Are you IN THE KNOW?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! December 2011 Table of Contents 1.Important Updates 1....In The Know 1...11-12 County Officers 1...Adult Volunteer Assn. 1...Extension Staff 2...Project Clubs/Community Clubs 2...County Council 2...Adult Volunteer Mtg 3......Contests 3...D4 4-H Lock-in 3.State 4-H Teen Retreat 4..Texas Wildlife Brigades 4 County Swine & Rabbit Validations 4.Texoma Exposition & Livestock 4...Beekeeping Essay Contest 5...4-H Clinics and Workshops 5.State 4-H Round-up 6... Dates and Deadlines Grayson County 4-H Council President - Josi Ridenour 1st Vice President: Turner Coulson 2nd Vice President: Joey McAden 3rd Vice President: Secretary: Bethanie Holt Treasurer: Reporter: Parliamentarian: Health & Safety Officer: Dist Delegate: Turner Parliamentarian: Council Advisor: Glenda Coulson Volunteer Leader Association President - Susan Holt Secretary/Reporter Shannon Hayes Treasurer-Susan Bradshaw District Delegate - Shannon Hayes Grayson County 4-H Newsletter Volume 2012 Issue 1 At Last a Newsletter!!! Welcome to the 2011-2012 4-H Year in Grayson County. I apologize that you are just now finally getting a newsletter. We just don t seem to be able to get everything squeezed in these days like we would like. I might could manage it if I stayed til 10 each night, but then I d never make any of your meetings and other events. I do recommend you watching the Facebook page (GraysonTX4-H) as we do try to post events and activities there and of course the club managers are doing a great job of sending out emails to the club members to let you all know what is happening. To be an ACTIVE 4-H member, you must attend monthly 4-H meetings and be enrolled. Are you IN THE KNOW? Check out the following to keep yourself connected! Entry forms & newsletter: http://grayson-tx.tamu.edu Texas 4-H Website: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/ Twitter: TX4Hlady Facebook: GraysonTX4-H Clover Corner News: http://www.4hblogs.org/ccn/ Volunteers: http://texasvolunteer.tamu.edu Deadline to order Broilers for Loy Lake Friday, January 6, 2012 Cost: $36.50 for 25 birds (order in lots of 25) Birds will arrive either Mon, February 20 or Wed., Feb 22. Order from Joyce at the Extension Office - 903-813-4203. Joyce White CEA - Family & Consumer Sciences/4-H 903-813-4203 Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service Grayson County Chuck Jones CEA - Agriculture 903-813-4202 1 Sue Gameway 4-H Program Assistant 903-813-4218

4-H Project Clubs, Meetings & Upcoming Activities 4-H Animal Science Meeting dates are the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Grayson County Courthouse, 2nd floor, Assembly Room 7:00 p.m. Club Managers: Susan Bradshaw & Amy Goggans 4-H Shooting Sports - Shotgun Call number below for information on times and locations. Jan 15, 2012 Tentative - location to be determined - probably a field trip. Randy Kinnison Club Manager. Jim Salling Project leader. Parent/Guardian should be in attendance. Call 903-624-8884. Shooting Sports Archery No Archery for December 4th Thursday of each month 6:30-8:30 pm @ Loy Lake - Arena Equipment provided. Call Jerry at 903-433- 5663 if you are interested in Archery. Shooting Sports Rifle No Rifle Practice for December or January. Next practice - Feb 4 at 9:00 am. Vee Stephens - Project Leader Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Website http://shootingsports.tamu.edu Grayson County Hoppers & Friends Formerly the Rabbit Project Club Center Street Church of Christ Fellowship Room, Sherman 7:00 p.m. First Thursday of each month Next meeting: January 6th Club Manager: Susan Holt and Shannon Hayes Community Clubs Whitewright 4-H - 1st Tuesday Collinsville 4-H - 4th Monday Whitesboro 4-H - 4th Monday 4-H Horse Project Whitewright 4-H members have started a 4-H Horse Project group. If you are interested in participating, no matter which club you belong to, you can call Joyce at the County Extension Office and we will put you in touch with the leader for details. 4-H Meat Judging practice varies with student schedules, call Joyce to sign up. Adult Volunteer Meeting December we meet at Midway Mall to help with Salvation Army. 5:30 pm - Old Bealls store next to Sears. January 16th 7:00 pm Grayson County Courthouse 2nd floor Assembly Room Project and club leaders attendance is needed and appreciated. Any 4-H adult volunteer is invited to attend. These meetings are opportunities to share programs and ideas and to let others know what is happening within the clubs. Remember, without volunteers there would not be a 4-H program. Community Service Don t forget while you are out of school during the holiday break is a great time for some Community Service. Visit Nursing homes or shut ins, help at food pantry or soup kitchen. Make a Difference. 4-H County Council DECEMBER - Community Service with Salvation Army - boxing food for distribution. 5:30 pm - Old Bealls store in Midway Mall (next to Sears). All 4-H members are invited to help. Party to follow. Next Business meeting January 16th @ 7:00 pm Grayson County Courthouse 2nd floor Assembly Room All club delegates and council officers are expected to attend! All other 4-H members are welcomed.

4-H Food Show and Food Challenge Saturday, January 14, 2012 Grayson County Courthouse Deadline for paperwork: Monday, January 9. 4-H Clover Connection 4-H Contests and Challenges County 4-H Photography Contest Deadline: Feb 13, 2012 Photos can be 4x6 up to 8x10 in size and should be mounted (not matted). Bring your entries to the Extension Office. Photos will be displayed on Monday, Feb 20. District IV 4-H Lock-in Amazing Jakes, Plano January 20-21, 2012 8 pm - 7:00 am Ages: active 4-H members ages 11-19 Cost: $42 (includes admission, food, snacks, all activities, etc..) How to sign up? 4-H Connect Registration is open now and will close at midnight on January 13. Come on out and join us, it is a lot of fun!!!! State 4-H Teen Retreat January 6-8, 2012 Texas 4-H Conference Center, Brownwood Who: Senior age 4-H members, age 13-19 & adult Sponsors Why: Develop leadership skills through work shops and hands-on learning experiences How: Register on 4-H Center website by Dec 30 Cost: Youth $105, Adults $70. Includes 2 nights lodging, 4 meals, snacks and all program supplies. Website: http://texas4hcenter.tamu.edu 4-H Connect https://www.4honline.com/login.aspx? District IV 4-H Photography Contest Deadline: February 23, 2012 Anyone wanting to enter photos in the District 4- H Photography contest must have their photos to the County Extension Office by Feb 23 and entered on 4-H Connect by Feb 28. You can enter District without entering County but why would you want to since the County contest is free? You are limited to one photo per category. County 4-H Educational Presentations Mar 19, 2012 Starting at 5:30 pm, County Courthouse Assembly room, Sherman Register your participation and title of your speech/ demonstration by Friday, Mar 9. Categories have changed for 2012. Beef, Clothing and Textiles, Companion Animals, Computer Technology, Family Life, Health, Horse, Natural Resources, Open, Open Agriculture/Natural Resources, Open Family & Consumer Science, Promote 4-H, Public Speaking, Safety & Injury Prevention, Sheep/Goats. County 4-H Share-the-Fun Mar 19, 2012 Categories: Celebrate 4-H, Choreographed Routines, Musical/Instrumental, Poetry/Prose, Solo/ Band Performance, Vocal. You need to register by Friday, Mar 9 by calling or emailing the County Extension Office with your intent to participate. 3 You are required to provide all your props, equipment, etc. This is an elimination event, only the first place in each category can proceed to District.

4-H Contests and Challenges Texas Brigades Feathered Forces, Bob White Brigade, Buckskin Brigade & Bass Brigade. The Texas Brigades is a wildlife-focused leadership development program for high school youth (ages 13-17). There are four different camps: Bobwhite Brigade, Buckskin Brigade, Bass Brigade and Waterfowl Brigade. You will be introduced to habitat management, hone your communication skills, and develop a land ethic. Top wildlife professionals and resource managers serve as instructors and mentors. Each camp is 4 ½ days long. For more information go to: http://www.texasbrigades.org/ 4-H Veterinary Science Skillathon Application Deadline: Friday, March 16 http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/projects/index_projects.php This is an invitation contest for Intermediate and Senior age 4-H members to test the knowledge and skills that a 4-H member can gain through involvement in a Veterinary Science project. There are four components: written exam, skills exam, quiz round, and communication portion. County Swine Validation Jan 9 & Jan 10 4:00-6:00 pm Loy Lake Park Cost: $5 per pig Take ear notch sheet with you, download at: http://grayson-tx.tamu.edu/publications/pig_earnotch.pdf Rabbit Meat Pen Validation Saturday, Mar 3, 2012 8:00 am - 12:00 noon Loy Lake Park Texoma Exposition & Livestock Show April 2-6, 2012 Deadline to enter: Feb 29 http://texomalivestock.com All YOUTH entering Livestock projects at Texoma Exposition and Livestock show must have completed the Quality Counts test before entering. Your number is required on entry http://qualitycounts.tamu.edu Beekeeping Essay Contest The Beekeeping Essay Contest is sponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. For over 50 years, the American Beekeeping Federation has been serving the needs of the U.S. beekeeper. Any youth interested in participating in the contest must follow the instructions for the Texas selection process. Each State Winner, including the national winners, receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping or honey. The 2012 essay topic: The Results of Honey Bee Pollination in My Community Honey bees pollinate a wide variety of plants. The food crops that benefit from honey bee pollination have been said to contribute one-third of the American diet. In addition, many non-food plantings and natural environmental plants benefit from honey bee pollination and determine the results of that pollination. Submit entries electronically to Kyle Merten (kjmerten@ag.tamu.edu) For more information please visit the Beekeeping site: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/youth/beekeeping/index_youth_beekeeping.php All entries due by January 13, 2012 to THE STATE OFFICE.

4-H and FFA Beef Project Clinic Saturday, December 17 9:00 am to 12:00noon Loy Lake Park Topics: Showmanship, Daily Care, Selection and Nutrition Broiler Project Clinic Date to be announced - February 2012 Contact Extension Office for information. Senior 4-H Food Camp There s Too Many Forks! Saturday, January 7, 2012 If you are a Senior 4-H member interested in learning more about Food and Nutrition as well as Etiquette, contact Joyce at 903-813-4203 to find out the details about this fun day of activities. 4-H Family and Consumer Science Projects Tuesday, December 20 1:00-4:00 pm Collinsville Consumer, Food, Fashion, Family Life, anything you want to know about FCS projects. Sign up by calling Joyce at 903-813-4203. No cost. 4-H Sewing Thursday, Dec 29 9:30 am - until we finish Center Street Church of Christ, Sherman Call Joyce at 903-813-4203 to sign up and for info. 4-H Food and Nutrition Sunday, January 8, 2012 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Courthouse Assembly room Introduction to 4-H Food Challenge and help prepare for 4-H Food Show. All ages welcome. Sign up by calling Joyce at 903-813-4203. State 4-H Roundup Jun 11-15, 2012 Lubbock, TX This year for the first time ever, State 4-H Round-up will NOT be in College Station. We will be in Lubbock, the home of Texas Tech University. There are new events being added to State Round-up every year that do not require you to qualify first at the District level. Most of these are invitational contests open to both Intermediate (age 11-13) and Senior (age 14-19) 4-H members. If you are interested in participating in one of these events, let Joyce know and we will make sure you don t miss deadline dates and information on how to register. Some of those events include: 4-H Has Talent; 4-H Recipe Rally; 4K for 4-H Walk and Run; Healthy Lifestyles Invitational; Science, Engineering and Technology Poster Contest; Invitational Livestock Judging; Invitational Poultry Judging; Swine Skill-a-thon; Veterinary Science Skill-a-thon; Wildlife Chal- Community Service Opportunities Texas 4-H Clothing & Textiles Community Service Project There are a whole series of items you can make for community service projects. Go to the following website for details. http://fcs.tamu.edu/clothing/4h/community-service/index.php 5

Dates and Deadlines *4-H National Livestock Judging Contest - Denver, Co: Jan 7-8 *4-H Dog Project Validation Deadline: January 10 *D4 Lock In-Plano: Amazing Jakes: January 20-21 (register on 4-H Connect-deadline Jan. 13th) *Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show: January 13th-February 4th *D4 Dairy Judging Contest: January 15th *D4 Range and Pasture Grass ID contest: January 21st *Deadline to register for the County Food Show: Jan 9 *County Food Show/Food Challenge: January 14th *D4 4-H Meat Judging: Jan 28 *County 4-H Photo Contest Deadline: Feb 13 *San Antonio Livestock Show : February 2nd-26th San Antonio Consumer Decision Making Contest: February 18th *D4 Food Show, Food Challenge, and Leaders 4 Life Contest: February 25th *San Angelo Livestock Show: February 11th-26th *Houston Livestock Show: Feb 28 - March 18 Meat Judging: March 4th *Star of Texas Livestock Show: March 9th-24th *D4 Horse Judging Contest: March 18th *County 4-H Educational Presentations & Share-the-fun: Mar 19 *County 4-H Fashion Show & Storyboard Contest: Mar 24 *Texoma Exposition and Livestock Show: April 2-6th, 2012 *District IV 4-H Livestock Judging: April 7 *District IV 4-H Rifle & Shotgun contests: April 21 *District IV 4-H Fashion Show & Storyboard Contest: April 28 *District 4-H Educational Presentations: April 28 *District 4-H Share-the-Fun: April 28 *Deadline 4-H Horse Project Validation: May 1 *County 4-H Camp: May 18-20 *State 4-H Round-up: June 11-15 *District IV 4-H Horse Show: June 19-20 *County 4-H Record Book Deadline: June 25 *State 4-H Congress: July 15-18 Check it out:http://www.4husa.org/ For more information regarding 4-H projects, volunteer & leadership opportunities, programs or activities, please call 903-813-4201 or stop by and visit with us on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse at 100 W. Houston St. in Sherman. The easiest entrance to the County Extension Office is from Lamar street. Check us out on the web http://grayson-tx.tamu.edu Joyce White CEA - Family & Consumer Science ja-white@tamu.edu