Brown County 4-H News and Notes

Brown County 4-H is supported by the Brown County United Way.

DATES TO REMEMBER

October

5 – 4-H Proclamation at Commissioner’s Court

6 – 4-H Food Challenge Practice 5:30p.m. at Brownwood High School FCCLA Classroom

10 – One Day 4-H Garage Sale at Extension Office

11 – May 4-H Club Meeting 2:30p.m. at May Methodist Church

12 – Extension Office Closed for Columbus Day

12 – Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office

13 – Brookesmith 4-H Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Brookesmith ISD

13 – Bangs 4-H Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Bangs FCS Classroom

13 – Livestock Coalition Meeting 5:30p.m. at Extension Office

17 – Sheep/Goat Validation at Brown County Youth Fair Barns

18 – Sheep Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Glasscock Farms

18 – Horse Club Meeting 2:00p.m. at Earl Q Wilson Arena

19 – Deadline to RSVP for Brown County 4-H Food Show

20 – Rabbit Club Meeting 7:00p.m. at Extension Office

25 – Brown County 4-H Food Show 2:00p.m. at Extension Office

BROWN COUNTY 4-H NEWS AND UPDATES

NATIONAL 4-H WEEK (OCTOBER 4^th -10^th)

Welcome to the 2015-2016 4-H year and what a great year it is going to be in 4-H in Brown County!  The 4-H Program is nationwide youth development program that has more than 6.5 million youth involved in it annually. Administered in Texas by the A&M AgriLife Extension Service of the Texas A&M System, 4-H serves youth in all 254 counties in the state through a network of 250 County Extension Offices. 4-H is managed jointly by both a professional and volunteer staff. Texas 4-H, the largest 4-H program in the country, has more than 660,000 youth participants and more than 32,800 volunteers working together to deliver the more than 95 projects, opportunities, and events offered annually through the program.

4-H is unique in that it offers experiences to the most urban young person and youth in rural areas by providing the opportunity to participate in community 4-H clubs, learning experiences in school classrooms, day and overnight camps, and other special interest opportunities. We are proud of more than 105 years of providing life development opportunities and look forward to the future and the opportunities it brings for our program and our youth. Our local clubs are encouraged to promote 4-H within our community during National 4-H Week. For resources to help with your promotion the website is http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/4hweek.

4-H PROCLAMATION

National 4-H Week will be October 4^th through the 10^th. 4-Hers will have an opportunity to meet with the Brown County Commissioners, on Monday October 5^th at 8am, to have them sign our proclamation and visit with them about what Brown County 4-Hers have accomplished. We would like to see as many 4-Hers there as possible to show our thanks for the support Brown County has given us.

We will meet here at the Extension Office on Monday October 5^th at 8am, to assemble a basket of baked items to present the commissioners. Therefore, your help will be needed in baking these items and bringing them to the Extension Office the morning of the event.

One Day 4-H Project, October 10^th

One day 4-H is one day for all the 4-H members, parents, leaders, and volunteers to step out into Brown County and say “thank you” by doing a community service project that helps support the community. This year the Brown County 4-H Council decided to have a yard sale and proceeds will be donated to a local charity. The yard sale will be on Saturday, October 10^th from 8:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. at the Extension office. Also, we are looking for donations to be placed in the yard sale; therefore, if you have anything you would like to donate please drop it off at the Extension office by October 9^th.

New for this year we will be participating in planting a tree in Brown County. The Texas 4-H Youth Development Program is proud to be partnering with the Texas A&M Forest Service to help celebrate their 100th anniversary of protecting the citizens of Texas, and our country. To help celebrate the anniversary, the Forest Service is providing one Bur Oak Tree (the only tree that can grow successfully in all 254 counties of Texas) to each county to be planted. Brown County 4-H will be partnering up with the Texas 4-H Center to plant the tree at the center. This will take place after the yard sale on October 10^th.

If you would like to help with this One Day 4-H project please call and sign up with the Extension office by October 9^th.

4-H PAPER CLOVER FUNDRAISER AT TRACTOR SUPPLY: OCTOBER 7^th – 18^TH

Customers at our local Tractor Supply can support Brown County 4-H by purchasing paper clovers at checkout. All funds raised will be donated to 4-H, and over 70% will remain in Brown County.

Our local Tractor Supply Co. has been one of the top money raisers in this region since the Paper Clover fundraiser started; so let’s help them become number one in the state, while supporting Brown County 4-H at the same time during this fundraiser.

DISTRICT 7 4-h cOMMUITY SERVICE PROJECT

The 2015 District 7 Council and Ambassador team needs your help to create “iCare” Kits to send to the West Texas Boys Ranch. The West Texas Boys Ranch is a Christian-based home community that welcomes boys who are in need of a safe environment in which to grow and learn. Below is a list of items they are collecting:

* Tooth brush

* Tooth paste

* Shampoo/Conditioner

* Body wash

If you would like to donate items to help put together the “iCare” kits you can bring those items by the Extension Office.

Livestock Coalition

We are putting together a livestock coalition to help provide support in improving our youth livestock program here in Brown County. The purpose of this coalition will be to identify the needs of youth with livestock projects; for example, designing workshops that deal with feeding and nutrition, showmanship, care, selections, etc.. We are looking for adults and youth to serve on this committee. Our first meeting will be on October 13^th 5:30 p.m. at the Extension office. Please contact the Extension office if you are interested in being part of the livestock coalition. If you have questions please contact Nick Gonzales, nigonzales@ag.tamu.edu or 325-646-0386.

LOOKING FOR LIVESTOCK PROJECTS???

The time is near to have your livestock project if you plan on participating at the Youth Fair or major livestock shows. If you are planning on showing a goat, lamb, or swine and need help with your project or selecting your project please contact Nick Gonzales.

LAMB, GOAT, AND SWINE COUNTY AND STATE VALIDATION

It is that time to start getting ready for the Brown County Youth Fair and Major Stock Shows. The most important step in doing this is validating your animals. Lamb validation will be October 17^th 8:00a.m.- 10:00a.m., Goat Validation October 17^th 11:00a.m. – 2:00p.m., and Swine validation November 14^th 8:00a.m. – 10:00a.m. at the Brown County Youth Fair Barns. There will not be a county validation make up day! If you are planning on participating in the Brown County Youth Fair you need to make sure your animal is present the day of validation!! If you ordered state tags and have not paid for them please come by the Extension Office ASAP!!  YOU MUST BE ENROLLED IN 4-H BEFORE THE DATE OF VALIDATION!!!

HEIFER VALIDATION

If you are showing a heifer at a major stock show that has not previously been state validated or has changed owners they will need to be validated. The date for heifer validation is Tuesday, October 20, 2015, and you must have a hard copy of the heifer registration papers at the time of validation. For more information contact the Extension Office.

4-H Food Challenge Practice

It’s time to start 4-H Food Challenge practices.  If you are planning on participating this year, our first practice will be Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at Brownwood High School. We will be practicing in the FCCLA classroom.  Please enter the school through the large doors beside the cafeteria off of Good Shepherd Drive.  Go down 4^th street and turn right on Good Shepherd.  Please park in the parking lot that faces the baseball fields.  If you have any questions or need more information, please call Kim Miles at the Extension office.

BROWN COUNTY 4-H FOOD SHOW

The 2015 Brown County 4-H Food Show is set for October 25^th, 2:00p.m. at the Extension Office. If you are interested in participating please RSVP by October 19^th. Clover kids are eligible to participate in the Brown County 4-H Food Show. For more information please contact Kim Miles at 325-646-0386.

TREAT

The District 7 4-H Horse Project Development Committee is participating in the Annual TREAT (Tarleton Equine Assisted Therapy) Special Kids Rodeo at Tarleton State University on October 27^th at 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m.. This is open to any 4-H member who is interested in working with kids that have special needs, who have a love for horses. 4-Hers will assist with this event by leading and side walking for horse rides, face painting, serving food, manning the petting area and assisting with several other events. If you are interested in participating in the TREAT please RSVP with the Extension Office by October 20^th.  If you would like more information contact Nick Gonzales at 325-646-0386.

HUNTER SAFETY CAMP

Ready. Aim. Fire. And get ready for the 5^th Annual District 7 Hunters Safety Camp! Where 4-Hers can learn about hunting safety, wildlife conservation, survival skills, shoot an assortment of weapons and receive their hunter’s safety license!

Who: District 7 4-H members ages 12 and up. 4-Hers must be 12 at the time of camp to attend.

When; October 30^th – November 1^st, 2015

Where: Game Warden Training Center 4363 FM 1047 Hamilton, TX 76531

Cost: $50 per person

How do I get involved: To register or volunteer as a chaperone contact Extension Agent Nick Gonzales at nigonzales@ag.tamu.edu or 325-646-0386

Deadline: 4:00 pm, October 13^th

For Questions: Contact Shooting Sports Committee Chairman Sierra Gordon, at257sierra@gmail.com or 325-203-1462.

Check out the YouTube Video! “D7 4-H Hunter Safety Camp at GWTC”

There are only 25 spots available so sign up now!!! Registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.

If you need more information or questions please contact Nick Gonzales at the Extension Office.

2016 CALF SCRAMBLES

MAJOR LIVESTOCK SHOW CALF SCRAMBLE INFORMATION

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo – January 15 – February 6, 2016

Purchase certificate value of $500

• Certificates used to purchase a breeding beef or dairy heifer
• All applicants must be 14, 15, 16, or 17 years of age as of January 1, 2016 and not beyond their junior year of high school.
• Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. After all the positions have been filled, the remaining applications will be kept on file and used on an as needed basis. Each County 4-H Program is limited to a maximum of six entries.

San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo – February 11-February 28, 2016

• Purchase certificate value of $800
• Certificates used to purchase an animal in these Junior Breeding Departments – Beef, Dairy, Swine, Sheep, or Goat
• Must show the animal in the 2017 San Antonio Stock Show
• Contestant must have reached their 12^th, but not their 18^th birthday on January 1, 2016 and not be enrolled beyond their junior year in high school.
• Completed Entry Applications and Release and Indemnification Agreements must be returned to the Brown County Extension Office by October 15, 2015.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – March 1 – March 20, 2016

Purchase certificate value of $1,500

• Certificates used to purchase a breeding beef heifer or market steer
• Must show the animal in the 2017 Houston Livestock Show
• Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. After all the positions have been filled, the remaining applications will be kept on file and used on an as needed basis.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo – February 6, 7, 13, 2016

• Limited to first 80 entries
• 20 students compete in 4 separate scrambles
• A purchase certificate will be issued to each of the top 10 contestants catching a calf in one of the four go-arounds.
• FINALS: Top 16 Contestants come back!(Top 4 in each go-round)
• Top 8  in Finals receive scholarships
• Places 9-16 receive additional $250 purchase certificate.
• Must be 13 years of age but no older than 18 by February 1, 2016

If you are planning on participating in any of the other calf scrambles please contact Nick Gonzales at the Extension Office by October 15^th!

4-H ENROLLMENT IS OPEN ON 4-H CONNECT!

The enrollment process for the 2015-2016 4-H year will begin August 15, 2015. All 4-H families, new and returning, are encouraged to log in and enroll in order to become an official 4-H member.

As you begin your enrollment for the year, here are some tips in using 4-H CONNECT:

• If you already have a profile DO NOT create another one!
• If you lost your email and password call the county office so we can reset it for you.
• An active membership will not be granted until the $20.00 participation fee is paid on 4-H   Connect!
• You cannot register or participate in an event until your profile is ACTIVE.
• When you are doing your re-enrollment for the 2015-2016 4-H Year please make sure you update your address, phone number, and e-mail address.
• You can use your Fundraiser Voucher to pay your membership dues. To do this you will have to come into the extension office to enroll.
• We are updating our e-mail database on November 1^st so if you are not enrolled by then you will no longer receive newsletters updates via e-mail. Unless you notify the Extension Office prior to November 1^st deadline.

Don’t wait until the last minute to enroll because after October 31^st the cost increases to $25!!

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.