a silent auction at the State 4-H Round-Up this year.  They are asking for help from individuals, 4-H clubs, counties, and various other entities in obtaining items for this year's auction.  A list of suggested items, as well as a form that should be completed and submitted with the donation, can be found here.  All donations, forms and photos of the donated items should be submitted to Cory Hundl (cory.hundl@ag.tamu.edu) by Friday, May 13, 2016.

2016 Travis County Youth Show Scholarship

Did you know that you could earn a scholarship from the Travis County Youth Show?  To find out more, click here and scroll down to the TCYS scholarship application and information document.  Please note that the paperwork is due by April 13, 2016.

2016 Texas 4-H Congress

Texas 4-H Congress is a four-day mock legislative experience for 4-H members who will be in 9th through 12th grade for the 2016-2017 school year, also eligible to attend are 4-H youth who graduated high school in the spring of 2016. During this time, 4-H members assume the roles of senators, representatives, lobbyists, press corps, and special interest groups to gain a first-hand understanding of how the legislative process works. Bills that are written and sponsored by 4-H members focus on issues concerning Texas and Texas youth. These bills are assigned to the appropriate committee, debated in committee meetings, and then on the floor of the House or Senate. If a bill is successful in negotiation and the legislative debate in all three stages, it is delivered to the Governor of Texas 4-H Congress for his or her signature or veto. Copies of all the bills that are signed into law during Texas 4-H Congress are provided to the Office of the Governor for review.
Texas 4-H Congress is a premiere leadership program that is co-planned and co-implemented by the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Office and the Texas 4-H Council. The Texas 4-H Council, which consists of elected delegates from each district within the state, assume many of the leadership responsibilities. 

For any Travis County youth interested in participating in Texas 4-H Congress, please read the information below and make sure you fully understand the process by which youth will be selected to attend.
Congress is a unique opportunity that comes with unique requirements to be eligible to participate. Travis County is guaranteed two (2) slots for youth to serve as a House of Representative Member or a Senate member. Youth do not apply for either of these two positions; they apply for the process of being selected to attend the event. House and Senate responsibilities are assigned later by the State 4-H office to the youth selected to attend from each county. Each youth who is accepted to attend Congress must submit a bill. For youth to be considered for the two Travis County 4-H Slots, they must complete the application and submit to John by April 8th. The applications will be judged and all applicants will be ranked. If not all slots are filled statewide, there is a possibility for others applicants to move up, but this is not a guarantee and is determined at the district level. This is why all applicants will be ranked based on their submitted application.

• Lobbyist – This option is designed for youth who have attended the previous Congress event (Summer 2014) and have met the grade requirement and must submit their online application in 4-H Connect by March 31st.
• Press Corp Member – This option is open to youth wanting to attend Congress and meet the grade requirement. Any youth wanting to attend should submit this application to better your chances in being accepted to attend Congress. Youth must also complete the Travis County 4-H Application in the event you are not selected as a Press Corp member. Must apply online on 4-H Connect by March 31st.

New Addition for this year:
All 4-H youth have an opportunity to submit a bill so that any youth who chooses will have the opportunity to participate in this event. Bill submissions are due May 27th.

For more  information and forms, click here and scroll to State Events.

2016 - 2017 State Fair Lamb and Goat Tag Orders

The tag order form for 2016 State Fair lambs and goats has been posted on the Travis County 4-H website (2016 State Fair Lamb/Goat Tag Order Form).  Please note that the form and payment must be returned to the Extension office by Friday, April 8, 2016.

2016 - 2017 Steer Tags

The steer tag order form for 2016-2017 has been posted on the Travis County 4-H website.  Please note that the return date is a bit earlier this year; we will need to have form and payment in this office by April 8 , 2016.   2016-17 Steer Tag Order Form

4-H Family Fishing Day - April 23rd

Join us for Family Fishing Day at the Texas 4-H Center! The day will begin with a short lecture about safety and tips. We will then eat as a group before heading to the lakeside and fishing the rest of the day. Registration is only $30 a person and lodging is available afterwards if desired.