MONTGOMERY COUNTY 4-H FOCUS

Transcription

1 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 4-H FOCUS OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2012 PHONE Conroe: Houston: X Cleveland: FAX: Or ON THE WEB County Extension Service County 4-H District State M. Michelle Mihalek County Extension Agent 4-H & Youth Development Caroline M. Cruz County Extension Agent Urban Youth Development National 4-H Week is a week-long celebration of 4-H youth and the impact they have had on communities across the country. There are many ways to celebrate National 4-H Week. You can wear a 4-H t-shirt to school or to the store, pass out promotional 4-H flyers, or participate in a community service project. Two major activities planned for this year s National 4-H Week are one day 4-H and National Youth Science Day. one day 4-H will be held on Saturday, October 13th. The purpose of one day 4-H is for all the 4-H members, parents, leaders, and volunteers across Texas to step out into their communities and say thank you for more than 103 years of support to 4-H in Texas. This day of community service is whatever each 4-H member wants it to be. Montgomery County 4-H s one day 4-H Community Service Project Montgomery County 4-H is organizing a county-wide event for the largest possible impact. We will have an educational booth at the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival. The booth will be located in the Catfish Kids Zone inside Heritage Place Park from 11am - 6pm on Saturday, October 13 and from 12pm - 5pm on Sunday, October 14th. Some ideas for educational topics include responsible pet care, shooting safety, safe teen driving, and making cards for military servicemen and women. If you have an idea of a topic or activity for the booth, or if you would like to help run the booth, please contact the 4-H office by October 9th. Clubs, individuals or families may sign up for shifts to help with the booth. County Council County Council meetings are held the 4th Monday of the month September - May, unless otherwise noted. Everybody is welcome and club delegates are strongly encouraged to attend these meetings. The next County Council meetings will be held on Monday, October 22nd and Monday, November 26th. Eligibility forms are due back to the 4-H Office by 1 week prior to any competitive event, unless otherwise stated. It is the 4-H MEMBER S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain an eligibility form, have it signed by the school, and get it turned back in to the 4-H Office. Even if you will be on Spring Break when the event occurs, you still need an eligibility form stating such.

2 Page 2 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 4-H FOCUS Livestock Projects Livestock Judging is open to all eligible 4-H youth. If you are interested in joining our team, please Matt Schiel at bmrcattle@yahoo.com or call the 4-H Office. Major Show Entries - If you would like to show at Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston or Star of Texas, you must complete entries at the Major Show Entry days specified. You may choose between Sunday, November 4th from 3:00pm - 5:00pm or Monday, November 5th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at the County Extension Office. Exhibitors and their parent must be present, along with social security numbers, payment by cash or check for entry fees, and registration papers for breeding animals. Market animals must be validated, so take note of the validation procedures: ordering tags and attending validation night. Quality Counts Verification: Quality Counts is an online training and test that members must complete before entering to show at any of the major shows or the county fair. It was introduced last year, so most members are covered. However, because there are two versions, one for Juniors and one for Seniors, you may have to re-take yours. If you turned 14 before August 31st, 2012, you will need to take the Senior version of the test. Montgomery-Dobbin 4-H Prospect Show - January 26th at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Bring your colt, lamb, goat, barrow, heifer, steer, rabbit, or homemaking entry. There is also a showmanship contest and clover kid event. Entries must be postmarked by January 19th. Frannie at frannie.sanders@consolidated.com BEEF Montgomery County Fair Replacement Heifer Tag-In - Tuesday, October 2nd from 4:00pm - 7:00pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds LAMB AND GOAT Late State validation tag orders for lambs, breeding sheep and goats are due to the 4-H Office by October 23rd. Tags cost $20 per animal. State validation for lambs and goats to be eligible for major shows will be held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, October 30th from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Members must be present. Montgomery County Fair Market Goat & Market Lamb Tag-In - Tuesday, December 4th from 4:00pm - 7:00pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds Livestock Barn. HORSE Montgomery County Fair Colt Tag-In - Tuesday, October 16th from 4:00pm - 7:00pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds Montgomery County 4-H Horse Judging Contest - Saturday, October 6th at the Lone Star Arena In Horse Judging, members gain skills in decision making, observation, team work and critical thinking, while they learn the principles of horse judging and selection. Sharon Wellmann is a national horse judge and coaches the Montgomery County 4-H ers. Practices begin at 6:30 p.m. at the County Extension Office. October 1 October 9 (Seniors Only) November 13 November 27 December 13 January 7 January 15 (Seniors Only) January 29 February 12 February 26 County 4-H Practice Horse Shows and Clinics To qualify for the County 4-H Horse Show, you must attend at least 2 practice shows and one additional event, either another practice show or clinic from the following list:

3 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2012 Page Practice Shows: Sunday, October 7 Lone Star Arena 1:30pm (Performance First) Sunday, December 9 Magnolia Arena 1:30pm (Speed First) Sunday, January 13 Willis Arena 1:30pm (Performance First) Sunday, March 24 Willis Arena 1:30pm (Speed First) Clinics: Sunday, October 7 Lone Star Arena 12:00pm Trail Sunday, December 9 Magnolia Arena 9:00am Speed Sunday, January 13 Willis Arena 12:30pm Showmanship (Formal Attire Required) Sunday, March 24 Willis Arena 12:30pm Grooming (Formal Attire Required) RABBIT Russ Upton will be holding Rabbit Project Meetings throughout the year. These meetings will be held at the Extension Office at 7:00pm on the dates listed. Any member who is interested in the rabbit project is more than welcome to attend. Montgomery County Fair Market Rabbit Meat Pen Intent To Show Forms are due to the Fair Office by November 30th. October 23 - Stock Selection / Feed and Nutrition November 13 - Breeding and Kindling January 22 - Health and Sanitation February 26 - Marketing and Record Keeping March 26 - Breeds, Varieties and Showing April TBD - Market Pen picking (evening before the fair) Montgomery County Fair Market Rabbit Tag-In will be held on Thursday, March 7 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds Rabbit Extravaganza - November 10 in Gatesville. Register via 4-H Connect by October 10th to participate in this fun event that is all about rabbits! Contests include rabbit art, breed identification, photography contest, poster contest, best-dressed rabbit, rabbit judging, showmanship, and t-shirt design. For more details, visit POULTRY Turkeys will be picked up on October 31st. If your family ordered turkeys, please call the 4-H Office on that day to see what time we are expecting them to arrive. Montgomery County Fair Turkey Intent To Show Forms are due to the Fair Office by November 5th. Montgomery County Fair chicks will be delivered Thursday, February 21 from 1pm - 4pm at the Fairgrounds - Horseshoe Club. San Antonio chicks will be picked up January 11th.

4 Page 4 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 4-H FOCUS Houston chicks will be picked up January 23rd. SWINE State swine validation to be eligible for major shows will be held on Tuesday, November 27th at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Members must be present. Montgomery County Fair Market Barrow Tag-In will be held on Tuesday, January 8 from 2:00pm - 7:00pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Please bring ear notch card and tag-in card. The Montgomery County Fair Association will hold a workshop for 4-H managers, teachers and any interested parents to answer questions and give updated information on the 2013 Jr. Non Livestock Show and Auction. Chairman from all the Non-Livestock Shows will give a presentation on their shows. Adults only, no children. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 13 th at 6:30 at the Fair Office. If you have any questions call the Fair Office at November 30 - December 1 at Camp Mohawk in Alvin The goal of Junior Leadership Lab is to prepare intermediate age 4-Hers from the 18 counties in District 9 for leadership roles. These roles might be at the county level or their clubs. The hope is that participants will take information back from lab and share it with members back in their counties. The lab is set up to be enjoyable and fun, but there is work too. The sessions require participant involvement and concentration. Ages 11 to 13 are encouraged to attend. Fun time is set up with activities that build team work skills and camaraderie in the district The registration fee covers 1 night of lodging, all meals, program activities, insurance, and curriculum. The attire is school appropriate (casual), but remember to bring warm clothes as many activities are held outside. The theme for the dance on Friday night is Cowboys and Angels. Cost $70, but 4-H office will pay for half of the registration fee for Montgomery County 4-H members who register by the deadline. Register on 4-H Connect by November 2nd. For more details, visit The annual 4-H Pecan Sale has begun! This fundraiser helps the county 4-H program in more ways than you can imagine. Funds from the sale come back to you through the purchase of equipment and maintenance, program materials, awards, promotional supplies the annual awards banquet, leader training, some contest fees and more. This year, the price for a pound of fresh, high-quality Cheyenne variety pecans is $10 for pre-orders and $10.50 for every order placed after the order deadline. We are pleased to announce that this price is $1.50 lower than last year. These pecans are sold in full one-pound packages and can be used as snacks, for baking or for gifts. Clubs receive $0.50 per bag on pre-order sales and don t forget about the cash prizes that are awarded to the top sellers in the county! Pecan orders should be turned in through the club s pecan leader / club manager to the 4-H Office by October 18th. This means that member orders should be turned in to their club s pecan leader / club manager at their October meeting.

5 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2012 Page 5 Special Interest Projects & Opportunities 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge! 4-H Youth Demonstrate Environmental Responsibility On October 10, 2012, young people across the nation will become scientists for the day during 4-H National Youth Science Day. In this year's experiment, the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge, youth will enhance their engineering skills by assembling their own Eco-Bots and surface controls to manage an environmental clean-up. Youth will test the interaction between the Eco-Bot s design features to determine the most 4-H Science & Robotics Eco-Bot Challenge! Tuesday October 9 th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm Extension Office Auditorium Get ready for the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge! Build the most effective Eco-Bot and take the challenge by storm! In this year's experiment, the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge, you will enhance your engineering skills by assembling your own Eco-Bot and determine the most effective clean-up solution for the simulated pollution spill. The Eco-Bot Challenge is a great way to get your 4-H Science Project on a roll! Please RSVP by Oct. 4 th. Golf Challenge Swing Camp - October 27 and 28 in College Station. Participants will work with golf professionals on swing fundamentals such as putting, chipping, pitching, iron play, and trouble shots. They will also learn about proper fitness and nutrition as it relates to golf. Registration is due by October 15th via 4-H Connect, with a cost of $150. For more details, visit Beekeeping Essay Contest - This contest is sponsored each year by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. This year s topic is Reducing the Usage of Bee-Killing Pesticides in my Community. Essays are due to the State 4-H Office by January 10th. For contest rules, please visit DOG PROJECT The Dog project is a great way to get exercise outdoors, while training your dog and gaining a variety of skills. 4-H members new to the project will participate in a six week course before integrating into the main group, ensuring focused beginner training for incoming students. If you are interested in participating in the 4-H Dog Project, please contact the 4-H Office to be placed on an interest list. VET SCIENCE PROJECT The 4-H Veterinary Science Project is a 5 year curriculum based project with a set number of lessons and activities, that gives youth interested in veterinary medicine a chance to work in the field and see if they would like to pursue it as a career. After a member has completed the program, they may apply to take a test to become a Certified Veterinary Assistant. The Conroe Vet Science group will continue to meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at the County Extension Office. The Magnolia Vet Science Project meets at the First Baptist Church on 1488 the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30pm. Contact Edna Griswold at about the Magnolia Vet Science Project. Texas 4-H & FFA Photography Contest: PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT The Texas State Preservation Board, along with Texas 4-H is offering a

6 Page 6 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 4-H FOCUS photography contest for 4-H and FFA members. Winners will have their photos displayed at the Texas State Capitol Agriculture Museum for one year. There is no entry fee. Rules are attached, or can be found at: Texas 4-H Photography Contest - This contest is open to senior aged 4-H members, ages 14 and up (As of August 31st.) There are 15 categories to choose from. Only one entry per category can be submitted per county, so entries must be ed to April Fagan at amfagan@ag.tamu.edu before registering for the event online. If there is competition in any category at the county level, the entries will be judged to determine which one will move on to the State 4-H Competition. entries to April by Monday, April 1st. Once approved, you will need to register for the event and upload your photos via 4-H Connect by no later than April 15th. For rules and guidelines, visit District 9 4-H Photography Contest - This contest is open to any 4-H er in District 9. This is not a qualifying event for the Texas 4-H Photography Contest. Online entry via 4-H Connect closes March 31st. Visit eventsandcontests/district-9-4-h-conference/photography/ for rules and information. Decorate Your Duds Clothing & Textiles Workshop Tuesday October 16th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm Master Gardener Building Conference Room Decorate your Duds at this fashion workshop. Learn how to embellish clothing that you already have! Bring some items to decorate, these could be: jeans, sweatshirts, 4-H shirts, jackets, purse, scarves, socks, flip flops almost anything. We ll provide some of the things you can embellish with gems, fabric paint, stitching, etc. or bring you own too. Please RSVP by Oct. 11th. Come when you can and work at your own pace. Food Challenge Team Training Food & Nutrition Project Workshop Tuesday November 27 th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm Extension Office Auditorium Want to learn more about the 4-H Food Challenge and other Food projects? Learn how to build a Food Challenge Team and become a leader in the project. Learn the in-and-outs of this fun-filled contest experience, which is similar to Iron Chef. Please RSVP by Nov. 21st. 4-H Night with the Houston Rockets! Saturday, December 8th at 7:00pm at the Toyota Center Watch as the Rockets take on the Dallas Mavericks! A portion of every ticket goes back to the county 4-H program! Tickets for 4-H ers are $30 for upper sidelines, $52 for lower endzones, or $75 for lower corners. Order tickets by calling Joelle Hardin at The Montgomery County 4-H Shooting Sports club is working with Chiller Bee as a fundraiser for their club. The first Tuesday of every month, customers can mention 4-H Shooting Sports when they make their purchase so the club will receive 30% of the sale. Chiller Bee is located at I-45 and FM 3083 in Conroe in the Kohls shopping center. If your club has a similar fundraiser to publicize, it to April at amfagan@ag.tamu.edu. We can also put fliers on our bulletin board in the Extension Office.

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 MCF Broiler Orders due Co. Horse Judging Practice 2 MCF Replacement Heifer Tag In Montgomery County Horse Judging Contest 7 Trail Clinic Practice Horse Show 8 9 Horse Judging Practice Eco-Bot Challenge MCF Colt Tagin. Fashion Workshop. Vet Science Conroe 10 National 4-H Science Day National 4-H Week Pecan Pre-orders due, -Fashion Workshop. Vet Science Magnolia One Day 4-H Catfish Festival County Council Record Keeping Training 23 Late major show lamb & goat tag orders due 30 State Lamb and Goat Validation Adopt A Spot 31 Turkey Pick Up Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Dist. 4-H Junior Leadership Lab Registration Due 3 Aggie Fest Judging Contests 4 5 MCF Turkey Intent to Show forms due Fair Major Show Entry Days Equine Judging Workshop OFFICE CLOSED VETERNS DAY 13 Fair Non- Livestock Mtg., Horse Judging Practice Vet Science Magnolia Pecan delivery? Feed The Frontier MCF Rabbit Intent to Show forms due, Vet Science Conroe OFFICE CLOSED County Council 27 Swine Validation, Food Project Workshop, Horse Judging Pract Dist. 4-H Jr. Leadership Lab

8 The Jingle Bell Classic is a TCCA sanctioned heifer show that has been used as a fundraiser by the Montgomery County Beef Heifer Show Team. Last year, the Show Team agreed to start letting the funds raised be used for the Montgomery County 4-H program, in general. The Jingle Bell Classic will be held on Saturday, December 15th at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. We will need volunteers from each club to help pull it off. Areas you can volunteer with include: setting up on the 14th, tearing down after the show, directing exhibitors, unlocking stalls to let heifers in, and other tasks that may arise. If you would like to help, please sign up through the 4-H Office by December 11th. Trick or Treat Trail October 20, 4pm 7pm Carl Barton Jr. Park, 2500 S Loop 336 Rain-Out location: C.K. Ray Rec Center 4-H Clubs are invited to host a trail station during the Trick or Treat Trail. Dress in a kid-friendly costume and promote 4-H by handing out candy, along with 4-H brochures. This is a free family event, where families go through the trick or treat trail and visit trail stations hosted by local business or organizations. Last year over 1,200 trick or treaters showed up. Requirements of Trail Station hosts: Provide your own table/chairs. You only need about 4-6 people to actually be at your booth while families walk the trail. 2,000-3,000 pieces of candy to pass out (can buy wholesale online at or at Sam s) You can decorate your booth space to make your booth stand out, and wear costumes! Think kid-friendly Pass out 4-H brochures and promote 4-H in a fun, friendly way! $25 booth fee (potentially waived for 4-H clubs contacting the 4-H office asap) Clubs can work together to at a booth and share the cost of candy. If your Club is interested in hosting a trail station, contact the 4-H Office by October 10 th! FEEDING THE FRONTIER November 17, :00am - 5:00pm Fernland Historical Park in Montgomery This is an opportunity for 4-H Clubs to host children s educational activities, while benefitting the Montgomery County Food Bank. If your club is interested in helping, please contact the 4-H Office by October 4th. This is a life on the frontier themed event, so keep that in mind when planning your activity get creative! Info we need: -Club Name Club Contact person for this event & phone number What activity do you plan to do Record Keeping Training Recordkeeping is a very valuable skill taught to members of the Texas 4-H program. Members are encouraged to keep project records and have these records reviewed annually by submitting a Texas 4-H Recordbook. The primary purposes of completing a recordbook are for a young person to develop the skills necessary to set goals, work toward achieving those goals, reflect on his/her experiences, and set new and higher goals for themselves. A secondary benefit is to prepare young people for the process of completing quality academic scholarship applications. Whether or not you are planning to do a record book for 4-H, record keeping is a skill that everybody should acquire. There will be a record keeping training on Monday, October 29th at the Extension Office at 6:30pm. Call to sign up by October 25th.

9 MONTGOMERY COUNTY 4-H FOCUS CROSSWORD PUZZLE Test your focus and win a prize! Solve the puzzle and return it to the 4-H Office to win a prize! The first 5 members who turn in their correct puzzle will win a prize out of the 4-H Prize Bucket. HINT: The answers can be found in this newsletter! You can mail your puzzle or fax it to: Montgomery County 4-H Office 9020 Airport Rd Conroe, TX FAX: