This Week in Gillespie 4-H: November 20th - November 26th

  

Monday - November 20th, 2023

• DEADLINE for Major Stock Show Entries
• County Council Meeting @ 5:30 PM

Tuesday - November 21st, 2023

• Broilers Arrive!

Wednesday - November 22nd, 2023

• No Events Scheduled

Thursday - November 23rd, 2023

• Extension Office Closed
• Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Friday - November 24th, 2023

• Extension Office Closed
• National 4-H Conference

Saturday -November 25th, 2023

• National 4-H Conference

Sunday - November 26th, 2023

• Robotics @ 3:30 PM (Must be Pre-Registered) 
• National 4-H Conference

• November 27th- Adult Leaders Meeting
• November 28th-30th- District 10 Fall Roundup
• December 1st- DEADLINE for Grandstand Stock Show Entries (online)
• December 1st- Natural Resources Photography Contest Opens
• December 2nd- Rough Sheep Sheer at FISD Ag Barn
• December 2nd- Robotics Sumobot Competition in Seguin 
• December 13th- Gillespie 4-H Christmas Party

Club Meetings

**** Meetings sometimes change after dates and locations  have been posted. Please 

always verify meetings with Club Managers****

New News

Broiler pickup date has changed! Broilers will now be picked up on Tuesday, November 21^st!! They are due to arrive EARLY afternoon! Birds need to be picked up by 4:30 PM!

We will also have HydroGel cups available to be purchased at pick up. They are $3 a cup (recommended 1 cup per 25 birds). Cash or Check. Please have exact change!

HydroGel cups are a ready-to-use hydration supplement, containing 95% water with nutrients specifically formulated for hatchling poultry. These cups enhance hatchling survival rate and their ability to overcome the stress of transportation.  Please bring a large box to transport chicks in.

Quality Counts is required for county and major livestock show entries and must be completed at each grade level division (junior – grades 3-5, intermediate – grades 6-8, senior – grades 9-12). It does not have to be renewed every year.

EACH CHILD WILL NEED A DIFFERENT EMAIL ADDRESS

If you are having login or technical issues, please contact: learnonline@ag.tamu.edu. 

Quality Counts Website

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Upcoming Photography Contest Information

NATURAL RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
We are excited to announce the continuation of the state-level Natural Resource Photography Contest.  It is open to junior, intermediate, and senior members, and categories are focused solely on the Natural Resource project areas.  

Here are a few key points:

• Open contest (no qualifying required) to all counties
• Open to juniors, intermediate, and senior age divisions
• 10 Natural Resource themed categories
• Same scoring matrix and general rules as the state contest
• Entry timeline is December 1-15
• DEADLINE to Enter: December 15th
• No late entries accepted

 

STATE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

The rules for the 2023-2024 state contest are also attached.  For those who may be new to Extension, the state 4-H photography contest is a senior-only qualifying contest where photos qualify directly from COUNTY to STATE.  Each county may submit no more than 1 photo per category (15 total).  As stated in the rules, counties are highly encouraged to have some type of selection process in place to determine which photos are eligible.  The timeline for entry is April 1-15. 

 Key points:

• Qualify from county level (district contests have no bearing on qualifications)
• Open to senior age division only
• 15 categories (includes a new “Abandoned” theme for this year)
• Entry timeline is April 1-15
• No late entries accepted 

Rules & Guidelines

Applications for youth to participate in the 2023 National 4-H Conference on April 19-24, 2024, in Arlington, VA will open on 4Honline on December 1, 2023. Youth must be 15 – 19 years old to attend. Applications will close on December 15, 2023, the delegation will be announced early January 2023.

 

Want to know more about Texas 4-H members experience? See the story linked here about last years delegation: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/blog-post/civic_engagement/

 

Below is more information about the event.

 

National 4‑H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4‑H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead and impact their communities, nation and world. At the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in round table discussions and present to federal partner agencies along with the opportunity for delegates to engage with their U.S. Senators and Representatives.

Land-Grant University 4‑H Departments send delegations of 4‑H youth between ages 15 and 19 to participate in the National 4‑H Conference.  Delegates work together in the four weeks prior to the conference to prepare briefings on important topics. During the conference, delegates will virtually present their prepared briefings to federal officials in Washington, D.C. 4‑H youth also have the opportunity to engage in personal development experiences that increase their knowledge, resources, and skills while discussing topics affecting youth and 4‑H programming nationwide.

Delegates not only learn while at the conference: they are empowered to create positive social change in their communities and have the opportunity to practice and apply their skills in a real-world setting.

Texas 4-H Dog Show will be held on July 11-13, 2024 at the Walker County Fairgrounds in Huntsville, Texas.  To be eligible for this show, dogs must be validated by January 10, 2024 in 4-H Online.  Attached are detailed written instructions.   Video instructions are also available at  https://youtu.be/3NzoIjK9Pco if that is more convenient.  2024 Texas 4-H Dog Show Rule Book is also attached and will be posted https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/dog-care-training/ soon. 

 We strongly encourage members to validate their dogs even if they are not sure they will be participating in the Texas 4-H Dog Show.  Completing the FREE validation process before January 10^th will give them until entries are due in May to make a final decision.

 There will be a couple of opportunities to practice with your dog whether you validated or not.

Montgomery County 4-H Dog Show will be February 3, 2024 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas

Brazos County 4-H Dog Show is normally a couple of weeks later

Tarrant County 4-H Dog Show has been in April

Wise County is has historically been done in June.

We will send details of each of these as soon as we have them.  If your county is planning to host a dog show, please let us know so we can help you publicize it.

 As 4-H members complete their validation, here are some things to keep in mind:

For purebred dogs (they do not have to be registered, just look purebred) you will select the correct Group and list the breed. 

 For mixed breed dogs you will select the Weight Group of the dog and list the dominant breed along with the word “Mix” or list the two breeds if known.  (Example: Border Collie Mix or Mastiff/Great Dane.) 

 Photos of the left and right side of the dog should be a side view of the whole dog. Get on the dog’s level so they do not turn into top views.  They should also be clear and light enough we can see all markings and color of the dog.   The dog should only be wearing a collar.  No sweaters, costumes, rain gear or anything that covers the dog’s color and markings.

 Dogs MUST be validated each year.  If you validated a dog last year, the information and photos will be in the system, but you must still review and SUBMIT to validate for the 2023-2024 4-H year.  Please update the photos if the dog has changed significantly since last year.

 We do encourage you to validate any dogs that you are eligible to show.  Situations may change through the year.

 When we send reminders directly to 4-H members enrolled in the 4-H Dog Project, we will tell them “DO NOT to wait until the last day to complete your validation.  It will be difficult for your County Extension Office to help you at 4:45 p.m. on the last day.  If you are having trouble with 4-H Online, contact your local County Extension office.  

Texas 4-H Dog Show Information

Livestock Corner

Broilers

Preparing for Arrival

If you haven’t already, it’s time to get your housing set up for your chickens, they are arriving in less than one week. Make sure everything is cleaned and sanitized especially if you used it the year before. I have attached the Producers handouts for raising broilers for show. This is important to re-read for reminders.

 Set up heat lamps and get them going before the chickens arrive. Make sure they are the correct distance from the floor(18 inches first week). I keep a tape measure in the coop because as the birds get older, we are moving the lamps. The chart for temperature is very important to follow, this is included in the handout. I like to make sure my temperature is consistent.

 A thermostat is helpful for us. We plug out heat lamps into it. It helps keep a more accurate temperature in the coop. This is the one we use: Inkbird WiFi ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller Thermostat Remote Monitoring Controlling Home Brewing Fermentation Breeding Incubation Greenhouse

Amazon.com: Inkbird WiFi ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller Thermostat Remote Monitoring Controlling Home Brewing Fermentation Breeding Incubation Greenhouse : Home & Kitchen

 I also like to have a thermometer in the coop. I prefer digital. This is the one I use: AcuRite Digital Thermometer with Indoor, Outdoor Temperature and Daily High and Lows (00424CA), White Amazon.com: AcuRite Digital Thermometer with Indoor, Outdoor Temperature and Daily High and Lows (00424CA), White : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Get all feed and water ready BEFORE the birds arrive. Remember to make sure the water is 80 degrees for the first week. I also like to add electrolytes. This helps with the stress of the transport. We use Citra-Lite. 

The most important thing we do as a family is put everything on the calendar. The temperatures, the height of the heat lamps, when we are stretching wing bands, and when we are changing feeds.  Time goes by quick, and this reminds us of what stage we are at. 

Sheep & Goats

When was the last time your sheep was sheared?! 

Sheep should be rough sheared about every 30-45 days. Rough shearing uses sheep head shears (different type of clipper than we use to shear for the shows) to shear sheep in the grease (WITHOUT WASHING THEM). This allows their natural greases to stay in them, but removes the wools you can make better management and feeding decisions. 

If your sheep has more than an inch of wool on them you need to put rough shearing on your calendar. If you do not have the ability to rough shear your own sheep we have set up a sheep shearing day on December 2, 2023 @ 9 am at the FISD - AG barn. A shearing crew will come in and shear for $20 a head. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND if your sheep have not been sheared since you got them to SAVE the DATE and sign up to come. 

Sign Up HERE: https://forms.gle/uwbda5VzGiBDmmnN8

How Much Do Your Pigs Weigh

Keeping track of your pigs weekly weight is the best way to see how much they are gaining per day. Weighing one day a week, on the same day is important and when they are full. You want to be sure you’re keeping track as well because most importantly, will they make weight at the show?

Each show besides County has a weigh back. What’s a weigh back? Usually, it’s ten (10) pounds over or under the actual weigh you turned in. Please be very aware of what you’re putting in the feed/water bucket after declaring your weight.

With County being the first show, the minimum weight is 190lbs and the maximum is 290lbs but we do not have a weigh back, therefore the over and under rule does not apply.

Every show after, does have a weigh back, be sure to check each show premium books/rules to find out the minimum and maximum weights.

Example: Minimum Weight: 230lbs

Maximum Weight: 290lbs

This means your project can weigh as less as 220lbs and as much as 290lbs with most using a ten (10) pound weight back.

Also, keeping a “days until weigh in at the show” calendar on your phone is a great way to know what they could possibly weigh on check-in day! If you’re not weighing your pigs weekly, now is the time to start! 64 days until County!!!

If you ever need help with your project please contact our office and set up an appointment with Brad or Emily. 

4-H Spotlight

This week's spotlight highlights our 4-H Clover Kids who signed up for "Clover Kid Experience", and painted turkeys that were donated to Hospice in Fredericksburg. Thank you clover kids for making someone's Thanksgiving special!

If you have someone you would like to nominate for 4-H  spotlight please email emily.grant@ag.tamu.edu

STAY CONNECTED WITH GILLESPIE COUNTY 4-H

There are ALOT of opportunities available for 4-H youth on a county, district, and state level and through external organizations. We do our best to keep you updated with these opportunities through the following methods! If you have any questions please let us know.

The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating