Adult Leaders and County Council Meeting!

Ellis County 4-H CloverLeaf October 2013 Adult Leaders and County Council Meeting! We will have our bimonthly meeting on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 7 P.M. If you are a Council delegate or a president of your club you need to be here to represent your club. For adult leaders, this meeting is open to any one who has completed the adult volunteer enrollment process. We hope to see you there! Ellis County 4-H ers at Comissioners' Court for the proclamation of National 4-H Week Ellis Couny 4-H Clubs Uniting Together to Collect Canned Goods for 4-H One Day Please join us in changing the lives of people in our community by collecting canned food from your friends, neighbors, and local businesses. Already clubs have shown their enthusiasm by reserving tables in front of businesses. We will all meet at the extension office on October 12th for the final collection and organizing of all our donations. Also 4-Her's members have the opportunity to ask for donations in front of Brookshires on We need volunteers to work the table in 1 or 2 hour shifts from 10am-2pm.,October 12th., please call 817-453-4204 to sign up today. Let's be the county with the most pounds of food collected in a day recognized at Round-Up this year! Please show your support by calling and signing up today. Hannah Craig Ellis County Sergeant at Arms

Learning By Doing Page 2 THE CLOVER FUND The Adult Leaders Association would like to thank all those who joined The Clover Fund at the 4H Awards Banquet. We appreciate your generous donation and for investing in the lives of our youth. If you have not already joined and would like to, just fill out the form and send it to Donna with your donation. Thank you. CALLING ALL CHEFS, DESSERT LOVERS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE SEEKERS The Ellis county youth Expo "350 Benefit" needs your help with desserts! The 350 Benefit is raising money for the expansion of the Ellis County Youth Expo. Please consider donating a cake, cookies, pie, etc. on October 19th (between 10-4) to help raise funds for our future. We also need a handful of volunteers to serve desserts that evening. Please contact: Monica Holman at greysky1204@sbcglobal.net or 214-399-7274 for more information or to sign up for either or both! Thank you! COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST RESULTS Congratulations to the following 4-H ers whose entries qualified for the District 8 Photography Contest! CATEGORY SENIOR INTERMEDIATE JUNIOR Animals - Domestic Jayton Ferry Justin Chomicki Cade Ferry Animals - Wildlife Peter Chomicki Zanna Harmon Parys Bishop Catch All Jayton Ferry Cade Ferry Details & Macros Peter Chomicki Justin Chomicki Makenna Van Huss Digital Darkroom Peter Chomicki Justin Chomicki Dominant Color Jayton Ferry Zanna Harmon Elements of Design Peter Chomicki Justin Chomicki Food Dakota Van Huss Justin Chomicki Marine/Aquatic Peter Chomicki Nature & Landscape Jayton Ferry Justin Chomicki Cade Ferry Night Photography Peter Chomicki Zanna Harmon Cade Ferry People Peter Chomicki Whitney Johnson Cade Ferry Plant/Flora Jayton Ferry Zanna Harmon Cade Ferry

Learning By Doing Page 3 Public Speaking/Leadership Project On Thursday, September 19, Mrs. Cam Jackson led a leadership workshop at the County Extension office. Twelve 4-H'ers from four different clubs attended that evening and learned about communication and leadership skills. Mrs. Jackson taught us about the qualities a leader needs to have and helped us identify the leadership qualities within ourselves. We played a group game and broke into small groups to learn what we had in common with each other. Mrs Jackson will be leading the next workshop on October 17 at 7:00pm at the County Extension office. I would like to encourage all 4-H'ers to attend. This is an incredible opportunity for you to learn about leadership in a fun and creative way. Lindsay Haley FOOD & NUTRITION PLANNING MEETING All youth (and adults) interested in the Foods & Nutrition Project are encouraged to attend a county Food & Nutrition Board Meeting on October 10, 4:00-5:00pm (or as quickly as you can get here!) at the County Extension Office. This will be youth driven. We want to know what the 4-Hers want to do! There will be follow up meetings; this is just to begin the group. Officers will be elected, followed by discussion by the 4-Hers on what they would like to learn in this project, what they would like to do, etc. This could easily be year round, not just near Food Show/Food Challenge time. This board will assist in planning the Ellis County 4-H Food Challenge/Food Show, that will take place on November 14. Plan to attend and be a part of this group, learning lots about food and nutrition! Ellis County Livestock Judging Team There are several fall contests coming up. If possible, try to plan on scheduling/ participating in the following: Heart of Texas Fair - Waco, Sunday, October 6, 2013 8:00 am State Fair of Texas - Dallas, Monday, October 7, 2013 11:30 am Austin County or Jackson County, Saturday, October 12, 2013 Aggie Fest - College Station, Saturday, November 16, 2013 7:00-8:00 am Other competitions and practices as available.

Learning By Doing Page 4 BEEKEEPERS AGE 10-18 The MBA Hill/Stokes Memorial Youth Scholarship Application/Agreement Objective 1. To educate youth in the art of beekeeping and to promote a better understanding of the value of honey bees to our environment and to the food chain. 2. To provide an opportunity for youth to experience responsibility and enjoyment through beekeeping. 3. To provide an avenue for youth to engage in an avocation and gain the potential to pursue beekeeping as a sideline or full time vocation. The Award 1. A one year family membership in the Metro Beekeepers Association. 2. A beginning beekeeper orientation and beginner beekeeping book. 3. A set of wooden-ware for a beehive. 4. A nuc or package of bees for the hive. 5. Beekeeping gear: hat, veil, gloves, hive tool, bee brush, and bee smoker. 6. Mentoring by a MBA member for one year. Eligibility 1. The applicant must be between the ages of 10 and 18 by September 1, 2013. 2. The applicant must be a resident of one of the following Texas counties: Tarrant, Johnson, Ellis,and Parker. 3. The applicant must be currently enrolled in public, private or home school. 4. The applicant must have permission and agreement from parent or guardian. 5. The application must be postmarked or e-mailed by November 23, 2013. For an application and/or more information contact dsevenden@ag.tamu.edu. ELLIS COUNTY YOUTH EXPO Help Celebrate the 25th Anniversary The Expo Board needs your help in gathering pictures from the last 25 years. If you have a photo of current or past 4-H members participating at an Ellis County Expo show, please email it to dsevenden@ag.tamu.edu. Be sure to identify people in the photo and include dates, event name, and any other information you may have.

TEXAS 4H and Youth Development 4-H Clothing and Textiles Project Group Come Join us and learn all about Sewing, Fashion, Clothing & Textiles and so much more. In this project, youth learn about textiles, fashion and personal style. They partner with adults to design and create clothing and accessories. The 4-H clothing and textiles project may include sewing and purchasing clothing, fashion design, wardrobe inventory, clothing repair and more. Starting Out Beginner Learn to thread a sewing machine and use it safely Assemble a sewing kit and understand the tools Practice safety with all tools - scissors, iron, etc. Learn to buy and begin to use a pattern Cut and sew straight lines, curves, corners. Learn basic hand stitches such as sewing on buttons. Discover styles and colors that are becoming. Do: gathering, insert a zipper, machine hem, elastic casing. Learning More Intermediate Sew garments from patterns using body measurements and garment ease. Practice safety with all tools and equipment. Do: sleeves, pockets, darts, interfacing, facings, collar, buttonholes, blind hems. Practice modeling. Make or select an outfit for competitive evaluation. Demonstrate laundry and garment care. Visit a department store to try on clothing that fits. Examine the cost of new versus used clothing. Exploring Depth Advanced Explore the different traits and uses of animal, plant and synthetic textiles. Design and accessorize an outfit for competitive evaluation. Learn pattern alteration. Learn techniques for sewing knits, stripes, plaids, velvet, chiffon and lace. Use a serger for seams and seam finishes. Do: fly zipper, cuffs, welt pocket or bound button-hole, lining, pleats. Alter or mend an existing garment. The activities above are ideas to inspire further project development. This is not a complete list. Meeting Dates: 2013 Schedule Tues., Oct 1, 2013 Thurs., Nov. 7, 2013 Thurs., Dec., 5, 2013 Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Do you, a relative or your neighbor have a sewing machine? Please... bring it with you. Call for more information and sign up to attend Where: Ellis County Extension Office (Conference Room) 701 S. Interstate Hwy. 35E Waxahachie, TX Contact: Peggy Donathan (Project Leader) 214-460-2963 pdonathan@ymail.com Peggy Donathan 214-460-2963

Learning By Doing Page 6 Aquatic Science Project Meeting Hello Ellis County 4-H, instead of hosting a Herpetology Project Meeting, I have decided to host an Aquatic Science Project Meeting at my home (1007 Woodridge Rd., Waxahachie, TX 75165) on October 19th from 1 to 2pm. I will cover everything from setting up a correct tropical community aquarium to keeping large predatory fish. If you have any questions, please contact me at peter-jc@aircanopy.net or call me at 972-923-3497. Please RSVP by the 16th. Thank you, Peter Chomicki County Council First Vice-Chairman COUNTY CLOTHING BOARD Ellis county has reestablished its County Clothing Board. Any 4-Her is invited to be a part of the board, the first meeting will be on October 17, at 3:30 pm at the Extension Office. At the meeting there will be the election of the President, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, and the secretary. The board will be in charge of hosting clothing tours, workshops, and camps. Contact Melanie Craig with questions. Melanie Craig SPRING MAJOR STOCK SHOW MEETING The spring major stock show meeting will take place on November 5, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office. All 4-H members who plan to enter an animal in Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo, San Antonio, or Austin need to attend this meeting to sign up VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY Volunteers are needed for the Ellis County Employee Health Fair. For several years we have assisted with this event by distributing lunches from the kitchen. The Health Fair will be October 16th from 10-2 at the Ellis County Youth Expo. To volunteer, contact Monica Holman at 214-399-7274 or greysky1204@sbcglobal.net.

Learning By Doing Page 7 Come Earn Your MBA With Us! The Livestock Club would like to invite you to join us in earning an MBA. Yes, that s right an MBA! Become a Master of Beef Advocacy with us. Consumers love beef. They love the sizzle of a steak on the grill and biting into a thick, juicy burger. But they also have questions. Where does beef come from? Is it safe? Is proper care given to animals and the environment? Beef producers work hard every day to be good stewards of the land and their animals in providing safe and nutritious beef for America s dinner tables. We need to be passionate and vocal in telling the story. That s what the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program is all about... equipping beef producers and others across the country to tell their story. Earning Your MBA The MBA program is online training program designed to equip beef producers and industry allies with the information they need to be everyday advocates for the beef industry. The program will consist of six courses in beef advocacy including: Modern Beef Production Sharing the many benefits of modern, efficient U.S. beef production. Animal Care Explaining our commitment to raising healthy animals Beef Safety Communicating why producing safe food for consumers is a top priority Beef Nutrition Explaining how great-tasting beef strengthens and sustains our bodies Environmental Stewardship Sharing how we re protecting the environment for future generations The Beef Checkoff Communicating the value of your investment in growing demand for beef We will be going through each of the courses together as a group beginning October 22, 2013 at 6:30pm at the Extension Office. This program is open to both youth members and adult volunteers who are interested in the beef industry. Maybe you have some of those questions, come join us and get some answers. Maybe you and your family raise cattle or your showing one in 4, come and join us this is a great program for any producer. This program also offers some great public speaking preparation. If public speaking is one of your projects and you love to eat beef, combine the two and come join us. You will find great information for your speeches and possibly have the opportunity to practice and share your speeches in schools, at civic organizations, etc. through the MBA Alumni Association. No matter what your background, involvement or your interest level in the beef industry you won t be disappointed in this program. Following the completion of the program we will have a special graduation celebration and each member will be invited to join the Masters of Beef Advocacy Alumni Association. Please contact Donna at the Extension office to sign up. We need your name, phone number and an email to contact you. Sign up today! The class dates are: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 6:30pm Tuesday, October 29, 2013 6:30pm Tuesday, November 5, 2013 6:30pm Tuesday, November 12, 2013 6:30pm Tuesday, November 19, 2013 6:30pm Tuesday, December 3, 2013 6:30pm We are so excited about this program and hope you will join us. If you have any questions you can call Heather Dineen, Manager of the Livestock Club at 214-236-3802. The Livestock Club is also planning on offering a Meat Project this year in preparation to start a Meat Judging Team next year and this program will be considered a part of that project training. So if you think you might be interested in come out and join us. Thank you so much we look forward to seeing you in October. The Livestock Club.

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Learning By Doing Page 9 2013-2014 4-H ENROLLMENT August 15th marks the beginning of new and re-enrollment for Ellis County 4-H. All 4-H members wanting to participate in ANY 4-H event for the 2013-2014 year will need to complete the enrollment process online by going to https://texas.4honline.com. 1. Only new families will need to set up a family profile before enrolling a 4-H member. Once the family profile is completed, you may enroll students and adults. 2. Returning members already have a family profile, even if they have previously used the paper enrollment forms. Please do not create a new family profile if anyone in your family has been previously enrolled in 4-H as this will be flagged at the county level as a duplicate enrollment. Your enrollment will not be active until we archive one of the profiles, which will slow down the enrollment process. 3. To access your family profile, enter the email address you gave when you enrolled last year. If you do not know your password, select that option and a temporary password will be sent to your email address. You may then log in using the temporary password and change your password to your preference. If your email address has changed, you can update it once you have logged in. 4. If you do not remember what email address you used to create a previous family profile, call Donna at 972-825-5175 for help. 5. The participant fee of $20 is also payable online. After October 31, 2012, the participant fee will be $25. Adults are required to have a background screening every 3 years. The information is collected during the enrollment/re-enrollment process, but is not currently payable online. Those requiring a background screening should send a check for $10 made out to Ellis 4-H Council to the office. Adult memberships will not be active until the screening is completed. Your enrollment MUST be active in order to be eligible to participate in any Major Stock Show or any 4-H sponsored event. In addition, 4-H is required annually to purchase a group activities accident policy which covers every 4-H member. (adults and children) To help defray the cost of this policy we ask club managers to collect the following amounts from members: $1.00 per child/adult member $2.00 per child/adult member with horses If you have any questions or enrollment issues, please contact Donna at 972-825-5175 between 8:00 am and noon, Monday through Friday.

Learning By Doing Page 10 Ellis County 4-H Livestock Exhibitors Moving forward into the 2013-2014 Livestock Show Season, Quality Counts Verification will be a part of the process for entry in all major livestock shows, as well as the Ellis County Youth Expo. This means that as youth exhibitors you will need to demonstrate a knowledge of the Six Pillars of Character and the Eight Core Concepts presented in the Quality Counts Curriculum. To do this, You will need to pass an online test on the website ( http://qualitycounts.tamu.edu/ ) and acquire a Quality Counts Verification number. Things you need to know about Verification: * 2013 - All Major Livestock Shows in Texas will require Quality Counts Verification at the time of entry. * 2013-2014 All Ellis County Youth Expo Exhibitors will be required to have a Quality Counts Verification #. This means youth will need to be verified prior to entry in the fall of 2013. * A Verification number is obtained by answering 80% of the questions correctly on an online test. There are two tests Junior, ages 8-13 and Senior, ages 14-18. If you are a junior your test will be 10 questions, seniors your test will be 20 questions long. If you pass the certification test as a junior you will have to retake the test after you turn 14 to be recertified.

Learning By Doing Page 11 ALL 4 HIM 4-H CLUB On September 14th, the ECCHO 4-H Club held a 4-H Informational Meeting for EC- CHO, which stands for Ellis County Christian Homeschooling Organization. Mrs. Cam Jackson, Peter Chomicki, Justin Chomicki, Mrs. Irene Chomicki, and Brayden DeBorde spoke, giving valuable 4-H information to several families present. (See photos.) *The deadline for October's CloverLeaf Newsletter is September 20th, the same day that the ECCHO 4-H Club will be holding its first and last meeting of the year, as the ECCHO 4-H Club! At that meeting, our club will be voting to change our club's name, based on a request by the ECCHO Board. ECCHO is in the process of becoming a 501c3 organization, just like 4-H. To clarify the relationship between the two 501c3 organizations, the current club name will be changed to a new club name that day! Check our next month's newsletter to find out our new club name! Irene Chomicki ECCHO 4-H Club Manager

Learning By Doing Page 12 SILVER SPURS 4-H CLUB The Silver Spurs Club is looking forward to another eventful year! We have been practicing and studying all summer for the upcoming State Hippology meet this Saturday, September, 21st. Stay tuned for the results! Meetings are the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Flying Dollar Ranch. We will be looking for you! Questions? Contact-Julie Hinz: 972-483-7774 Congratulations to our 2013-2014 Silver Spurs 4-H Club Officers! President - Alyssa Ballew, 1st Vice President - Sadie Hinz, 2nd Vice President - Autumn Wells, 3rd Vice President - Gentry Rogers, Secretary - Alyssa Ingram, Reporter - Alison Hancock, Treasurer - Mikayla Venable, County Council Representative - Parys Bishop. 4-H STATE HIPPOLOGY CONTEST The State Hippology Contest was held on September 21 st, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at Surry Rosser High School in Surry, TX. The purpose of the Hippology Contest is to provide participants with the opportunity to blend knowledge and skills acquired in horse judging, bowl, demonstrations, public speaking and showing into one activity. Additionally, the Hippology Contest encourages participants to continue expanding their horse knowledge and participation. We had 13 Silver Spurs represent Ellis County at the state meet.

Learning By Doing Page 13 SILVER SPURS 4-H CLUB (cont d) The 4-H Silver Spurs club was proud to be able to send members to State and represent Ellis County. Silver Spurs was represented by 3 junior teams and 1 senior team. We had the most participants of any county-13! Our junior team: Ethan Rogers, Gentry Rogers, Sadie Hinz and Autumn Wells placed 3 rd with Ethan earning a 2 nd high individual place on stations. Congratulations everyone! We would like to give a special thank you to our coach, Julie Hinz for all of her dedication and commitment to the club. Ethan Rogers who placed 2nd high individually on stations 3rd place junior team at State 4-H Hippology Meet! Cupcake fun after the gruelling test

October 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 HOT Fair - Waco (3-12) 4 5 6 HOT Livestock Judging 7 State Fair of Texas Livestock Judging 8 9 10 Food & Nutrition Meeting 11 12 Austin/Jackson Co. Livestock Judging 4-H One Day 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 350 Benefit 20 21 Gold Star Banquet - Waco 22 23 24 25 26 Fall Stock Show 27 28 29 30 31 LAST DAY TO ENROLL IN 4-H FOR $20 November 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 ALA/ Council Mtg. 5 Spring Major Stock Show Mtg. 6 7 8 Registration Deadline Co. Food Show/ Challenge 9 Holiday Classic - Belton 10 11 12 13 14 Co. Food Show/ Challenge 17 18 19 20 Swine Validation 21 Swine Valication 15 16 Goat Validation EXPO 22 23 24 25 Swine Validation D-8 Food Show Deadline 26 27 28 29 30

Mark Your Calendar November October 3-12 25 -- Registration Heart of Texas Deadline Fair - for Waco District Food Show/Food Challenge and Ag Product ID Contest December October 614 - HOT - County Livestock Swine Judging Validation Contest @8:00 am at the EXPO October 6-12 - National 4-H Week October 7 - State Fair of Texas Livestock Judging Contest October 10 - Food & Nutrition Meeting @ 4:00 pm at Extension Office October 12 - One Day October 12 - Austin or Jackson County Livestock Judging Contest October 19-350 Benefit October 21 - Gold Star Banquet - Waco October 26 - Fall Stock Show @ the EXPO October 31 - Last day to enroll in 4-H for $20 November 4 - ALA/Council Meeting 7:00 @ Extension Office November 5 - Spring Major Show Meeting @6:00 at the Extension Office November 8 - Registration Deadline for County Food Show/Food Challenge November 9-10 - Holiday Classic in Belton November 14 - County Food Show/Food Challenge November 16 - Goat validation 8:30 am @ the EXPO November 20, 21, & 25 - Swine Validation - Contact Page Bishop for time Mark Arnold Ellis County Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources Page Bishop Ellis County Extension Agent 4-H & Youth Development Rita M. Hodges Ellis County Extension Agent Family & Consumer Sciences For more information on Ellis County 4-H projects, programs and events contact us at: 972-825-5175 or email ellis@ag.tamu.edu Find us on the web at: http://ellis.agrilife.org./ or acebook at http://www.facebook.com/elliscountyextension