The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab (TVMDL) works every day to perform diagnostic test for many different types of animals, including livestock, poultry, exotic species, pets and zoo animals. Every year, TVMDL performs over 800,000 test to ensure the health of animal populations both in Texas and across the United States.
Specimens are sent or brought to TVMDL from veterinarians, animal owners and producers. Specimens received may be deceased animals brought to the laboratory for examination, tissue specimens collected from animals, or fluids collected from animals. Depending on the suspected disease or ailment, TVMDL can choose from over 700 tests to determine if an animal is healthy or sick. Many tests also help veterinarians determined the right treatment or medicines to give to ill animals.
Our 160 employees, based in four laboratories across Texas, work every day to ensure the health of our animal population. We play a significant role in ensuring animal products that enter our supply chain meet the standards set by industry and government.
Animal health plays an important role in many 4-H projects and club activities. From ensuring the proper medical dosage for a show animal or a pet dog, to ensuring the eggs used in food and nutrition program are free of disease, and even proper handling of game animals, TVMDL can play an important part in the food supply continuum… and the life of every 4-H’er.
TVMDL is celebrating their 50th year in 2017. To commemorate the milestone, TVMDL is sponsoring a coloring and art contest for Texas 4-H members.
Clover Kids Coloring Contest – TVMDL’s 5-th anniversary logo contains images of the many species of animals tested each day at TVMDL. Clover Kids can print the logo and express their creativity in coloring the image. First, second, and third place will be awarded.
4-H Member’s Art Contest – Contestants can draw, paint or photograph an image that depicts the important role that animal health plays in your 4-H project or club. First, second and third prizes will be awarded to outstanding 4-H members in the age groups of Junior, Intermediate, and Senior for the following categories:
- Drawing/Painting
- Photography
- Paint or drawing material may be used in the coloring, and drawing/painting contests (ie watercolor, tempera, poster, or acrylic paint; pencil, charcoal, colored chalk, pastels, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, crayons).
All entries will be submitted via 4-H CONNECT between January 1, 2017 and midnight (central time) on April 1, 2017. No late entries will be accepted for this contest.
In order to present your drawing/painting or photograph in the most presentable manner, you will need to follow these entry specifications:
- Drawing/Painting/Coloring: Artwork must be scanned or have a digital photo taken of the work. Scan must be at least a 300 dpi resolution, but not exceed a file size of 1 MB. Your artwork must be large enough for judges to see detail while still being smaller than 1 MB.
- Photographs: Photos should be submitted at a size of 8×10” at 300 dpi.
- First Place: rosette, image displayed at TVMDL headquarters and 50th anniversary events, $100 gift card
- Second Place: rosette, image displayed at TVMDL headquarters, $75 gift card
- Third Place: rosette, image displayed at TVMDL headquarters, $50 gift card
- Winners will be notified in mid-May. Awards presented during an event at the 2017 Texas 4-H Roundup.
- One entry per 4-H member per category.
- Artwork must be started no later than September 1, 2016 and completed prior to the submission date.
- Only the 4-H member may work on his or her artwork.
- The artist retains all copyrights to their artwork without exception.
- Submitter must be the creator of the art submitted. The concept must be original and not a copy of anyone else’s copyrighted material. Any artwork that depicts copyrighted images will be disqualified. For example, artwork depicting characters from television, movies, video games or books are not accepted.
- By entering this competition, the 4-H member is granting TVMDL a non-exclusive perpetual license to reproduce the image of the artwork in our general outreach and marketing efforts.
- Photographs, drawings and paintings must be tasteful; profane, offensive or lewd images will be disqualified. Program coordinators at TVMDL reserve the right to determine disqualified images based on this requirement. Images traced by hand or with the use of an overhead projector or any other mechanical device are prohibited. Artwork that incorporates traced images are prohibited