This Week in Gillespie 4-H: January 8th

Monday - January 8th, 2024

BB Gun Practice @ 6:00 PM (3rd grade & up)
St. Mary's 4-H Meeting @ 7:00 PM

Tuesday - January 9th, 2024

Clover Kid Experience @ 4:00 PM
Dog Project @ 6:30 PM
Willow Creek 4-H Meeting @ 6:30 PM

Wednesday - January 10th, 2024
DEADLINE for Dog Validations
Meats Judging Practice @ 5:00 PM
BB Gun Practice @ 6:00 PM (1st & 2nd grade)
Sheep & Goat Skill-a-Thon Practice @ 6:00 PM
Harper 4-H Meeting @ 6:30 PM

Thursday - January 11th, 2024
No Events Scheduled

Friday - January 12th, 2024
Hill District Grandstand Show Begins

Saturday -January 13th, 2024
Hill District Grandstand Show

Sunday - January 14th, 2024
Hill District Grandstand Show

January 16th- Fredericksburg Range Judging Practices Start
February 1st- D10 Virtual Photography Registration Opens
February 15th- DEADLINE Gillespie 4-H Adult Leaders Scholarship Applications
February 15th- DEADLINE State 4-H Scholarships
February 17th- BB Gun County Match
February 19th- DEADLINE D10 Virtual Photography Registration

Club Meetings

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

always verify meetings with Club Managers****

New News

Coryell County and Milam County are hosting an invitational Consumer Decision Making contest on Saturday, January 27, 2024. The registration deadline is January 16th. Teams are $40 and individuals are $10 per entry. There will be junior, intermediate, and senior age divisions.

Click Here to Register

Interested in Trying Meat Judging?

There is a long-standing tradition of excellence in meat judging in Gillespie county and we are working to add to that outstanding reputation. Below you will find a tentative practice and contest schedule for this beginner group of kids. Some of you may not be enrolled in Gillespie County 4-H, but once we determine if your child is committed to being a part of this group, we can still enroll them.

FISD Ag Teacher Cory Rains is excited to start a new group of kids and he looks forward to working with them. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact him via email at coryr@fisd.org or on his cell at 325-236-0593.

Beginner Meat Judging Calendar


DEC. 20^TH	Introduction and Contest overview

JAN. 10^TH	Beef Placing Classes and Notes
JAN. 17^TH	Pork Placing Classes and Notes
JAN. 24^TH	Lamb Placing Classes and Notes
JAN. 31^ST	Pork Retail

FEB. 7^TH	Retail Identification
FEB. 14^TH	Mock Contest
FEB. 17^TH	San Angelo Invitation Contest
FEB. 18^TH	San Antonio Contest
FEB. 21^ST	NO PRACTICE
FEB. 28^TH	Recap contests and Retail Identification

MAR. 6^TH	Retail Identification
MAR. 13^TH	No Practice
MAR. 20^TH	Placing classes and questions
MAR. 23^RD	TAMU Clinic*
MAR. 27^TH	Fredericksburg contest

APRIL 3^RD	Retail Identification
APRIL 10^TH	District Contest in San Angelo **

This is subject to have some slight adjustments.

*Contests that adult chaperon could be needed.

Hotel room block information for Texas 4-H Roundup 2024 is now available! Don't wait to book your rooms, contact the hotels now. Roundup will be held in Bryan/College Station June 3-6.

Note: Some hotels were only able to offer us a limited number of rooms at the rates noted. Embassy Suites sold out of their block of double rooms within the first hour, but had some King Suites still available at the rates noted. If you call them direct, they may be able to offer doubles, if available, but they will be at a higher rate. We do compete with other events such as New Student Conference in the early part of the week.

Click Here For Information

Range & Plant I.D. Practices!!!

Fredericksburg Practice

Tuesdays, starting January 16^th until May 7^th, 2024. 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm.

We will meet the first couple of practices at the Gillespie County Extension Office, then start meeting at Lady Bird park.

Harper Practice

Need four interested kids to hold practice in Harper. Will likely be either Mondays or Wednesdays.

Participants will get to learn the names of local plants, how to evaluate an area for livestock use and what indicates if a grassland is healthy or not. Contests are on Saturdays except for the district contest. Participation in the contests is not mandatory.

Please contact Beth McMahon at 830-997-3452 or Elizabeth.mcmahon@agnet.tamu.edu to sign up.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

Good Luck to everyone at all the upcoming stock shows!!!!

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

4-H Spotlight

We had a great Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show and Sale! A big thank you to all the stock show competitors and their families who pitched in to help clean up on Sunday. We know everyone is tired at the end of a long week, but we love seeing all the help that is offered to get things back in order.

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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