This Week in Gillespie 4-H: August 19th - August 25th

  

Monday - August 19th, 2024

• No Events Scheduled

Tuesday - August 20th, 2024

• Sanitizing Coolers at MarketPlatz @ 6:00pm
  (Sign up here: https://forms.gle/SYYc9X7w24fEvD97A)
• Cross Mountain 4-H Meeting @ 6:30pm

Wednesday - August 21st, 2024

• No Events Scheduled

Thursday - August 22nd, 2024

• BBQ Decorating & set up at MarketPlatz @ 5:00pm 
  (Sign up here: https://forms.gle/SYYc9X7w24fEvD97A)

Friday - August 23rd, 2024

• 4-H BBQ!!! at MarketPlatz & Bethany @ 11:00am -- ALL 4-H HANDS ON DECK!
  (See BBQ section of blog)
• Extension Office Closed

Saturday -August 24th, 2024

• No Events Scheduled

Sunday - August 25th, 2024

• No Events Scheduled

• August 28th- New Member Night

• August 30th- DEADLINE to order Sheep / Goat / Heifer Validation Tags

• September 2nd- DEADLINE for Heifer pictures and write ups for Hill Country Youth Commercial Heifer Show & Sale.

• September 1st- Fall Robotics Sign Ups Open for Grades 3rd-5th

• September 2nd- Fall Archery Sign Ups Open

• September 4th- Food & Nutrition Workshop

• September 10th- Dog Project Starts

• September 12th- Robotics Starts for Grades 3rd-5th (must be registered)

• September 16th- Clover Kid Experience Starts

• September 17th- Grow It, Cook It Kids Starts 

• September 27th- DEADLINE Commercial Heifer Show record books

Club Meetings

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

always verify meetings with Club Managers****

New News

It’s almost time for one of our biggest event of the year—Gillespie 4-H BBQ Week! I want to express my sincere gratitude to our incredible 4-H families and the Adult Leaders Organization. Your dedication and hard work make this event our ONLY annual fundraiser, enabling us to support our youth and clubs with over $50,000 each year. To continue this tradition of success, we need everyone to roll up their sleeves and be ready to pitch in next week.

Event Information:

Gillespie 4-H Pork BBQ
Friday, August 23, 2024
Service starts at 11:00 AM until Sold Out

Drive-thru at Bethany Lutheran Church
Sit-down or Carry-out at MarketPlatz
Meal tickets: $12 pre-sale (available online or at the Extension Office),
$15 on the day of (Cash & Credit Cards accepted) 

Gillespie 4-H BBQ Week – Important Information and Reminders:

1. Raffle Tickets: Each 4-H family is asked to sell 10 raffle tickets to support the BBQ. You should have already received them in the mail. If not, please stop by the Extension Office to pick them up. If you’ve already sold your tickets, please drop them off at the office by August 16th. If you haven’t sold them yet, please make an effort to do so and turn them in before the BBQ. The raffle is a major source of revenue, and with everyone’s participation, we’ll achieve great results. 

1. BBQ Sign-Ups: For those who have already signed up, THANK YOU! You’ll receive more detailed information about your specific duties in a follow-up email. We still need help in several areas. Attached is a list of families and where you’ve signed up to work. We especially need extra hands in the following areas:
1. Serving, Clean-up & Selling Raffle Tickets at Bethany
2. Clover Kid Bread & Cookie Distribution at MarketPlatz
   (K-3rd graders would be great for this job)
3. Clean-Up at Bethany & MarketPlatz (many hands make light work!)

Link to sign up to help: https://forms.gle/1sSAhsFUrQQTYVqt5

1. Wood Cutting: Sunday, August 18th
   We need ONE MORE FAMILY to help! The good news is that the wood has already been cut. We’ll be dividing into two teams (details will be sent in a separate email). One team will load wood at the Negben’s house, and the other will offload it into the fire stack in Stonewall.

1. Sanitize Coolers @ MarketPlatz: Tuesday, August 20th (Jennifer Barnett - Manager)
   This date is FULL for volunteers. We’ll start sanitizing coolers at 6:00 p.m. This task usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half.

1. Decorating/Tables & Chair Set-Up: Thursday, August 22nd @ 5:00 p.m.
   *Need 1 more family - contact Emily please! We’ll begin setting up tables and chairs at 5:00 p.m. Thanks to JR and his crew for doing most of the heavy lifting, most of the tables are already set up. We just need to unload and arrange the extra tables and chairs coming in from Stonewall and do a bit of decorating.

BBQ Day!

There are plenty of jobs at both MarketPlatz and Bethany. Stop by after the parade, and we’ll direct you to where you’re needed most. This year, Tiffany Roeder will be our volunteer coordinator. If you’re working at MarketPlatz, please check in by the hand-washing station (look for the sign) with Mrs. Roeder, and she’ll guide you to where we need the most help.

All youth serving will need to have a hat and for our ladies their hair pulled back. Please wear your green GC shirt, a 4-H shirt or green so we can highlight who are our 4-H families are at the BBQ.

We start serving at 11:00 a.m., so we need some of our older youth to arrive earlier to help start the serving line as the parade wraps up. If you’re interested in helping kick off the serving line a little earlier, please let Karen Lochte know at karen@pedernalesrmc.com and plan to arrive by 10:30 a.m.

Bethany To-Go:

We still need help at Bethany for serving, clean-up, and managing the to-go line! Bethany workers should arrive by 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. and report to Mr. Schoessow and Ms. Dixie. They will provide an orientation on how the to-go line operates. (Those participating in the parade head over ASAP, but really need our togo families there early.

Parade Information:

Youth are welcome to ride the parade float! We have space for 5-7 members from each club to ride. Please check with your club manager to see if your club has any representatives. Please wear a green GC shirt, another 4-H shirt, or something green. Katie Fritz will bring all 4-H members back to MarketPlatz to work after the parade. Due to the rush to get to the BBQ, there will be no adult waiting for parents to pick up youth at the end of the parade route. All 4-H youth will walk as a group with Katie to MarketPlatz

Thank you all for your continued support and commitment to making this event a success. Let’s work together to ensure another fantastic year for Gillespie 4-H. 

We will send out an email when 4-H online is back up and you can get enrolled! 

Project Opportunity 

Participating in the Gillespie County Fair Agriculture and Home Skills contests are a great opportunity to showcase what you have learned in your 4-H projects. (AND another entry for your record book!)
From photography, horticulture, food and nutrition there are a TON of divisions our 4-H members can enter... Check out the fair catalog to see how you can participate with your 4-H project.
https://www.fredericksburgstandard.com/2024/06/27/gilliespie-county-fair/
All Agriculture and Home Skills entries are to be turned in on Thursday Aug 22nd between 1p- 6p.
 

Sheep and Goat Validation Tags!!!!

Deadline is August 30th

Cost is $16 per tag and purchases can be made at the Extension Office or online at the following link: https://gillespie4h.ticketleap.com/2025-countymajor-shows-lambgoat-validation-tags/

Heifer Validation Tags!!!!

Deadline is August 30th

Cost is $26 per tag and purchases can be made at the Extension Office or online at the following link: https://gillespie4h.ticketleap.com/24-25-heifer-validation-tags/

**Cattle families if you have already purchased tags this summer but plan on validating a heifer this fall please be sure to call so we can make sure that we have you on our list!

Quality Counts is an online program designed to teach youth to have high standards in caring for their livestock.  The program focuses on displaying good character while working with livestock. This number is required for ALL stock show entries (county AND major stock shows). Quality Counts 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 TO REGISTER USING A DIFFERENT EMAIL ADDRESS

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

Step by step instructions on how to complete Quality Counts: https://texasyouthlivestock.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/QC-Enrollment-Instructions-UPDATED-2.pdf

Access Quality Counts Here

2024 GCYLS Judges 

Participate in the August Photography Contest hosted by our GC 4-H Photography Ambassador! 

Interested in Becoming a Texas 4-H Photography Ambassador?  Youth must first become a certified Junior Master Photographer to be eligible to become an ambassador.  The JMP program is the required training ground for future Photography Ambassadors! 

Junior Master Photographer Workshops

Below are the details for both trainings.  Please note that these will not be offered at any other dates or locations during the 4-H year.  

JMP Workshop I Date:                     Saturday, September 21 Times:                  8 AM to 4:30 PM Fee:                      $50 Location:             Dallas Research and Extension Center; 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX Age divisions:     Intermediate and Senior Registration:      Opens on 4HOnline August 30 and closes September 15 DSLR Camera Required (some will be available for loan on the day of the workshop) Limited to the first 50 youth to register.

JMP Workshop II* Date:                    Saturday, December 7 Times:                  8 AM to 4:30 PM Fee:                      $50 Location:             Dallas Research and Extension Center; 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX Age divisions:     Intermediate and Senior Registration:      Opens on 4HOnline November 10 and closes December 1 *Must have attended Workshop I DSLR Camera Required (some will be available for loan on the day of the workshop)

 During both workshops, participants will be paired with a trained Photography Ambassador who will provide educational assistance and mentoring. Registration will be through 4-H Online.

Thank you to Hewston Lochte for capturing the 2024 Gillespie 4-H Banquet! Make sure to download your photos from the Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10PJrGY9hJ2Mq4Q5cRyp-ewu0pVLnHog0

Turkey Farm Showdown

 4-H Members are invited on September 14th for the Gillespie Turkey Farm Showdown. Entries are $30 per head/per ring. Cash, Check, or Venmo are acceptable forms of payment. Exhibitors mush show in Ring A in order to show in Ring B. For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/TurkeyFarmShowdown/ to visit the Facebook page or contact Duane Kuhl at 512.924.1348

Livestock Corner

Gear up for those new animal projects!!!!

It is HOT outside! 

While we are trying to keep our animals cool it is important to think about our barn layout and utilizing the natural breeze at our property. If you have an enclosed area with no breeze and it is hot and stuff, adding a fan is just going to be moving that hot air. Think about working with the breeze and using a fan to pull and push cool air. Same thing if you have added a portacool or any type of device like this. Consider using a fan behind the system to push more air through it and then fans throughout your barn to pull the cool air through. 

Another key thing to think about while it is SOOO hot is your water! Is it sitting out in the sun and is more like drinking bath water, than getting a cool refreshing drink? Make sure your water bucket is in the shade and is clean to increase hydration on these hot days. 

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 August 5th we had our annual 4-H Awards Banquet, and at the end of the night we announced our new Gillespie 4-H County Council Officers for the 2024-2025 year. Please welcome from left to right, President Jace Raab, Vice President Addison Hahn, Secretary Sydney Geistweidt, Reporter Bella Sione, Council Delegates Rayleigh Beyer, Emma Geistweidt and Greyson Crenwelge, and Parliamentarian Pecos Worrell. Congratulations to our new County Council Officers!!!!

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

School Excuse forms and policies can be found by clicking below

School Excuses

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