This Week in Gillespie 4-H: December 11th

Monday - December 11th, 2023

Wrede 4-H Meeting @ 6:00 PM
St. Mary's 4-H Meeting @ 7:00 PM

Tuesday - December 12th, 2023

Dog Project Meeting @ 6:30 PM

Wednesday - December 13th, 2023
Meats Judging Practice @ 5:00 PM
Gillespie County 4-H Christmas Party @ 6:00 PM (Will Count as a Meeting!)
Harper 4-H Meeting @ 6:00 PM (will be the County Christmas Party)
Clover Kids Experience (will be the County Christmas Party)

Thursday - December 14th, 2023
No Events Scheduled

Friday - December 15th, 2023
Harper Livestock Show
DEADLINE for Natural Resources Photography Contest
DEADLINE for National 4-H Conference Applications

Saturday -December 16th, 2023
Harper Livestock Show

Sunday - December 17th, 2023
Cave Creek 4-H Meeting @ 1:00 PM
Stonewall 4-H Meeting @ 1:00 PM

January 3rd-6th- Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show & Sale
January 10th- DEADLINE for Dog Validations
January 12th- 20th- Hill District Grandstand Show

Club Meetings

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

always verify meetings with Club Managers****

New News

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

DOG VALIDATIONS!!!!

The 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 on 4HOnline. Completing the FREE validation process before January 10th will give members the opportunity in May to submit entries if they decide to participate.

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

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

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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. (Ex: Border Collie Mix/Mastiff/Great Dane)

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Photos of the left/right side of the dog should be a side view of the entire dog. Pictures must be clear & well-lit to see all markings/color of the dog. The dog should only be wearing a collar only.

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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 year.

The 2024 Texas 4-H Dog Show is looking for shirt design's for the annual t-shirt. This is a great opportunity to show of those artistic skills! Entries are due by Feb. 15th!

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TEXAS 4-H FOUNDATION OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

The Texas 4-H Foundation Opportunity Scholarship is now OPEN! All graduating seniors who are Texas 4-H members are encouraged to apply. Applications are lengthy, so it is wise to start now.

Scholarship Application/Information

Applications for youth to participate in the 2023 National 4-H Conference on April 19-24, 2024, in Arlington, VA are now open! Youth must be 15 – 19 years old to attend. Click the button below for the announcement for Texas 4-H members and information about National 4-H Conference. 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? Click Hereto read a story about last years' Conference! Applications can be done through 4HOnline

Youth Day

4-H, FFA, & FCCLA members from across South Central Texas gather at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to showcase their talents, organization activities and project work. Members set up exhibits and hands-on activity booths for visitors and guests attending the Stock Show & Rodeo. An additional activity to this event is the Wagon & Wheelbarrow Parade. Youth Day is hosted by the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo School Tours Committee on - Saturday February 10, 2024.

The link to register for youth day is https://www.sarodeo.com/f/75

Below is a schedule for the day's activities.

8:30 a.m.	Open for Exhibitors
10:00 a.m. - 4:30p.m.	Interactive & informative Exhibits and Activities
12:00 Noon	Youth Day Best of Show Awards Presented
2:30 p.m.	Line Up for Wagon & Wheelbarrow Parade
3:00 p.m.	Wagon & Wheelbarrow Parade
4:30 p.m.	Exhibits close

The deadline for entries is January 12th, 2024.

Include the total number of youth and adults that you expect to participate in activities and your exhibit. List the address of a school or county extension office as these are the only locations passes will be mailed. You are invited to participate in as many Youth Day activities as you would like but please note that there will only be one exhibit table for each club or chapter.

School Tour Guide Information

For more than 30 years, 4-Hers from around the state have volunteered to lead San Antonio-area K-3^rd grade youth around the San Antonio Stock Show Grounds. It doesn’t matter what county you are from, you can still volunteer to be a tour guide! The dates for these opportunities are:

· Tuesday, February 13, 2024

· Wednesday, February 14, 2024

· Thursday, February 15, 2024

· Friday, February 16, 2024

· Tuesday, February 20, 2024

· Wednesday, February 21, 2024

· Thursday, February 22, 2024

· Friday, February 23, 2024

The Website to register your youths to be a tour guide is https://www.sarodeo.com/f/124 On here, you will select 4-H or FFA, and select “tour guide”…the lunch bunch option are typically filled by SA Area FCCLA programs. I am planning on doing a training in January for agents and youths that are not familiar with the school tour guide program. Please note, that for your 4-Hers to be eligible for the SALE school tours scholarship, they MUST participate as a tour guide! Additionally, if your youths show and place an animal for auction, you can put their name on our list in the Freeman Coliseum, and the committee will try to do an add-on.

The School Tours Program offers students a wonderful opportunity to practice the leadership skills that 4-H, FFA, and FCCLA strives to develop in our youth. As we prepare for the upcoming San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, we are looking for enthusiastic, responsible students in grades 9 -12 (Special exceptions can be made for deserving 8^th grade students) to take part in this unique leadership opportunity. Your students will grow by being tour guides to younger children and by educating them on agriculture and its’ importance to our daily lives.

Please read the following information prior to filling out the entire School Tours Guide Registration Form, for more information or questions about the School Tours Program please email schooltours@sarodeo.com

Tour dates are assigned on a first come, first serve basis
Be sure to provide us with the number of students you can commit on the days you chose to volunteer
Students must commit to volunteer from 7:45 am to 2:30 pm on their tour day
Do not schedule students on the day they sift, classify, or show an animal
Additional correspondence will be e-mailed after we receive your initial commitment
Final count and list of student names is due by 5:00 pm on January 12, 2024
If you have a senior who cannot attend your tour date, we will work with your student's schedule to ensure they are included in all scholarship opportunities
Remember to make arrangements to have your students excused from school for their tour date(s)
Registration is handled by the County Agent or Advisor/Sponsor for FFA, 4H and FCCLA
Parents, DO NOT contact School Tours to register your student
Registration Deadline is December 15, 2023 at 5:00 pm

Non-Livestock Opportunities!

Listed below are opportunities for youth to volunteer to sing the National Anthem and recite the American, Texas Pledges, the FFA Motto and the 4-H Pledge at the market shows for Rodeo Austin

Market Steer Show (British, Shorthorn, Brahman, ABC, Black Cross - Friday, March 8th - Show starts at: 8:00 a.m.
Market Steer Show (Red Cross and Other Cross) - Saturday, March 9th - Show starts at: 8:00 a.m.
Market Poultry Show - Monday, March 1th -Show starts at: 10:00 a.m. (approximately)
Jr. Wether Dam & Doe Show - Wednesday, March 13th - Show starts at:8:00 a.m.
Market Lamb & Goat Show - Friday, March 15th - Show starts at: 8:00 a.m.
Barrow Show - (Duroc, OPB-Dark, OPB-White, Hampshire, Yorkshire)- Sunday, March 17th - Show starts at: 8:00 a.m.
Barrow Show - (Light Crossbred, Crossbred) - Monday, March 18th - Show starts at : 8:00 a.m.
Jr. Breeding Heifer Show Wave 1 (American) - Thursday, March 21st- Show starts at: 8:00 a.m.
Jr. Breeding Heifer Show Wave 2 (British / Continental) - Saturday, March 23rd - Show starts at: 8:00 a.m.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA9AE2AA57-44691184-2024

For those interested in this leadership opportunity, please sign up using the above link to the online form. You will need to plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the species show in which you are volunteering.

When you register, please select the option to use alternate name and in the "First Name" box , list the first and last name of the youth member. In the "last name" box, list the 4-H County or FFA Chapter in which the youth is a member.

Youth interested in singing the National Anthem, submit a video at the link below. Selected submissions will be able to select from dates available on the link. Currently all dates are “filled” and will be released to those youth selected to sing.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScze0AJEy_FSxjmrO2zwtkOqc6oxPPteCplFiL4CQ7LLNTRYw/viewform - Video Link Submission

If you have questions, please email Cory at Cory.hundl@ag.tamu.edu

Livestock Corner

Broilers

Spread wing bands around day 7. Video : https://youtu.be/eFJU00ifcxA (https://youtu.be/eFJU00ifcxA)

Pick one day each week and weigh and record weights. Our family does this on Sunday afternoons. Ten bird average weight 5.47oz on day six.

Lift heat lamps to 21 inches and approximate temperature should be 80F from day 8-14.

Sheep & Goats

Working on showmanship!

Working on showmanship is a tough thing to do as if you are practicing wrong you can create bad habits, not get desired results! Showing sheep and goats requires the most physically. Here are a few things to think about if you are struggling. As always best thing to do is set up an appointment with Brad or I for help if your struggling or just learning.

1) Don’t pull! Sheep and goats are prey animals meaning their natural instinct is to flee from danger. You are the danger - if you are pulling on their head they are most likely going to fight and pull back.

2) Get in front! It is important that you are making contact with the chest/shoulder pocket with your leg. If your hips are to not in front of the animal you can’t get in the right position.

3) Head up, Head Back! If your head is not up and back it is hard to get your legs in the correct spot because the animals head and neck in the way. Remember don’t pull, just use your hands to guide that head up and back creating 90 degree angles where their shoulder meets their neck.

4) Square! Animals legs should be set square.

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

4-H Spotlight

On Saturday, December 2nd ten youth from Gillespie County 4-H travelled to Seguin to participate in the Guadalupe County 4-H SumoBots Challenge hosted by the Guadalupe County 4H Robotics Club. The five teams from Gillespie County competed in the intermediate division, which had a total of fourteen teams competing. Jack Crane and Hans Husfeld and Amanda Lawrence and Haven Price both won four out of six matches. The tournament followed a Swiss style format, and when all matches and tiebreakers were considered, Jack Crane and Hans Husfeld placed 2nd overall. Way to go Gillespie County 4-H!

Front row left to right: Amanda Lawrence, Haven Price, Jake Rhodes, and Caleb Brooks. Second row left to right: Hans Husfeld, Jack Crane, Nick Drescher, Sam Crabtree, Everett Kirchner, and Forest Graham

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

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