State 4-H Recordbook Judging: August 4th in Victoria. 4-H Leadership Retreat: August Rec Building

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1 K l e b e rg - K e n e dy C o u n t y 4 - H N e w s l e t t e r : Au g u s t H G r e e t i n g s As Summer 2014 comes to an end and the new school year begins, the H year starts up. In July, 4-H members attended Texas 4-H Congress, participated in the District 12 4-H recordbook contest and interviewed for 4-H awards. The Kleberg-Kenedy Summer Youth Program was also in full swing. The new 4-H year brings a lot of opportunities to learn new things, compete for awards and honors, make new friends and learn valuable life skills. I would like to challenge everyone to try something new this year. Livestock projects are great, but be sure to look into the Food & Nutrition program, the Fashion Show, Photography, Consumer Decision Making, and Roundup contests, as well as the Shooting Sports programs. Enrollment begins on August 15th with most clubs meeting for the first time in September. Bring a friend to a 4-H meeting and show them what 4-H is all about! This is going to be a great year! With almost 500 youth and over 70 volunteers let s be the change we wish to see in the world! Feel free to come by the office if you are interested in serving as a volunteer to the Kleberg-Kenedy 4-H program or would like to learn about more great 4-H activities. Please take the time to read through the newsletter to see what all of these talented kids have accomplished! Sincerely, Niki Kaiser, CEA 4-H & YD U p c o m i n g e v e n t D a t e s August 2014: State 4-H Recordbook Judging: August 4th in Victoria 4-H Leadership Retreat: August Rec Building Club Manager Training: August 6:00pm (revised date) H Enrollment Begins: Aug 15-Oct 31 September 2014: H Enrollment Begins: Aug 15 Oct 31 4-H Open House: Ext. Office County 4-H Council Meeting: Sept. 6:30pm District 12 4-H Council/Volunteer Workshop: Sept. 20th in Kingsville County Achievement Awards: August 24th K e e p i n t o u c h w i t h 4 - h H a p p e n i n g s Kleberg-Kenedy County Webpage: Being the Best Kleberg-Kenedy AgriLife Facebook: klebergkenedy.agrilife District 12 4-H Website: Texas 4-H Website: Supporting the Rest Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

2 SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY-FYI: Kleberg-Kenedy County AgriLife Extension Service complies with the law set forth by legislature regarding eligibility and school absences. Members competing or simply participating in a 4-H event (food show, fashion, show, livestock show, etc.) must be certified as eligible to participate by their respective schools. School officials will be provided with a list of students entered in competitive and/or non-competitive 4-H events. Should a student be ineligible due to their respective School District s Policy (grades, absenteeism, discipline, etc.), school officials will notify the Kleberg- Kenedy Extension Office in writing. The students and their parents will be notified in writing of their ineligibility status by our office. 4-H ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS BANQUET: Annual 4-H Achievement Awards Banquet is scheduled for Sunday, August 24 th at 4:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall (Located on General Cavazos Blvd.). Registration begins at 3:45 p.m. Please RSVP by August 19 th. This is a special event that recognizes members that completed a recordbook. Invitations will be mailed to all members completing a 4-H Recordbook. All families, parents, leaders, community supporters, etc. are invited. Cost: $8.00/person except members completing a 4-H Recordbook. Everyone is encouraged to attend and have a nice meal catered by Knights of Columbus! ENROLLMENT: H enrollments will begin August 15th through the end of October. Families can log on to the following website as they begin to enter their profile (new members) or updating/activation (current members) their previous profile/membership: Reminder: The enrollment fee ($20/member) is due upon enrollment. Families reenrolling will be prompted to a payment screen through 4-H Connect. Payment must be made at the time of enrollment or re-enrollment. Payment is submitted through a credit card. Please do not indicate county will pay. If this option is selected, families will have their enrollment returned for correction. This means that members are not considered official until the office accepts your enrollment. Families with any questions can call the office. A computer is set up at the office for anyone needing to complete the enrollment process. MANDATORY CLUB MANAGER/LEADER WORKSHOP AND CLUB INFORMATION: The meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2014, 6:00 p.m. at the A&M AgriLife Extension Office. Workshop geared for ALL club managers/leaders. The focus will be on enrollment, recruitment, programming efforts, financial responsibilities, volunteers, etc. Please RSVP to (361)

3 District 12 4-H Recordbook Contest July 9th in Pleasanton Juniors: Kirby Owen, Beef Blue Ribbon Renell Kraatz, Horse Blue Ribbon Intermediates: Luke Kraatz, Beef Blue Ribbon Jessica Pena, Food & Nutrition Blue Ribbon Steven Grimes, Goat Blue Ribbon Darby Florence, Poultry Blue Ribbon Alec Mertens, Safety Blue Ribbon Miles Mathis, Sheep Blue Ribbon Seniors: Kelsey Richerson, Companion Animal 1st place Victoria Garza, Goat 2nd place Hayley Meyer, Leadership- 1st place Schyler Alexander, Poultry 3rd place Hunter Meyer, Safety 3rd place Morgan Mathis, Sheep 1st place Haley Wagner, Swine 2nd place Clancy McFall, Wildlife & Fisheries 1st place State 4-H Recordbook Contest August 4th in Victoria Congratulations to the 4 Kleberg-Kenedy County Recordbook participants that not only made it to the State 4-H contest, but did EXCELLENT! Morgan Mathis 5th place Sheep Clancy McFall 2nd Place Wildlife & Fisheries Hayley Meyer 3rd Place Leadership Kelsey Richerson 4th place Companion Animal County 4-H Award Interviews Kleberg-Kenedy County 4-H members applied for county awards and were interviewed on July 23rd. The judges noted how tough the decisions were because all of the interviews were great. They were very impressed by the interview skills, professionalism and strength of participation in 4-H activities at the club, county, district, and state levels.

4 TEXAS 4-H CONGRESS Congratulations to Hayley Meyer, Hunter Meyer, Haley Wagner and Russell Wagner for being selected to attend Texas 4-H Congress as our Kleberg-Kenedy County representatives. Texas 4-H Congress is a four-day mock legislative experience for 4-H members ages 15 (at the time of the event) to 18. 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. 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 ONE DAY 4-H EVENT 2014 marks the 6th year for One Day 4-H in Texas. This year the Kleberg- Kenedy County will be hosting the One Day 4-H Philanthropic 4-K Run/Walk on October 11 th at Dick Kleberg Park. The 4-H 4-K will be benefiting Kingsville/Kleberg County Parks. See Attached Flyer for more information. We would like to see as many 4-H families participate as possible. Cost is only $15 per entry with T-Shirts and goody bags available to those who pre-register. Please call the Extension Office if you would like to make a donation towards the event. FALL PAPER CLOVER AT TSC The 2013 Fall Paper Clover Campaign begins October 9 th through October 20 th at Tractor Supply. Every 4-H club is encouraged to sign up for a day to sell paper clovers at our local TSC. contests and 4-H events. A sign-up sheet is available at the Extension Office for club managers. COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING: County Council will meet on Monday, September 15 th ; 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office. Delegates please attend.

5 LIVESTOCK PROJECT INFORMATION STATE LAMB/GOAT PROJECTS AND BREEDING SHEEP: State Lamb, Goat, and Breeding Sheep validation information is available at the Extension Office. Families interested in attending a major show with a sheep and/or goat project must order tags. Emily Rollison, Riviera Ag. Teacher is the point of contact on ordering tags. For more information on ordering tags, please call Emily ( ext. 1213). NO EXTRA TAGS will be ordered and no tags will be ordered without payment, please don t forget. The deadline to turn in forms and payment to Emily (Riviera FFA) is August 15, Validation is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on October 21, 2014 at J.K. Northway. MAJOR SHOWS: PLEASE LOOK INTO IT Families interested in attending a Major Show with a livestock project in the junior division are asked to please look into that particular show of interest by visiting their website for dates, times, rules, new additions, etc. Please do not wait, it is important to know what you must do in preparation of the event. Links (websites) to some of these Major Shows are available on our County web page under links. QUALITY COUNTS REQUIREMENT FOR MAJOR SHOW PARTICIPATION: Members planning on entering a Major Show with a Livestock Project must have completed the Quality Counts online Verification Training and Testing. Please see below for more information and website: This means youth exhibitors will need to demonstrate their knowledge of the Six Pillars of Character and the Eight Core Concepts presented in the Quality Counts Curriculum. To do this, they will need to pass an online test on the website ( and acquire a Quality Counts Verification number. Things you need to know about Verification: *2014- All Major Livestock Shows in Texas will require Quality Counts Verification at the time of entry- This means youth will need to be verified prior to entry in the fall of A Verification number is obtained by answering 80% of the questions correctly on an online test. MAJOR SHOW BREEDING HEIFERS: Members planning on exhibiting a heifer project at the Major Shows much purchase their project, have in their possession, and have the project registered in their name (junior exhibitor) by November 1, Please see new Heifer Validation Program on the next page. Contact the office if you are planning on showing a heifer at a Major Show. LIVESTOCK PROJECTS: If anyone needs assistance in selecting livestock projects for the upcoming show season, please call us ASAP. A limited number of trips will be made so it is important that you contact us if we can help.

6 NEW Texas 4-H/FFA Heifer Validation Program Texas is privileged to have the largest junior breeding heifer program in the nation. However, the sheer size of Texas, diversity in counties and beef breed associations has created some challenges for effectively and fairly managing the program. Because of numerous breed divisions offered, there are inconsistencies in how breed associations record purchase and transfer information. Heifer Validation is being initiated to ensure a level playing field for all junior breeding beef heifer exhibitors and to present a unified approach to verifying breeding beef heifer registration papers, ownership and physical possession. Further, history has proven collecting DNA hair samples during validation has added integrity to market animal divisions. Therefore, we are implementing a statewide electronic verification process in addition to requiring the physical validation of breeding beef heifers. An electronic verification process will ensure that ownership has been transferred by the respective owner- ship deadlines. The verification process along with the added physical validation component will allow for certifying exhibitor ownership, possession, heifer identification (tattoo/brand) far in advance of each respective major livestock show. Full and part-time personnel will be required to effectively review and validate all submitted heifer registration papers and to enforce rules during the participating major livestock shows. Purpose An electronic verification for heifer registration papers would serve four primary purposes: Ensure ownership has been transferred by the respective ownership deadline Eliminate backdating of junior heifer ownership Allow heifer verification chair and co-chair to communicate any disqualifications prior to arrival to shows Allow for a more efficient check-in process Physical Validation would serve four primary objectives: Ensure ownership and physical possession of heifer in designated county on validation day(s). Physical viewing of tattoos/brands allows for verification tattoos/brands match the registration paper reducing disqualifications at major livestock shows. DNA collection provides a robust system to authenticate that the heifer presented at physical validation is the same heifer exhibiting at major livestock shows. Allows County Extension Agents and Ag Science Teachers to continue building positive relationships with breeding heifer exhibitors Spring Show Timeline October 1, 2014 October 1-November 15, 2014 November 1, 2014 November 15, 2014 December 19, 2014 January 7, Fall Show Timeline June 1, 2015 June 1-30, 2015 July 1, 2015 August 20, 2015 August 25, 2015 September 15, 2015 Heifer Verification Database is open to ASTs/CEAs Participating major livestock shows are requiring all junior breeding heifers to be tattooed, brands recorded and hair samples collected for the DNA Assay between 10/1/2014 and 11/15/2014 for 2015 spring shows. All heifers must be validated at a time, place, and date determined by the County Validation Committee. Ownership deadline for all spring shows Registration Paper upload deadline and physical validation paperwork and DNA must be postmarked and sent to Tex- as 4-H Headquarters Projected deadline for all papers to be reviewed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Projected deadline for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to notify all ineligible exhibitors and major livestock show officials for spring shows Heifer Verification Database is open to ASTs/CEAs Participating major livestock shows are requiring all junior breeding heifers to be tattooed, brands recorded and hair samples collected for the DNA Assay between 6/1/2015 and 6/30/2015 for 2015 fall shows. All heifers must be validated at a time, place, and date determined by the County Validation Committee. Ownership deadline, registration paper upload deadline and physical validation paperwork and DNA must be postmarked and sent to Texas 4-H Headquarters Projected deadline for all papers to be reviewed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Fall show entry deadline Projected deadline for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to notify all ineligible exhibitors and major livestock show officials for fall shows

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