1709 E Sarah DeWitt Dr. Gonzales, Texas 78629 Oct 2012 830/672-8531 GONZALES COUNTY 4-h COMMUNITY NEWS Hope everyone is having a great school year so far. This edition of the newsletter is packed with information on projects and shows. So there should be something for everyone. Check out the dates. Dwight Sexton CEA-Agri. Gonzales County Janie Pineda CEA-FCS Gonzales County 4-H Connect is here. Please read!!! With the start of this school year everyone will be required to register for 4-H online at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu. If you were in 4-H last year you are in the system and you will re-enroll. If you are new to 4-H you will enroll on 4-H connect. This applies to all students and adult leaders. The re-enrollment and new enrollment for the new school year began August 15, 2012. If you have not already checked it out, please do so now. In the right hand column towards the bottom of the page you will see the 4-H Connect icon. Click that and it will take you into the system. If you are new to 4-H you will set up a profile. If you were in 4-H last year then you already have a profile. Please do not set up another one. If you cannot remember your password email (gonzales@ag.tamu.edu) or call Sherry at our office for your temporary password. You can then go online and change your password and get into the system. Once you are in the system please check and correct all of your information. There is a $20 participation fee that is required of all members when enrolling that must be paid with a credit card or an e-check. Both of these options are secure transactions. Adult volunteers and clover kids do not pay this fee. Put in the required information for registration, so you need to add your projects, and all contact information for parents. Also please update your school information. If you have any questions on the system please give us a call so that we can help you with it. We now have a computer available for 4-H enrollment. If you do not have a computer accessible to you, you can come to our office and register. If you need to come at noon or after 5 PM Sherry can change her schedule to accommodate you, but you must call and make an appointment. We re on the web. This newsletter is available on the internet at the Gonzales County Extension web page: http://gonzales.agrilife.org Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
ATTENTION!! 4-H Council members and Adult Leaders meetings will be at the County Extension Office on Nov 20 th at 6:00 P.M. All council members and leaders are encouraged to attend. The new 4-H Council Officers for this coming year are: President: Derrick Davis V President: Lauren Campion Secretary: Gretchen Singleton Treasurer: Cullen Eppright Parliamentarian: Haley Clampit Reporter: Zachary Singleton Dist Council Reps: Derrick Davis Kristopher Knesek Lauren Campion 4-H Council & Come & Take It Council members if you have time please come by the office from 3-5 on Thurs and Friday Oct 4 th and 5 th to decorate the flag for the parade float. Our parade float is #104 CLUB MANAGERS if you have not turned in your club officers yet, please email them or bring them by the office as soon as possible. GONZALES LIVESTOCK SHOW As a new rule for the 2013 Gonzales Livestock Show, all exhibitors must be a FFA or 4-H member in Gonzales County by November 1, 2012. Shooting Sports project group will meet on the 4 th Sunday of each month at 2:00 P.M. at the Shooting Range! All who are interested are invited to attend!! For more information call Kenneth Gottwald 672-2989 or Britt Johnson at 830/672-7833. Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show All entry forms and fees are due on Oct 3, 2012. Required Drug Residue Avoidance Class will be at the joint meeting. Validate market steers, breeder heifers and commercial 6:00-7:00pm @ the Nixon Show barn on Oct 24 th Gonzales Lamb & Goat Validation and Major Shows Lamb & Goat Validation October 10, 2012@JB Wells Park Lambs 5:00-6:00 PM Goats 6:00-7:00 PM LIVESTOCK PROJECTS 4-H members who want assistance in selecting their 4-H livestock projects or would like further advice on managing their projects, are encouraged to communicate with their club managers, and are also welcome to seek assistance from your county agent, Dwight Sexton. Mr. Sexton is available to make project visits and provide advice on your projects. CALF SCRAMBLES---anyone wishing to participate in the calf scramble contest at any of the major livestock shows (Fort Worth and Houston) should contact the Extension Office to obtain information to register for the calf scramble competitions. Each show has a different registration deadline and registration procedure, so you need to call promptly. If you successfully catch a calf in these scrambles you will be awarded a $500-$1250 certificate to purchase a heifer or possibly other animal projects as well as being eligible for additional scholarships. Prospect Shows Thrall Booster Club- Lamb and Goat Georgetown-Oct 14 th Lone Star Classic-Gonzales, Steer & Heifer Oct 20 & 21, 2012
Livestock Judging Contests Oct 6 th -Guadalupe Co.-Seguin Oct 13 th Jackson Co. Edna Oct 20 th - Calhoun Co. Oct 27 th-- Brady/McCulloch County Contact the Extension Office for more information GONZALES COUNTY 4-H owns livestock clippers, and a liquid nitrogen tank to store bull semen for any 4-H member to use for their beef projects. These are available for check-out at the AgriLife Extension Office. 4-H COMPUTER We have a computer that any 4-H member can use in our office. We have had a printer donated and now are in need of a scanner. If you have an old scanner that you are not using please consider donating it to 4-H. This computer is for anyone in 4-H to use for 4-H material and do not have access to a computer, you can now use a computer here in our office. Rural Youth Loans the Farm Service Agency has a program that provides loans to youth for purchasing income producing livestock to improve and/or begin their operation. Information on this program is available at the Gonzales FSA Office, 830-672-7511 TAKE PICTURES and tell us what is going on at your club meetings or other 4-H activities. Let s promote 4-H in our community and show Gonzales what 4-H is all about. Send your pictures and stories to gonzales@ag.tamu.edu ATTENTION GONZALES STOCK SHOW EXHIBITORS As noted in the updated Gonzales Stock Show rules, one parent/guardian and the exhibitor must attend one drug residue avoidance class in order to be eligible to show in the Gonzales Livestock Show. The classes will be held: October 23, 2012 @ 6:30pm, November 26, 2012 @ 6:30pm and January 5, 2013 @ 9am All will be held at the Gonzales High School Cafeteria Livestock Judging If you are interested in livestock judging, Pat Flores has volunteered to be a leader for this program. Members will be participating in upcoming contests in this area. 4-H members rank 4 cattle, sheep, swine, or goats in a class. More information can be obtained from Pat Flores at 361-741-8804.
Bryn McNabb and Brie Schauer, members of the Gonzales Shooting Club, recently entered the Comal County Clay Busters Invitational at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio that was held July 14 and 15. Bryn won 1 st in the Senior 1 Class and Brie won 3 rd in the Senior 2 Class. Quality Counts Training for 2013 Major Livestock Show Exhibitors All 2013 major Show Exhibitors must receive a certificate of completion for the Quality Counts Exam. Training for the Quality Counts verification can be done online at http://qualitycounts.tamu.edu Once you arrive at this site, you can go to the Texas Trails icon to take the training. Then click on the verification icon to take the test. You will not be able to enter the Major livestock Shows without passing this test. If you took the test last year, your certificate is good until you rotate from the junior division to the senior division, which occurs when you turn 14 by August 31 st. CLOVER KIDS The 4-H program serves youth 9 years of age (or 8 years of age and in the 3 rd grade) to 19. As an affiliated group, youth enrolled as 4-H Clover Kids have activities and programs suitable for their age group. Clover Kids are not eligible to participate in activities, recognition programs and competitive events reserved for older youth. Competitive events and competitive judging are inappropriate for Clover Kids. Clover Kids may have animal projects; however, it is recommended animal projects should not exceed a rabbit in size. Most standard 4-H accident insurance normally is not available for youth under 5 years of age.
10/20-10/21 11/10-11/11 12/8-12/9 1/12-1/13 Contact the following for further information: Contact 830-203-0627 They are on Facebook too! lonestarclassicshow@yahoo.com Lone Star Classic Steer & Heifer Show JB Wells Park, Gonzales Aggiefest Horse Judging Workshop Date: Saturday, November 3, 2012 Location: Freeman Arena, College Station, TX Time: Starts at 9am Cost: $15 per youth (by Nov. 1 st ); $20 per youth (after Nov. 1 st ) parents and coaches welcome to attend Topics: Instruction and practice on halter and performance classes, as well as reasons Register online: www.judgingcard.com Note: Online registration requires one consolidated entry for each FFA Chapter or County 4-H group. More information: http://animalscience.tamu.edu/academics/equine/ Click on Equine Workshops and Aggiefest Horse Judging Workshop. ATTENTION ALL HIGH SCHOOL MEMBERS Gonzales County 4-H Adult Leaders wish to provide an opportunity for any Gonzales County 4-H high school student to apply for a scholarship during his/her senior year. Incoming freshman and returning eligible members now is the time to sign the scholarship agreement. Eligibility requirements involve completing record books, involvement, fundraiser assistance, and completing an application during your senior year. Completing a record book 3 out of 4 years during high school has always been a requirement. Be sure to acquire a copy of the Gonzales County 4-H Scholarship Agreement. If you feel you meet these requirements be sure to return the receipt to the Extension Office no later than October 12, 2012. Copies are available online http://gonzales.agrilife.org/publications/ or from the extension office.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 3, 2012 6PM--Nixon Smiley Livestock Show joint meeting and Drug Reside Avoidance Class October 7-13, 2012 National 4-H Week October 10, 201 Gonzales Lamb & Goat Validation and Major Show Lamb & Goat Validation 5PM-6PM-Lambs, 6PM-7PM-Goats @ JB Wells Park October 13, 2012 One day 4-H October 13, 2012 Food Show and Food Challenge Workshop 9-12 Riverside Community Center October 23, 2012 6:30PM--Gonzales Livestock Show Drug Residue Avoidance Class @ Gonzales High School Cafeteria October 24, 2012 6PM-7PM Nixon Smiley validation-market steers, breeder heifers and commercial heifers at the show barn November 1, 2012 4-H Registration must be complete in order to participate in the Gonzales Livestock Show November 9, 2012 Gonzales County Food Show and Food Challenge entry forms due November 17, 2012 Gonzales County Food Show and Food Challenge-location TBA (in Gonzales) November 20, 2012 6PM--4-H County Council and Adult Leaders meet at the Extension Office November 26, 2012 6:30PM--Gonzales Livestock Show Drug Residue Avoidance Class @ Gonzales High School Cafeteria January 5, 2013 9AM--Gonzales Livestock Show Drug Residue Avoidance Class @ Gonzales High School Cafeteria For more district Calendar information go to the District 4-H Website: http://d104- h.tamu.edu/
Gonzales County 4-H Food and Nutrition Project Opportunities In order to successfully complete a project in 4-H, you should set goals, seek out new learning experiences, and be able to identify at least six objectives you met. Participating in activities and competitions can help you work toward your goals. For example, if your goal is to learn how to make an apple pie, then learning to peel apples may be an objective. Learning why the apples turn brown and how to prevent them from turning brown might be another objective. If you participate in the Food Show, then you want your objectives to be focused on food preparation, food safety, and nutrition. You want to plan activities that give you the opportunity for community service/service learning and leadership. Contests: Food Show The 2012-2013 Food Show will have new categories and a theme. The categories are: Protein, Fruits & Vegetables, and Grains & Dairy. The theme will be healthy holidays. The Food Show is an individual contest in which members prepare a dish in one of the contest categories and presents it to a panel of judges. During the presentation and interview with the judges, members exhibit the knowledge and skills gained through the 4-H Food and Nutrition Project, such as preparation steps, nutrients found in the dish, the functions of various ingredients, personal dietary needs, healthy substitutions, and cost analysis. Food Challenge The 4-H Food Challenge is a contest that allows 4-H members to demonstrate their culinary knowledge and skills. From a set of predetermined ingredients provided, teams of 3-5 members must develop a recipe and prepare the dish within 40 minutes. Teams then make a presentation to a judging panel, explaining the preparation steps, serving size, food safety concerns, nutrition value and cost of the dish. Dates and Deadlines: Food Show and Food Challenge packets are available in the Extension Office. You may also request to have a packet by emailing Janie Pineda, at janie.pineda@ag.tamu.edu. Information and rules are also available at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/. Food Show and Food Challenge Workshop-Saturday, October 13 in Gonzales at the Riverside Community Center from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. County Food Show and Food Challenge entry deadlines-friday, November 9-may be turned in to the Extension Office or emailed to Janie Pineda at janie.pineda@ag.tamu.edu County Food Show and Food Challenge-Saturday, November 17-location TBA (in Gonzales) District 10 Food Challenge (the 1 st and 2 nd place teams in both age divisions should advance to district)-saturday, December 8 in San Marcos at Texas State District 10 Food Show (first place winners in each category from county advance)-monday, January 7 in San Marcos at Texas State Gonzales Stock Show Bake Show Gonzales Stock Show Bake Show: rules are available at the Extension Office. http://gonzales.agrilife.org/files/2011/03/2012-gonzales-bake-show-rules2.pdf Gonzales Stock Show Bake Show entries due to the Extension Office - February 15, 2013 Gonzales Stock Show Bake Show March 2, 2013
THE GONZALES COUNTY 4-H SCHOLARSHIP AGREEMENT The Gonzales County 4-H Adult Leaders wish to provide an opportunity for any Gonzales County 4-H high school student to apply for a scholarship during his/her senior year. Scholarship(s) will be given at the discretion of the scholarship committee. The Gonzales 4-H Adult Leaders request that the scholarship be established and administered as follows: 1. Name: Gonzales County 4-H Scholarship 2. Type: Annual scholarship to be continued as long as the Adult Leaders consider it justified and financially feasible. The scholarship is not renewable and is a one time scholarship per recipient. 3. Effective: To become effective with the 2012-2013 academic year. 4. Availability: Availability of the scholarship will be publicized by written notification to all qualified applicants by means of the Texas AgriLIFE Extension newsletter or by other means deemed appropriate by the Scholarship Committee. 5. Recipient: Regularly enrolled freshman student, pursuing a baccalaureate degree or related degree, to include a degree program in an accredited trade or vocational school. 6. Eligibility: A. Record book: Student must have completed record books three out of four years in high school. If the recordbook does not meet the Texas 4-H Record book Guidelines then student becomes ineligible. A record book committee will be established to provide assistance prior to deadline. B. Involvement: Student must show active involvement in Gonzales County 4-H and attend a minimum of five meetings per year throughout high school. Students will be given an attendance record to be signed by the club adult leader, County Extension Agent - AG or Country Extension Agent Family and Consumer Science. Attendance records can be turned in after five signatures. In the event a student misses a meeting, an excuse must be submitted to the Extension Office within 7 days. Excuses will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee, documented and filed in student s folder. C. Fundraiser Assistance: Student must assist in scholarship fundraising per year throughout high school. Scholarship fundraiser committee will inform students of type of assistance within a timely manner. D. Application: During the student s senior year, an application must be completed by the deadline as set forth by the scholarship committee. Late applications will not be accepted. E. Transfer Students: Students must show proof of involvement and record book completion in the form of a letter from the County Extension Office or Club Manager from their previous county. Also, students must show completion of scholarship criteria throughout the remaining years of high school while being a member of Gonzales County 4-H. Transfer students will be reviewed on an individual basis as needed. Scholarship committee reserves the right to prorate scholarship funds if deemed necessary.
7. Stipulated Terms of Scholarship: A. Student must be enrolled as a part-time or full-time student. Special circumstance must be addressed to the scholarship committee prior to disbursements of funds. Funds are to be used for educational purposes. B. Payments to be made following proof of enrollment in a college, trade or vocational school no later than September 30, 2012 for the fall semester and no later than January 30, 2013 for the spring semester. Proof of enrollment should be sent to the Scholarship chairperson or Treasurer at the Extension Office. C. Failure of a student to maintain at least a 2.0 overall average at time of mid-semester grade reporting would be grounds for termination. Grades need to be turned in no later than January 30, 2013. D. Scholarship committee reserves to right to make changes as needed prior to a school year. 8. Selection of Scholarship Recipient(s) Scholarship(s) will be given at the discretion of the scholarship committee. ************************************************************************************************************************************ RECEIPT OF THE GONZALES COUNTY 4-H SCHOLARSHIP AGREEMENT Year: I have read and understand the scholarship agreement as set forth by the Gonzales County 4-H Scholarship Committee. Student Signature Date: Date: Parent Signature Please mail or drop off receipt of scholarship agreement no later than October 12, 2012. Keep pages above for your records. GRADUATING SENIORS: Applications are available at the Texas AgriLIFE Extension office. Deadline to return application is June 5, 2013.
Gonzales County 4-H Meeting Attendance Record 2012-2013 4-H Member: Signatures must be from a club leader or county agent. Minimum of 5 signatures needed before returning to office. Date: Signature: