4-H Blast
March 8, 2023
4-H Happenings Coming Up:
Eligibility Forms:
Remember to do your eligibility form before you go to shows!!!!
PLEASE FILL OUT FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE! WE WILL SUBMIT IT TO THE SCHOOLS THIS YEAR FOR ELIGIBILITY APPROVAL.
It can be scanned and emailed or dropped off to the Extension Office 2 weeks prior to contest/event. Email forms to: carolyn.hux@ag.tamu.edu
Link to form: https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/4-h-enrollmentguidelines/eligibility-form/
4-H Clubs:
Milam County 4-H Shirts:
Shirts are here at the office for purchase! Come by and see what we have! They are $15 each.
4-H AG Product ID Project: 4-H AG Product ID project is ready for the spring contests! Meetings will take place on Sundays at 4pm at the new Extension Office (806 N Crockett Ave Cameron) Conference room. If you are interested in the project, please email Micah Holcombe (mlholcombe@ag.tamu.edu) to be added to the list to participate.
Spring Practices:
4-H Horse Judging Practices: Horse Judging Practice will be Tuesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 at CJH (Cameron Junior High Ag room). Practices will begin on January 10th. Anyone interested is welcome to attend!
Milam County Junior Livestock Show:
Rules have been posted on the Milam County 4-H Website: https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/4-h-projects/milam-county-junior-livestock-show/
March 22-25, 2023
Baked Goods: Entries MUST be displayed in containers available through the Baked Food Committee. Containers may be picked up Monday, March 13, 6-7pm, at the YEB.
**NEW** Baked Goods Add-Ons Announcement: Note to Buyers-Please spread the word: All checks will be made payable to MCJLA and multi baked items can be purchased with one check! Also, new this year, Add-on money can be added to any item by completing an Add-On Money Sale Sheet which will be available at the Baked Goods Silent Auction Sale on Saturday March 18 at 1:30pm-2:30pm. Don’t forget to encourage family members, businesses, and other organizations to come and support the baked goods participants that Saturday, the 18th.
Rockdale Fair Rules Posted:
The Rockdale Fair have been posted to the 4-H Website and can be viewed here: https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/rockdale-fair/
Baked Goods and Ag Mechanics will be posted soon! Please READ ALL THE RULES for Important Dates and Deadlines!
4-H Consumer Project: Below are the dates for the Spring project meetings. Consumer Decision Making project is teaching youth how to be a better shopper. We learn need vs want, how to find the best quality of an item, and how to give reasons on why you placed an item a certain way. It’s a fun project with many contests! All meetings will be held at the Bea’s Kitchen in the new Annex (806 N Crockett Avenue Cameron).
Below are the dates for practices:
Contests:
4-H Dog Project: We are starting the 4-H Dog project in the fall! Here are the dates of the meetings! We will be holding meetings on Tuesdays at 5:30pm at the Milam County Annex. All meetings will be held at the Extension office (806 N Crockett Avenue). You can enter on the right side of the building and the door will be propped open. The main entrance will always be locked.
You will need to bring the following items:
Dates for Practices:
County Council Meetings: 4-H County Council meets during the year to discuss and plans 4-H events happening and votes on financial matters. They also provide trainings for 4-H members and families! Please see the dates below and mark them in your calendar:
March 28, 5:30pm (Extension Office- Recordbook Training)- NEW DATE!!!!!
April 18th, 5:30pm (Extension Office- Elections 2022-2023)
All 4-H club presidents and council delegates (3 per club) and their club managers are asked to attend the meetings, but all 4-H families are invited to attend the meetings and trainings. Council delegates/presidents give club reports at the meetings.
4-H Cloverbuds Project Group: 4-H Cloverbuds is a FUN 4-H program for children in kindergarten through second grade. Children participate in hands-on activities designed to build lots of different life skills! Explore a variety of projects in a fun way and do much, much more! REGISTER FOR FREE AT www.join4-h.com
4-H Cloverbuds’ Meetings:
1st Tuesdays, 5:15pm-5:45pm, (before Cameron 4-H Club Meetings- however Cloverbuds is open to ALL youth in Milam County).
February Meeting: Robotics/Science
Ben Milam Elementary Cafeteria (Cameron, TX)
Cloverbuds Meeting Dates:
CHECK OUT THE CLOVERBUD WEBSITE:
https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/4-h-clover-kids-k-2nd-grade/
Ronald McDonald Project:
We will be meeting in Temple at the Ronald McDonald House at 11am on Monday, March 13 to drop off Wish List items and coke tabs!
Please start collecting those items for your 4-H Clubs and anyone that would like to donate. Items can be dropped off the week before at the Extension Office or collected at the club meetings and brought by a 4-H member going. All 4-H members are invited to come and drop off items.
WISH LIST:
Coke Tabs
Food Items:
Individual packages of chips; snacks, pudding, crackers, cookies, fruit
Canned & cup soups: Progresso, Campbells Chunky, Chili, Beef Stew
Granola Bars
Breakfast Bars
Cleaning Supplies
Liquid laundry detergent & fabric softener
Pine Sol / Fabuloso
White Vinegar
Clorox Wipes
Lysol Spray
Bleach
Dryer Sheets
Brooms / Dustpans / Swiffer Sweepers
Kitchen Items:
Disposable microwavable bowls & plats for soups and cereals
Plastic disposable utensils
Garbage bags: 13, 33 & 50 Gallons
Napkins & Kleenex
Good food storage containers: microwaveable, disposable, small & large sizes
New kitchen serving utensils, knives, pots & pans / bakeware
Miscellaneous:
Batteries (AA, AAA,)
Gift cards: Walmart, Restaurants, Sam’s Club, HEB
New white sheet sets—Queen size
Glade Plug-Ins
Copy paper (letter size)
New household appliances: Bagless vacuums, tools, carts, loading dollies
HP Brand Ink Cartridges: Type 910, 932XL, 933, 950,951, 962
“Forever” postage stamps
Texas 4-H Photography Rules and Guidelines Released:
Deadline is March 20th (County)
County Link to Register: https://forms.gle/rpt7ELPiFyDyF7pr9
Link to RULES/CATEGORIES: https://agrilife.org/d84h/events-and-activities/photography-contest/
Get started on your pictures now!
The new theme for this year is “Reflections”. The description is outlined within the rules.
Remaining the same as in years past, counties may still only enter 1 photo per category, for a maximum of 15 total photos. Also, senior photos who qualify directly from county will advance to district AND to state for competition.
When the time comes, please work with your photographers to ensure they upload the very best photos possible. Too often, we receive thumbnail images, not the full-sized photo.
District Roundup: May 6, 2023
All rules are attached and are also updated on the website: https://agrilife.org/d84h/events-and-activities/roundup/
More information to come….
2023-2024 Tag Orders/Validation:
All cattle, State Fair, and Heart O’ Texas Fair tag orders are due by Wednesday, April 5th: order by contacting Carolyn Hux at 254-697-7045 and pay with cash or check at the Milam County Extension Office
Steer and Heifer Validation is along with all SFT/HOT Project Validation is scheduled for Friday, June 16th from 7:30–10:00am at the Leifeste Ranch 1896 County Rd. 255 Loop. Cameron, TX 76520 or until completed.
For more information about tag orders/validations, please see the handout/worksheets for ALL VALIDATIONS/TAG ORDERS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/117OOOyVqTEIPos4pCbT8Jqkmr8G1dkwD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108619984068140158846&rtpof=true&sd=true
D8 4-H Surge: What it is? SURGE is our Leadership Lab camp. This camp is designed for our Senior aged youth. 4-H members who have completed at least the 8th grade at the time of SURGE may participate. The registration fee covers 3 nights of lodging, all meals, program activities, insurance, curriculum, and T-shirts. The attire is school appropriate (casual). Each evening there is a dance and many kids want to dress up. However, there are kids who wear summer clothes and each night is a theme dance so costumes are permitted. This camp is hosted by the District 8 Council Officer team. We will also elect our new slate of officers at this camp.
Other Details:
When: June 21-23, 2023
Where: Camp Buckner, Burnet, TX
Registration Dates: May 1-19, 2023
Cost per student: $250
Cost per adult: $200
Service Project: We will again collect NEW socks and shoes for the families that Buckner International works with. These items will be left at the camp for the missionaries to take as needed. Items needed: kids socks, kids shoes, kids underwear (all sizes in all things)
District 4-H Council: Applications Due May 19th https://agrilife.org/d84h/district-4-h-council/ The District 8 4-H Youth Development Program provides District 8 4-H Council officers many opportunities to be ambassadors for the 4-H program, practice and share their leadership skills, and assist in making District 8 4-H events run smoothly. District 8 4-H Council members are held to a high standard of excellence which should be demonstrated by participation in the scheduled events and activities.
To be eligible to run for a District 8 4-H Council Office, 4-H members must meet the following requirements:
2023-2024 Texas 4-H Council At-Large Delegate: The 2023-2024 Texas 4-H Council At-Large Application information has now been posted at https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/ambassadors/ under Texas 4-H Council. Interested 4-H members will apply on 4HOnline by selecting the “2023-2024 Texas 4-H Council At-Large Application” event. Applications will be accepted for the Texas 4-H Council At-Large Delegate positions and narrowed to a pool of applicants (approximately 12 or so to complete the speech/impromptu question part of the process) by the selection committee. The At-Large Delegate Presentations will take place on Monday, June 5th as part of Texas 4-H Roundup. Elections will be held using an electronic method and results announced Thursday, June 8th at the general assembly.
2023 Statewide 4-H Virtual Fishing Skill-a-thon: Registration opened on 4HOnline, February 1st with the spring tournament scheduled to start on March 20th. This is a fun, educational opportunity for 4-H youth and Clover Kids to get outside and fish with their families and friends as the fishing takes place wherever they are located in Texas! Short educational videos on fishing tips, equipment, fish ID, industry careers, and more are available on the Texas 4-H Natural Resources Facebook page and new YouTube page. Prize packages of gift cards, fishing gear, and more will be awarded as provided by our sponsors. Last year we awarded over $13,000 in prizes! Rules of Play and a marketing flyer are located on the Milam County 4-H facebook page!
National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest: 4-H members do not have to have a bee project to participate in the essay contest. The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. on February 15th announced their 2023 4-H Beekeeping Essay Topic. 2023 Essay Topic: The Importance of Beeswax: Although honey bees are much-beloved for honey, bees also produce beeswax that can be used in many ways. For this essay, a 4-H student should discuss why beeswax is so important to the hive (it’s a pantry, it’s a nursery, it’s the dance floor), but also discuss their favorite way to use beeswax outside the hive. Photos of candles, soaps, or lip balms that are made to show the 4-H’er’s skill in using beeswax are welcomed as are recipes or brief instructions. It can be found at https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/entomology/. You can see past winner’s essays by visiting the following website and clicking on 4-H Essays tab at the top of their page. http://preservationofhoneybees.org/ Essays will be uploaded to 4HOnline using the “2023 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest” event. Deadline to submit is Monday, April 3, 2023. Winners will be announced the week of April 24th.
Poultry Camp:
See Milam County 4-H Facebook for more information.
Poultry Judging Camp Ages 9-13
Poultry Judging Camp Ages 14-18
Ag Teacher and Coaches Poultry Judging Camp
For more information please contact:
Ally Spears, Program Coordinator allyson.spears@ag.tamu.edu
State Horse Validation: Texas 4-H Horse Validation for the 2023 season will be open in 4H Online from March 1 – May 1, 2023. ALL horses must be validated/re-validated each year. There is no limit to the number of horses that can be validated. You are encouraged to validate all horses that may possibly be shown at district and/or state shows. Only state validated horses can be substituted in the event that a validated horse becomes unusable due to lameness, sickness, etc. 4-H families can submit payment of $10.00 per horse ($20.00 after April 15th, or $250 from May 1st to May 5th), in the form of a credit card ONLY. If you are interested in validating and need information, please go to: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/4honline_family_guide_horse_validation_2023.pdf
Texas 4-H Livestock, Equine, Poultry Ambassador Applications:
More details regarding the programs can be found at www.texasyouthlivestock.com.
Due April 15, 2023
4-H Facebook: Do not forget we have a 4-H Facebook page!!!! We post 4-H Blasts, 4-H contest results and neat opportunities to do in 4-H! Make sure that you “see us first” in your settings. Step 1: Like the Page, Step 2: Click on 3 dots by search and like and then click Follow Settings, Step 3: set as favorite, Step 4: Click on Posts and choose STANDARD, Then you will see all 4-H posts when they arrive!
Milam County 4-H Information! For information about any 4-H related activity, please go to the website or facebook page! www.Join4-h.com or www.facebook.com/milamcountyfourH
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