Bell County Staff: Sheryl Austin Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Tonya Elliott 4-H Program Assistant Whitney Grantham County Extension Agent Natural Resources Andrea Haubner BLT Assistant Sheryl Long County Extension Agent 4-H & Youth Development Jackie McLaughlin County Extension Agent Family & Community Health Lyle Zoeller County Extension Agent Agriculture Thank you to everyone who helped with Hunter s Spectacular! This event could not happen without the help of our volunteers! Livestock Show and Contest Eligibilities For all members participating in the State Fair of Texas and the Heart O Texas Fair, your child must be enrolled in Bell County 4-H PRIOR to attending these events! Make sure your child s school information is correct in 4-H Connect so the eligibility forms can be sent! The new 4-H Year started over on August 15th! This means you can start re-enrolling your family on 4-H Connect. Log on to www.4honline.com. If you need help logging in or don t remember your password, contact Tonya Elliott. More details inside this newsletter on enrollment. Sheryl Long will be out on maternity leave until November. Please direct your questions to Jackie McLaughlin, Whitney Grantham, or Tonya Elliott. 1605 N. Main, Room 102 Belton, TX 76513 Phone: (254)933-5305 Fax: (254)933-5312 E-mail: bell@ag.tamu.edu Website: http://agrilife.org/bell4h/ The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
4-H Enrollment 4-H Enrollment is now OPEN! All enrollment is done via 4-H Connect. You can access 4-H Connect by going to our 4-H website at http://agrilife.org/bell4h/ and clicking on the 4-H Connect icon. To maintain the level of programming and opportunities in the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program, an annual participant fee is implemented for each 4-H member (excluding Clover Kids). The participant fee is $20 if enrolled from August 15th to October 31st. November 1st the participant fee will increase to $25. Please do not worry if you are still pending at the county level once you have enrolled. The county office will try to keep up as best as we can by approving them at least once a week. As long as you complete your enrollment, you are in the system and good for enrollment and BCYF requirements. Enrollment dues must be paid by an electronic payment. For instructions on how to enroll, please visit: http://agrilife.org/bell4h/4-henrollment-guidelines/4-h-enrollment-information/. All volunteers who enroll will be charged $10.00. This covers your screening for the year. All volunteers will have to re-enroll each year. Club Managers must enroll ASAP! If you have further questions, please contact the County Extension Office at: 254-933-5305 4-H Age /Grade Requirements Texas 4-H membership eligibility is based on SCHOOL GRADE and not age. The eligibility rules and guidelines are: Youth may participate in 4-H year from September 1st of grade three through August 31st following completion of grade twelve, with these age restrictions: Minimum age - 8 (as of August 31, 2018 and in the 3rd grade) Maximum age - 18 (as of August 31, 2018) 4-H Member Categories Juniors: Grades 3, 4, and 5 Intermediates: Grades 6, 7, and 8 Seniors: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 4-H Club Managers Membership Advisory Board Meeting When: October 25, 2018 Where: CEO Time: 6:00 pm This meeting is open to all parents and leaders! We will be having our second meeting of the year and will recap the 2018 Hunter s Spectacular. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the Hunter s Spectacular, please send them to Jackie.McLaughlin@ag.tamu.edu. Page 2 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
County Council & Ambassadors County Council Meeting WHEN: Tuesday, November 13th WHERE: County Extension Office (CEO) TIME: 6:30 p.m. Remember the council delegate and the president of the club are the two representatives from your club who must attend the meeting and serve as voting delegates for the club. All 4-H members are welcome though! It will be a lot of fun, so come and learn about the county 4-H program and new opportunities. This month s community service project will be collecting supplies for the animal shelters. If you forgot to bring items for foster care last month, you are welcome to bring those to this meeting as well. The program will cover Bell County s Competitive Teams and Judging Contests. We will set up a few mock contest scenarios for attendees and provide contact information for members looking to join any of the active teams who compete at contests all over the state. Hope to see everyone at the October meeting! Upcoming Events TSC Clover Sales TSC Clover Sales start October 3 and continue through October 14. Hours are available at both the Temple and Killeen stores during their business hours. We want to try and have 4-H members man as many hours as possible. Remember that this counts as National, State, and County leadership/promote 4-H/fundraising! Please let Barbara Wood know if your family, club, or project group would like to sign up for any time slots. Her email is woodbtwice@gmail.com or you can call or text her at 254-624-6507. Bell County 4-H Vet Science Program The next meetings are October 3 rd and October 17 th at 6:30pm in the Bell County Extension Office meeting room. Contact Casey Randal or Travis Swanson at tswanson01@hotmail.com if you have any questions. National 4-H Week is October 7-13! Participate in 4-H Spirit Day on Tuesday, October 9th. Wear your clover to school, work, wherever you are! Don t have a 4-H t-shirt? The new Bell County 4-H t-shirts are still available in youth sizes, and past shirts are available in most all sizes! Stop by the office to grab yours! Cost is $10 per shirt. Cash or checks only. Shooting Sports Coaches Training in Stephenville Archery, Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun in Stephenville on October 27-28, 2108. Registration will be conducted through 4-H Connect. Look for 2018 D8 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certification Training (Stephenville). Registration will close October 12, 2018. Only one discipline certification (archery, pistol, rifle, or shotgun) is obtainable per participant per training. Cost is $120. Participants MUST have completed and passed the Background Check PRIOR to registering for the event, so if they have not completed this, they should do so IMMEDIATELY! NO EXCEPTIONS! https://agrilife.org/d84h/events-and-activities/shooting-sports-coaches-training/ Page 3 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
Ag Product ID Ag Product ID practices are continuing. Practices will be at 6:00 pm at the First Baptist Church 702 House. For October, formal practices will only be on October 1 st and October 15 th. There will be no scheduled practices for November or December. Practice tests will continue to be emailed out. We will return to formal practices after the first of the year in preparation for the for the BCYF contest and the rest of the spring contests. Upcoming contests: Heart of Texas Fair (Waco) Saturday, October 6th State Fair of Texas (Dallas) Monday, October 8th Bell County Youth Fair Friday, February 8th Please contact Michael Canales at 541-6293, or mcanales1@aol.com, if you are interested in participating or if you have any questions. BCYF Events Bell County Youth Fair Eligibility Club Managers, please make sure you have a sign in sheet at each meeting and announce to all members to sign in before, during, and after the meeting. BCYF has a website in which everything will be posted including the new fair book, entry forms, superintendent s names and phone numbers, score sheets, and other information: http://agrilife.org/ bellctyyouthfair/ You MUST attend 2 meetings to participate in the BCYF. Your name MUST be on the sign in sheets for it to count. 2 meetings will be allowed from August 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 this year. No meetings will be allowed in January to use for the 2 meeting rule. All 4-H members MUST be enrolled by December 1, 2018 to participate in the BCYF. However, the fee will go up after October 31 st so do it quickly. BCYF Validation Dates All BCYF livestock validations will be conducted at the Bell County Expo in conjunction with the Spring Major show validations. A fee of $5/head will be changed to validate livestock for the Bell County Youth Fair. Major show validated livestock will automatically qualify for BCYF and will be exempt from this fee. Mark you calendars with these dates and times. Sheep & Goats October 22 &23 4:00-7:00 pm Heifers October 29 4:00-7:00 pm Swine November 26 &27 4:00-7:00 pm BCYF Horse Show 101 Sunday, October 7, 3-6pm @ the Bell County EXPO! For more information please call Shawn Campbell at (254) 718-4334 or Jeannette Abbe at (254) 718-4938. Page 4 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
FCH Project News ~Bell County Food Show/Food Challenge Contest~ The theme for 2018-19 is Restaurant Re-creations. Contestants are asked to put a healthy twist on their favorite restaurant dishes. Keep practicing, and if you have any questions, call the CEO. The Bell County Food Show and Food Challenge contests will be held on Wednesday, October 10th at the Bell County EXPO!, Assembly Hall Schedule for your contest time will be sent to you after all entries are received. Food Challenge is for all 4-H Grade levels (including Clover Kids) and will compete in teams of 3-5 participants. Only seniors will be able to advance to the state level but Juniors, Intermediates, and Seniors will be able to advance to the district contest. Food Show is now for all 4-H Grade levels as well (including Clover Kids). Only Seniors will be able to advance to the state level but Juniors, Intermediates, and Seniors will be able to advance to the district contest. We will have someone available at the county contest to take your picture for the District 8 Entry. Entries will be due to the CEO by October 5th. Entry forms can be found on the Bell County 4-H Website at https://agrilife.org/bell4h/projects/food-showfood-challenge/ Two senior teams, two intermediate, and two junior teams will advance to the District 8 contest which will be December at the Bell County EXPO! Center. Food Challenge Practices If you are interested in competing in the 4-H Food Challenge Contest, then please attend one of the upcoming Food Challenge Practices! Here are the scheduled practices to be held at the First Baptist Church 702 House in Belton. You do not have to have a pre-established team, we can find a team for you to join! All remaining practices will be at the First Baptist Church 702 House, starting at 6:00 pm: October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November 6, 13, 20 December 4, 11 Boys Sewing Project Boys can sew too! Basics of learning how to sew. Contact Jammie Payne to register at: pljammie@yahoo.com When: Monday, October 30th Where: CEO Time: 5:30-8:00 For more information please contact the CEO. Next FCH Coalition Meeting When: November 27, 2018 Where: CEO Time: 6:00 pm Consumer Decision Making Practice Consumer Decision Making practice is October 4th, 18th, & 26th at 6:00 pm at the First Baptist Church 702 House, Belton. Practices will continue thereafter on most alternating Thursdays/Fridays. Please contact Barbara Wood at woodbtwice@gmail.com or 254-624-6507 to be added to her distribution list for this project and practice schedule. Page 5 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
Photography Project Over 30 people attended the Bell County Photography Interest Meeting/Photography 101/Photography Christmas Gift Creation in September. 4-Hers had the opportunity to practice what they learned using still life trifolds and a photo light tent. They learned how to transfer photos onto wood and took home their very own photo transfer gift and photo magnet. Did you miss this workshop? That s ok, we welcome all levels of 4-H photographers to our field trips and county level workshops. On the Horizon PRACTICE Opportunity- Fri-Sat (after Thanksgiving) November 23-24, 2018: Homestead Heritage Living off the Land Festival - Waco Texas 4-H Community Service Donate used/new DVD s for Veterans! Send to Bell County Extension Office, Donate directly to local Vet Home or Donate via DVDs 4 Vets 4-H Youth coordinators Support supplying homes for Homeless Veterans, Donate bathroom towes sets, rugs, trash cans, kitchen towels, silverware, glassware, dinnerware. Other items accepted with prior coordination. Drop off CEO October 12th & November 9th. Contact Elizabeth Coffman for more information at: familycoffman@aol.com Practice Opportunity: World-Wide Photo Walk- Multiple Locations Across State When: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Cost: Free Photo Walks are led by professional photographers and explore certain areas of chosen cities around the world. This is a low-key morning usually followed by lunch at a local restaurant if people are interested. Visit http://www.worldwidephotowalk.com to register. Elizabeth and Christian have signed up for the DALLAS Photo Walk. JUNIOR MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER TRAINING Workshop I When: Saturday, October 27, 2018, All Day Where: Temple College Foundation, 19 N. Main St, downtown Temple Who: 4-Hers ages 12 and up who have access to a DSLR camera What: Focus of Workshop: Camera Basics & Lighting. To be a certified Junior Master Photographer, candidates must attend BOTH workshop I and workshop II, complete a competency test with a minimum score of 80%, submit four photos taken by applicant demonstrating understanding of instruction, participate in at least one practice event, complete a photography community service, and take part in at least two organized project experiences. All activities attended during the application year (June 2018-May 2019) may count towards JMP requirements. Why: Although there is no yearly performance requirement, Junior Master Photographers are expected to return to counties and districts to help expand their photography programs. They receive the Junior Master Photographer pin and certificate. Certified JMPs in 9th grade are eligible to apply to the State 4-H Photography Ambassador Program. Cost: $30.00 to recoup mandatory 4-H Connect Registration costs and materials RSVP: Will be through 4-H Connect, Deadline TBD. Space will be limited. Contact: Elizabeth or Christian Coffman for more information-254.718.1332, familycoffman@aol.com Thank you to all the 4-H Photographers who supported the Pink Fishing Reeling in the Cure event. The tournament raised over $4,000 benefitting National Breast Cancer Foundation and its organizers were very grateful for your efforts! A special thank you to Margaret Wood for spearheading this effort. Page 6 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
Livestock Project News Livestock Show Eligibilities For all members participating in the State Fair of Texas and the Heart O Texas Fair, your child must be enrolled in Bell County 4-H PRIOR to attending these events! Make sure your child s school information is correct in 4-H Connect so the eligibility forms can be sent! BCYF Poultry Orders BCYF Roaster Orders: Due to CEO by October 4 The maximum order allowed per exhibitor is 25 birds, and the cost is $46.00 per order of 25 birds. Birds will arrive on December 7 th and can be picked up at the County Extension Office between 3:30-5:30 pm. BCYF Broiler: Due to CEO by November 1 Exhibitors must order and pay for 25 or 50 birds, and 50 is the maximum allowable order per exhibitor. Cost of the birds is $46.00 per order of 25 birds. Exhibitors can enter 2 pens of broilers. Please note that these birds will arrive on December 21 st and can be picked up at the County Extension Office between 3:30-5:30 pm. Major Show Heifer Validation WHEN: October 29, 2018 WHERE: Bell County Expo TIME: 4:00 7:00 pm A COLOR SCAN of the original registration papers must be sent to Whitney by Friday, October 26th so that she can upload all papers to the online system. You may come by the office to have those scans made prior to validation. Your heifers must be properly tattooed BEFORE arrival. Also, please bring your original registration papers with you to validation for verification! All BCYF only Unregistered Heifers must fill out an Unregistered Heifer Validation form prior to arrival in addition to being physically validated with a tag and county number tattoo on October 29 th. County only tags will be purchased on-site the night of validation. $5 per head for BCYF Only heifers. If you have any questions please contact Whitney at Whitney.Grantham@ag.tamu.edu or 254-933-5305. Major Show Lamb and Goat Validation WHEN: October 22 & 23, 2018 WHERE: Bell County Expo TIME: 4:00 7:00 pm Any lamb or goat that was validated for the State Fair of Texas will have to be revalidated for Spring Majors! State validation tags should have already been ordered through the CEO. If you have not purchased your tag(s) and need to, you must contact Whitney ASAP! Late fees will apply. All Market Lambs, Market Goats, Breeding Sheep, Wether Dams, Breeding Goats, Wether Does will use the same validation tag. Yes, all breeding sheep and goats will be tagged. There is flexibility in which ear the tag can be placed in breeding sheep and goats due to them already having a scrapie tag and flock tag. Market lambs and goats can still be family validated (1 form), but breeding sheep and breeding goats must be validated to a single exhibitor. For registered breeding sheep and goats, a color copy of the original registration papers MUST be sent to whitney.grantham@ag.tamu.edu PRIOR to the physical validation date. County only tags will be $5 per head payable to the BCYF at validation. Page 7 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
Livestock Project News Major Show & BCYF Swine Validation WHEN: November 26th & 27th at Bell County EXPO! TIME: 4:00 p.m. 7:00 pm County only validated pigs will cost $5 per head. If you have not pre-ordered your state tags, please contact Whitney Grantham at whitney.grantham@ag.tamu.edu ASAP to check availability of extras. We need all parents to be there to sign forms and to draw a map where animals are being kept. If a parent cannot be there, a parental waiver form must be signed before validation. Nov. 26 Academy FFA, Bartlett FFA, Belton FFA, Oenaville FFA, Salado 4-H/FFA, Stampede Creek 4-H, Tigertown 4-H, Temple FFA, Troy FFA, & Bell Horse Club Nov. 27 Christian Youth 4-H, Ellison FFA, Hares & Hounds 4-H, Harker Heights FFA, Holland 4-H/FFA, 4-His Glory 4-H, Killeen FFA, Killeen Career Center FFA, Maxdale 4-H, Rogers 4-H, Shoemaker FFA, & Trimmier 4-H If you have any further questions please contact Whitney at Whitney.Grantham@ag.tamu.edu or 933-5305. Major Show Entry Night DEADLINE: November 8, 2018 at the CEO On the 8th, we will stay open through the lunch hour and will accept entries until 6:00 p.m. Beginning in mid-october, entry forms for all 2019 Spring Major shows (Fort Worth, San Angelo. San Antonio, Houston, Austin) will be available online at https://agrilife.org/bell4h/projects/4-h-livestock/ so that you may pre-fill and print forms at home or you can pick-up copies from the CEO. All completed forms and payment must be turned into the CEO no later than 6:00 PM on November 8, 2018. Checks or exact change only will be accepted; NO CREDIT CARDS! Checks need to be made out to: Bell Livestock Coalition Please know your child s birthdate, social security number, and Quality Counts number when attending Major Show Entry night or turning in entry forms. Those items are a necessity! Spring Judging Contests Sign ups for all Spring Major Show Judging Contests will take place in conjunction with Major Show Entries. If you are planning to participate in these contests, please sign up with Whitney Grantham by November 8 th. The 26th Annual District 8 Holiday Classic Beef, Lamb, Goat, & Swine Clinic and Prospect Show, November 3-4, 2018 at Bell County Expo Center This is a completely FREE EVENT! Open to all interested youth in 4-H and FFA. Youth must attend Saturday clinics to participate in Sunday showmanship and prospect shows. The Holiday Classic Clinics and Prospect Shows are intended to provide an educational opportunity for new families participating in the livestock project area. The main purpose is to teach the basic principles of livestock management as they relate to facility maintenance, selection, nutrition, animal health, handling, showmanship, and transportation. Call (254) 933-5305 for more information. Page 8 4-H Clover Clues-H Clover Clues-H Cl 4-H Focus
October 2018 October 1: Ag Product ID Practice October 2: Food Challenge Practice October 3: Vet Science Meeting October 3-14: TSC Clover Sales October 4: BCYF Roaster Orders Due October 4: CDM Practice October 5: Food Show/Food Challenge entry deadline October 6: HOT Fair Ag Product ID Contest October 6: Photography Practice Opportunity October 7: BCYF Horse Show 101 and HOT Fair Livestock Judging Contest October 8: State Fair Texas Ag Product ID and Livestock Judging Contests October 9: Food Challenge Practice October 10: BC Food Challenge & Food Show October 12: Community Service Vet donations due October 15: Ag Product ID Practice October 16: Food Challenge Practice October 17: Vet Science Meeting October 18: CDM Practice October 22-23: BCYF & Major Show Lamb & Goat Validation October 23: Food Challenge Practice October 25: MAB Meeting October 26: CDM Practice October 27: Junior Master Photographer Training Workshop I October 27-28: Shooting Sports Coach Training October 29: BCYF & Major Show Heifer Validation October 30: Boys Sewing Workshop October 30: Food Challenge Practice November 2018 November 1: BCYF Broiler Orders Due November 3-4: Holiday Classic Clinic & Show November 6, 13 & 20: Food Challenge Practice November 8: Major Show Entry Night November 8: Spring Judging Contest sign-up deadline November 9: Community Service Vet November 13: County Council Meeting November 23-24: Homestead Heritage Photography Project November 26-27: Major Show & BCYF Swine Validation November 27: FCH Coalition Meeting
Bell county 4-h newsletter Bell County Extension 1605 N. Main Room 102 Belton, TX 76513 Phone: 254-933-5305 Fax: 254-933-5312 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 Everything will be posted on the Bell County 4-H website http://agrilife.org/bell4h/