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

DATES TO REMEMBER

August

15 – Deadline to Order State Sheep/Goat Tags

15 – RSVP Deadline for 4-H Awards/Fun Day

15 – 4-H Project Record Forms Due

18 – Livestock Judging Workshop 9:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. at Extension Office

20 – 4-H Awards/Fun Day 9:30a.m. – 3:00p.m. at Texas 4-H Center

27 – D-7 Fall Meeting, San Angelo

BROWN COUNTY 4-H NEWS AND UPDATES

STATE LAMB AND GOAT TAGS

It is that time again! If you are a 4-H member and planning on showing a Lamb, Breeding Sheep or Goat at any Major Stock Show such as Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, San Angelo, or Houston you will need to purchase state tags. The costs of the tags are $12 per animal. The deadline to order tags is August 15th.  If you are planning on purchasing a state lamb tag for San Angelo Stock Show you need to make sure that lamb is Texas Bred and has a Texas Lamb Breeders tag, which will come from the lamb breeder. Registration papers for breeding sheep or goats must be in the exhibitor’s name on or before October 1st. You must bring the registration papers on the day of validation. You can order state tags by contacting the Extension Office.

LAMB AND GOAT PROJECTS

If you are needing assistance finding a lamb or goat for the upcoming county show and/or major livestock shows, please contact Nick Gonzales at the Extension Office.

LIVESTOCK JUDGING WORKSHOP

If you are interested in participating in 4-H Livestock Judging, there will be a livestock judging workshop on Thursday, August 18th, 9:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. at the Extension Office. We ask that you bring money for lunch. For more information, contact the Extension Office.

4-H Fun Day Kickoff and Awards!

Save the date for the upcoming Brown County 4-H Awards and Fun Day. The date is set for August 20, 2016 from 9:30AM to 3:00PM at the Texas 4-H Conference Center on Lake Brownwood. There will be awards, food, swimming, and outdoor activities.

To participate in this amazing fun filled day you must be a 4-H member for the upcoming 2016 – 2017 4-H year. You can start signing up for the new 4-H year on August 15th. We will also be signing up members at the FUN DAY, so bring a friend that is interested in being a part of Brown County 4-H! This will also be an opportunity to pay with cash or check for your membership.

Banquet Announcements

– If you have accomplished any award this past 4-H year please fill out a project form, which can be obtained through the extension office or email.  The forms are due back to the extension office by August 15th.

– We ask that you RSVP for the Fun Day/Awards by August 15th.

– You must attend the 4-H Fun Day/Awards in order to receive your recognition/award.

– There will be an Adult Leader/Club Manager meeting in conjunction with the 4-H Fun Day/Awards, we encourage all adult leader’s/club managers to attend the meeting (Estimated time of meeting will be 11:00a.m.).

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR RABBIT COOL DURING HOT SUMMER HEAT

Remember rabbits wear a fur coat year-round and must stay cool during the heat of summer. If possible, move inside. Place a small litter box in one corner of the cage. Rabbits are very easily litter box trained. Use cat litter in the box to help with an ammonia smell.

  1. If you have to leave them outside, place a frozen water bottle in the cage with your rabbit, any size several times a day.
  2. Place a soaker hose around your cage. A mister works well on top of cages.
  3. Place a wet piece of burlap or rug on top of the cage.
  4. Place a ceramic tile in the cage and wet it.
  5. Do not wet rabbit completely but you can mist their face and ears.

Rabbits cool their bodies by releasing heat through their ears. Fresh, clean, cool water is a must throughout the day. Put ice cubes in a bottle or water bowl. Most rabbits go off feed during heat. A handful of oak leaves; never sprayed with insecticides, will help. Remember if you give treats try slices of frozen bananas, teaspoon of oatmeal, apple slices, or carrots: make sure they have been washed before feeding your rabbit.

If you have any questions, contact Patricia Becktold at 325-646-4753.

SHADE FOR SHOW ANIMALS

It is imperative that you have some sort of shade for your show animals. Numerous research trials indicate that steers with adequate shade gain weight considerably faster up to 30 pounds a month extra. When the temperature combined with humidity totals 130 or more it becomes really critical to have shade for your animals. Air movement within the pen is also important. If there is no air moving within your pen you need a fan of some kind. Clean fresh water should be available 24 hours a day this summer. If your water trough is empty every time you feed, you need a bigger water trough.

NEW Steer Classification Standards for 2017 Major Shows

Starting in 2017 new steer classification standards will take place at major shows. Several breeds were modified and changed to better serve today’s industry. If you are looking to purchase steers for next year’s major shows please review each of the breed guidelines. Especially note the revisions to Red Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, and the additions of the following Cross Color Divisions: Red Cross, Black Cross and Other Cross.  Please note the Chianina breed is no longer included in the updated classification standards. A complete list of these breeds can be viewed at: http://brown.agrilife.org/links/4h/. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Gonzales.

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

The enrollment process for the 2016-2017 4-H year will begin August 15, 2016. 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 2016-2017 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 1st 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 1st deadline.
  • For any youth who is joining 4-H in 2016-2017 for the first time as a 3rd grader we ask for you NOT ENROLL until September 1st.  September 1st is actual first day of the new 4-H year and what is used to calculate grade/age.  If a 2nd grader moving into 3rd grade enrolls before September 1st it will “tag” them as a Clover Kid, not charge an enrollment fee and lock them in as a Clover Kid for the year.

Don’t wait until the last minute to enroll because after October 31st 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.