Brown County 4-H News and Notes

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

DATES TO REMEMBER

October

27 – Food Challenge Practice 5:30p.m. at Extension Office

November

2 – Major Stock Show/Youth Fair Sign Up 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. at the Extension Office

8 – May 4-H Club Meeting 2:00p.m. at May Methodist Church

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

10 – Deadline for Fort Worth Stock Show Entries

11 – Extension Office Closed for Veterans Day

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

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

14 – State/County Swine Validation 8:00a.m. – 10:00a.m. at Youth Fair Barns

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

16 – Major Stock Show/Youth Fair Sing Up 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. at Extension Office

BROWN COUNTY 4-H NEWS AND UPDATES

BROWN COUNTY 4-H HORSE CLUB TRAIL/PLAY DAY FUN DAY

The Brown County 4-H Horse Club will be hosting a Trail/Play Day Fun Day on Sunday, October 25, 2015, 2:00p.m. at the Earl Q Wilson Arena. You will get to practice riding skills, horsemanship, halter, and trail patterns. For more information contact Anna Hernandez (325)-217-2018 or the Extension Office.

4-H Food Challenge Practice

Food Challenge practice will be Tuesday, October 27, 2015, 5:30p.m. at the Extension Office. If you have any questions or need more information, please call Kim Miles at the Extension office.

Helping Good Samaritan for a Good Cause!

October is “Hunger Awareness Month” and Good Samaritan Ministries has asked Brown County 4-H for help in a county-wide food drive. They need assistance collecting items for their Christmas boxes that are packed in November and distributed in December. Good Samaritan are tasking schools, businesses, churches and other organizations to collect specific food items. Brown County 4-H has been tasked to collect Canned Sweet Potatoes.

Please drop off the canned sweet potatoes to the Extension office by Thursday, November 5^th 4:00 p.m.. If you have any questions please contact the Extension office.

MAJOR STOCK SHOW AND YOUTH FAIR ENTRY NIGHTS

Every year we have two nights in November that we designate for families who want to enter into the major stock shows and Brown County Youth Fair. The only way you can enter into the major stock shows is if you bought state tags. The two nights we are having stock show sign up is November 2^nd and 16^th from 5p.m. – 7p.m.

If you are planning on entering Ft. Worth you will need to attend the night of November 2^nd because the deadline to enter Ft. Worth Stock Show is November 10^th.

• The deadline to enter Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and San Angelo Stock Show is November 20^th.
• This will be your opportunity to enter the Brown County Youth Fair at this time. We are setting a deadline to enter the Youth Fair on November 30^th.

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. Swine validation will be 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!

BROWN COUNTY YOUTH FAIR CHECKLIST

The Brown County Youth Fair is approaching fast. Everyone should have your animals if you are planning on entering in the Livestock Division of the Youth Fair. There are a few other things that have to be done in order to participate in the Brown County Youth Fair. Below is a check list for you to go by to make sure you are covered.

– Enroll in 4-H

– Attend Validation (have your animal validated for county or state)

– Purchase a Youth Fair Membership (this is mandatory if you are entering livestock or     home economics)

– Fill out an entry form for the Brown County Youth Fair (Deadline to enter is November 30^th)

** If you are showing horses, you and your horse must attend one of the two mandatory practices on Dec 6^th or Dec 20^th 2:00 p.m. at the Youth Fair Barns Show Arena. You will also need to have the proof of ownership papers or bill of sale, registration papers or 4-H certification form. All horses must have negative EIA test documentation.

DISTRICT 7 4-h COMMUNITY 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.

QUALITY COUNTS VERIFICATION

Texas has the largest number of 4-H and FFA livestock projects in the nation. Young people participate at the county, district, regional and state level. The tremendous support and dedication of livestock show officials help make this possible. With this opportunity comes a responsibility for each exhibitor to learn and demonstrate the highest standards, both in personal character and in the feeding and care of their animals. “Quality Counts” is designed to teach young people the importance of displaying good character in carrying out livestock projects, and in every aspect of their lives. “Quality Counts” helps them learn the importance of using proper livestock management practices so that food quality and safety are preserved.

*If you are planning on participating at any major livestock show you will need a Quality Counts Verification number. This number can be obtained by successfully passing the online exam. Quality Counts website can be found on the Brown County 4-H home page http://www.brown.agrilife.org. If you have taken it already then your number will still be valid. It will not be valid if you turned 14 years old before August 1^st of this year; therefore, you will need to take the senior exam. If you have any questions or think you might have to take the exam again please contact Nick Gonzales.

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.

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.