Tarrant County 4-H – Making the Best Better

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The Grayson County Livestock Project Coalition is looking forward to the 2018 Fur, Feather, and Friends Show on December 15th. Registration for the show will open on Monday, October 8th.

This year we will be adding some new options:

– Showmanship Clinic from 9 to 10 am

– Photography entries due by 10 am

– Egg Contest entries due by 10 am

– All shows (rabbit, poultry, and dairy goat) will start at 10:30 am

– Breed ID contest open from 10 to noon

– Food Challenge will begin at 12:30 p.m.

– Costume Contest and Crowing Contest to start at 2 p.m.

– Showmanship open from 11 to 1 p.m. for rabbits and poultry, dairy goat showmanship will happen in the ring

NOTE: The rabbit show will be a double show, exhibitors will have an opportunity to show TWO times! For questions contact Dr. Tamra McGaughy at tdmcgaughy@ag.tamu.edu

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

Please use the Record Book Training form to attend the upcoming Record Book Trainings.

I would like to invite every member, parent, and volunteer to attend a Record Book Training this year.  Our next two will be held on Wednesday, October 17th from 1-2 p.m. and Tuesday, November 13th from 6-7 p.m.  These meetings will be held at the Extension office.  If you have never visited the office, please see this link for directions and parking instructions.

The 4-H Record Book is a capstone project that all members are encouraged to complete for each year that they are in 4-H.  The record book process is a great way for youth to learn the valuable skills of record keeping, organizing, written communication, goal setting, and reflection.  At the senior level of 4-H, members completing record books will be well prepared for the college entrance process and for applying for the 4-H Opportunity Scholarships that award between $3000 and $20,000 every year to hundreds of graduating 4-H members.

This year we have a new unified set of forms that will be used by all ages.  As some of you have seen at the Texas 4-H website, the Record Book process has been updated for the year with all members using the same forms.  Younger members will include less information on their forms while older members will have a more lengthy report to complete.

One thing that has not changed is the need for good records for the whole year and starting early.

I encourage all members to consider completing a record book this year and encourage all families to attend a training this year.  We will hold more trainings in 2019 if you cannot attend the two listed above.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is accepting applications and 4-H is a qualifying organization.  This state and national award program acknowledges youth for their community service and dovetails nicely with the community service that our members perform.  There is a deadline to complete your application so please read carefully.

Applicants must:

• Be in grades 5^th to 12^th as of November 6^th.
• Be a legal resident of any U.S. state or Washington, D.C.
• Have engaged in volunteer activity during the past 12 months prior to November 6^th.
• Submit a complete application by November 6^th at How to Apply.

State honorees will receive an award of $1000.  National honorees will receive an award of $5000 as well as a $5000 grant to be given to the charitable organization of their choice.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

The first month of the year has come and gone and I want to make sure everyone is aware of the THREE reporting tools that are available.  Remember, we like to gather news of our activities so that our stake holders can see how their support brings about great things for the youth of the community.

Club Activity Report

The first tool is the Club Activity Report 2018-19.  This form should be used to report all group activities and summarize the Sign-in Sheet used for attendance at your group events.  Sign-in sheets should be kept with your club records after a report has been submitted.  The following people should use this form:

• Club managers should use this form for club meetings.
• Community service leaders should use this form for their events.
• Project leaders should use this form for project meetings.
• Anyone else who organizes a group 4-H event and uses sign-in sheets.
• If you used a sign-in sheet, you should complete this report for each meeting.

Individual Activity Report

The second tool is the Individual Activity Report 2018-19.  This form should be used to report 4-H activity that will not show up on a group activity report.  The following people should use this report, although it is not mandatory:

• Adult and youth volunteers that are organizing, planning, or working for their clubs outside of meeting times.
• Youth that are working on projects by themselves or with a parent or other adult advisor.
• Youth that are performing community service by themselves or with a parent or other adult advisor.
• If you did something 4-H related and did not use a sign in sheet, then please use this form.  You can report each activity, or summarize on a weekly basis if that is easier.

The Club Activity Report, Individual Activity Report, and Sign-in Sheets can always be found on our website by following this string:

tc4h.org  < Links & Forms tab < Link to G-Drive 2018-2019 Folder.

Facebook and Instagram

Our County Youth Council Reporter, McKalyn Milton, is driving our 4-H social media presence and wants to share the great news of all of your 4-H activities.  Please email her photos and news at cycreporter@gmail.com.  These posts will increase awareness of the great things that our members are doing and will draw new families and members to grow our program.  Please follow and share these pages on your own social media accounts.  You can find our social media accounts at:

• Facebook Tarrant County 4-H
• Instagram Tarrantcounty4h

Please remember, the more you share with us, the more that we can share with our stakeholders and supporters.  And the more they learn about what our clubs, members, and volunteers are doing, they more they will support our efforts as we grow our program and bring more opportunities to our members.

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for making the best better.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

The Texas Wranglers 4-H club is looking for volunteers and animals for their Down on the Farm event.  This event is an opportunity to get community service hours and to help children with special needs experience livestock and learn about life on a farm.  Doreen Bruton, manager and event organizer, is looking for gentle animals such as a cows, horses, goats, sheep, chickens, or rabbits that like to be petted and don’t mind being handled.  Volunteers without animals are welcome as well as there are games and other activities.  No dogs, please.

The event takes place Saturday, October 13^th from 1 to 4:30 p.m.  This includes set-up and clean-up time.  The event takes place at Ride with Pride Horsemanship School at 480 W Highland St., Southlake, TX 76092.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Doreen at rwpinc1@aol.com with the subject line “Down on the Farm Volunteer.”  You can also reach her via text at 817-999-8332.

Thank you for sharing your animal projects and for making the best better.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

It is almost time to get entries in for the Major Livestock shows.  This email contains entry information only for the major livestock shows listed below.  There is no information that pertains to the Tarrant County Junior Livestock Show.

Please be aware of the following deadlines and links to application paperwork.

Also keep in mind the following points:

• It is the responsibility of youth and parents to be aware of and comply with the regulations of each show that they will be attending.  See the above links to the premium lists and books.
• Youth entering the junior shows must submit entries through the Extension staff and be active in their 4-H clubs.
• Youth entering open shows do not need to submit their entries through the Extension staff but work directly with the show office themselves.
• Calf scramble entries will be submitted as soon as they are received.  The earlier you submit, the more likely you will receive a spot.  Many of the shows are already accepting calf scramble applications.
• Calf scramble participants sometimes have the opportunity to return if they are not successful the first time they compete.  The earlier you enter, the more likely you will receive a second opportunity.
• Calf Scramble participants can apply sponsorships from multiple shows to the same livestock project.  They will be required to show their project at all shows that they received sponsorship from.
• Please be aware that most of the shows above have other competitions besides the livestock shows.  Click on the links above to explore these options.  Some of the additional competitions include:
  • Art shows
  • Public speaking
  • Ag mechanics
  • Livestock judging
  • Robotics
  • Competitive shooting
  • And more
• If you are paying by check, make them payable to “ELEC.”

Please call before bringing applications to the Extension office to make sure I or Veronica Cabral are available to receive your entries.  If you have any questions, please call or contact I or Veronica.

Good luck and I look forward to a great Major season.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

I am pleased to announce that Lockheed Martin will once again be hosting our National Youth Science Day event next Thursday, October 4^th.  The event will take place from 1-3:30 p.m. at their facility located at 1 Lockheed Martin Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76108.  Please use the NYSD 2018 registration form to sign up.

This event is a great partnership with Lockheed Martin.  Our 4-H members get to tour the production line for the F-35 with engineers and other employees.  They then spend time with other employees learning the basics of programming with the Code Your World NYSD kit from National 4-H!

We are limited to 30 youth attendees so please sign up only if you will be able to attend.  Only members who are 8 to 18 will be able to take the tour while parents wait in the event area.  The activity is geared to ages 8 to 18 and youth will be working in groups alongside Lockheed Martin volunteers.  Clover kids, while they may attend, will not be allowed to take the tour or participate in the hands-on activity.

Lockheed Martin has become a much busier place in this past year and parking will be at a premium.  We will need everyone to carpool as much as possible and you may be required to walk from you parking to the building entrance.  Please allow time for this on the day of the event.

All youth and adult attendees will need to print the Photo Release Form that can be found through the link.  Please bring the completed forms with you.

Thank you for supporting our partnership with Lockheed Martin.  If you have any questions, please contact the office.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

There has been a lot of interest in the 4-H Food Challenge since the year started.  I am excited that so many clubs and teams are forming.  Please read the following points to find all of the information you need to have a successful Food Challenge project!

County Contest and Rules

• Please use the Food Challenge Registration form to sign up your teams.  Registration will close on October 17^th at 5 p.m.
• If your team members change, you can use the link in the email confirmation to keep your registration updated.
• The TCU’s Department of Nutritional Sciences will host the county contest on Saturday, November 10^th from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• TCU can only host 10 teams.
• If we have more than 10 teams register, we will need to split one or more of the age divisions or teams that register later out to compete on Saturday, October 27^th from 7:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the county Extension office
• If we are required to split the competition, we will allow the top teams from October 27^th to also compete at TCU on November 10^th.
• Our county contest will allow Junior, Intermediate, and Senior teams.  District will only have Junior/Intermediate and Senior teams.
• Teams must be composed of 3 to 4 members for Junior or Intermediate teams.  Senior teams can have 3,4, or 5 members.  If you need an exception to this rule, contact me ASAP.  The state contest will only allow 3 or 4 members for the Senior teams that qualify.
• There will be a $10 charge per team for this event.  This will defray the cost of the ingredients for the contest.  This payment will be required by the day of the contest or the team will not be allowed to compete.  Checks can be made to Tarrant County 4-H ALA and note Food Challenge and the team’s name on the check.

Resources

• The Food Challenge Explore Guide is a great resource for veteran and new teams.
• Food Challenge Rules and Guidelines are the latest rules.
• Click on Contest on the Food & Nutrition page of Texas 4-H for more information.

Survey and Reporting

• I will be sending a before and after survey to all teams.  It will be very important that all youth competing to complete the surveys.  It will be the responsibility of the coach to encourage the youth to complete the surveys.
• All coaches should use a sign in sheet from the Club Manger’s Folder for each meeting.  These sheets should be turned into the club manager and kept with the club records.
• The coach will be responsible for reporting a summary of attendance for each project meeting to the Club Activity Report.
• If a coach would like to report their preparation time as a 4-H volunteer, I encourage you to do so with the Individual Activity Report.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  The TCU students are excited to be working with our 4-H members and are looking forward to a great competition.

Kent DeCardenas

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

The Cooke, Denton, and Grayson County 4-H Programs will be hosting an animal clinic for new families interested in raising and showing livestock on Saturday, September 22nd at the Cooke County Fair Grounds. If you have families interested in attending they can sign up at https://grayson.agrilife.org/champions. Please feel free to share this information with your FFA Chapters.

We would like to thank our meal sponsor: Ag Workers Insurance.

Dr. Tamra McGaughy, Ed.D (pronounced McGoy)

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Dear 4-H Members and Families,

Please use this Record Book Training 9/20/2018 from to register to attend the first record book training of the year.

I would like to invite every member, parent and volunteer to attend the first Record Book Training for the year.  We will hold it Thursday, September 20^th from 6-7 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Extension office.  If you have never visited the office, please see this link for directions and parking instructions.

The 4-H Record Book is a capstone project that all members are encouraged to complete for each year that they are in 4-H.  The record book process is a great way for youth to learn the valuable skills of record keeping, organizing, written communication, goal setting, and reflection.  At the senior level of 4-H, members completing record books will be well prepared for the college entrance process and for applying for the 4-H Opportunity Scholarships that award between $3000 and $20,000 every year to hundreds of graduating 4-H members.

This year we have a new unified set of forms that will be used by all ages.  As some of you have seen at the Texas 4-H website, the Record Book process has been updated for the year with all members using the same forms.  Younger members will include less information on their forms while older members will have a more lengthy report to complete.

One thing that has not changed is the need for good records for the whole year and starting early.

I encourage all members to consider completing a record book this year and encourage all families to attend a training this year.  We will cover the same material again Tuesday, November 13^th and again in the spring and a date to be determined.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kent DeCardenas