Rockwall County 4-H Events and Activities

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

September/October Newsletter


Important dates at a glance!
September 19 – Steer Validation for Rockwall Youth Fair – 6pm
September 24 – 4-H Kick Off for new and prospective members
                           County Council & PAL meeting immediately following
September 15 – Deadline to order swine tags to exhibit at winter major stock shows - $12
October 1 – Deadline to order chickens for Major Stock Shows and Rockwall Youth Fair
October 7-13 – National 4-H Week
October 13 – One Day 4-H
October 17 – Market Lamb & Goat Validation for Rockwall Youth Fair 5-6 pm



New Year, New Opportunities—Get Involved
 
 


As you will see in this newsletter, there is a lot to be excited about this fall.  The opportunities as a 4-H member  and leader are unlimited!   
Decide now on the activities in which you desire to shine. Set your goals and make plans to make this the best year ever!  
      
Remember, you must enroll or re-enroll and pay on 4-H Connect.   Instructions are attached! To be certified you have to attend the regular monthly meeting. 
As you register, be sure to include your project interests.  If you are unable to attend your club’s meeting in September, plan to attend the October meeting.  
       
It is very important that you re-enroll with your club by October in order to continue receiving this newsletter and other important 4-H information.   
After October 31, the cost to enroll increases from $20 to $25 per member.  Cost for Adult leader/ Volunteer Screening is $10 per person and must be paid in the office. 


Welcome to 4-H Kick-Off! 
Do you love 4-H and know someone you think would love it also???  Then invite them to the annual Kick Off Event will be held on September 24, at the new Extension Office – 915 Whitmore, Rockwall, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  This activity is aimed at new and potential members. 
Each club is to have a promotion table showing what your club offers in regards to projects and activities.  Club officers or appointed representatives should be present to help answer questions about your club.    We will have door prizes and serve refreshments.   


County Council & PAL
Following the Kick Off, at 7:30 pm, we will move directly into our first County Council and Parent/Adult Leader meeting of the new year.
All parent leaders, club presidents and council delegates will want to be on hand to help plan the rest of the fall county activities. 



The State Fair of Texas is right around the corner! 
Good luck Alyssa Adams, Joshua & Olivia Born, Allen Bornemann, Bobbie Carr, Carson Glasscock, Tanner Howey,
Sam Kazlow, Makenzie Laughery, Cade, Cody & Kirsten Miller, Ethan Spearman and Ashlyn Stembridge
as they represent Rockwall County 4-H in various Livestock Contests.   
Some of these kids will be exhibiting on Rockwall Fair Day so while you are at the Fair be sure and check out the livestock events!   

The East Texas State Fair is also coming up!  Good luck to Hailey Crumpley, Carson Glasscock, Kirsten Miller, Anna Schieberle, and Ashlyn Stembridge
as you represent Rockwall County 4-H in Tyler!  




One Day 4-H is one day for all 4-H members, parents, leaders, and volunteers to step out into their county and say “thank you” by giving back for the more than 103 years of support to 4-H in Texas. 
This day of community service is whatever each 4-H members, club, or county 4-H program wants it to be.  Details coming soon for a county-wide program in Rockwall!







TEXAS 4-H RABBIT EXTRAVAGANZA
Coryell County Activities Complex
Gatesville, Texas
Saturday, November 10, 2012
No Rabbits Required!  There are opportunities to include 4-H'ers that don't have rabbit project animals! 
Youth can participate in arts, photography or other aspects of the Extravaganza including exhibiting rabbits!  Please call the office for complete details and
catalogue of the different opportunities.  Information can also be found on the state 4-H website: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu   


Consumer Decision Making
This competitive event enables 4-H’ers to practice decision making based on information about a situation and some possible market place options available.  This contest is an opportunity to practice marketplace skills and compare decisions with a panel of judges.  Participants can compete as an individual or as a part of a team. 

The Consumer Decision Making contest will be held on December 8 in Commerce.  Entries must be on 4-H Connect by November 27. 
Margeret Romero and Arlene Huff have agreed to be Project Leaders for this year.  If you are interested please let us know. 
Meetings will begin soon!

The information packets, study guides and contest guides for the 2012 Consumer Decision Making Contests are available on-line @

The Consumer Decision Making contest will be held on December 8 in Commerce.  Entries must be on 4-H Connect by November 27. 



County Achievement Event!



Multi-County 4-H Club Officer Training
This fun and educational event was held August 18 at the new Rockwall County Courthouse.  Club 4-H Officers from 4 counties: Rockwall, Kaufman, Dallas and Cooke.  4-Hers spent the morning learning from Dr. Chis Boleman, State 4-H Program Director.  He challenged the group to lead their 4-H programs and not just be present.  During the afternoon sessions, participants reviewed some Parliamentary Procedure to make meetings more effective.  The group then split in to officer groups learning specific job responsibilities.   The last part of the day, the group worked to remove specific weeds from the courthouse landscape.  The activity, while a community service one, also put hands on experience to the many distractions young people can have daily with scheduling challenges and decisions in priorities of life.  Many people stopped to thank the youth for helping clean up the grounds. Pictures of the event will be posted on the 4-H blog.  http://rockwallco4h.blogspot.com/ 


Texas 4-H Shooting Games
Rockwall County 4-H was represented July 15-21 in San Antonio at the State Shooting Games by Brian Callaghan, Brock Green and Don Malone.
Highlights of their placings included:  
 Brian Callaghan:  4th Hunter Decision Making; 6th – Hunting Live Fire

Brock Green :  3rd in Hunting-Wildlife Identification; 3rd in Running Target; 4th – Hunting Live Fire 

Don Malone:  4th in Centerfire Pistol; 3rd in Hunter Decision Making; 2nd in Hunting Wildlife Identification




Texas 4-H Horse Show
Rockwall County 4-H was represented July 23-27 in Abilene at the State Horse Show by Shelby and Trevor Rowe.
They competed in several events including speed events and Team Penning. 
Congratulations to Shelby for placing 8th in Poles winning a coveted Texas 4-H Horse Show Top Ten Buckle!     



4-H Age
Divisions
The age you are on August 31, 2011 is your age for this
4-H year.   
Juniors - 8 Years old and in the 3rd grade thru age 10. 
Intermediates -
-ages 11-13
Seniors -
ages 14-18.
Be aware of your 4-H age.  If you plan on entering a contest as a group, make sure everyone is in the same age division.
 


See the attached August edition of the Texas 4-H Standard newsletter for Events and opportunities across the state! 
 



 

 
Rockwall County 4-H Clubs & Information

Busy Bee’s 4-H Club  
 1st meeting will be held September 10.
3rd Monday of every month beginning in October.
6:30 p.m. Toyota of Rockwall

Lucky Shamrocks 4-H Club
3rd Tuesday of every month at Britt Training Center

Gold Buckle 4-H Club
1st meeting will be held September 12.
2nd Thursday of every month beginning in October
5:30 or 6:30
Barn  -  9061 CR 2584, Royce City, Texas

Rockin’ Riders 4-H
Horse Club   
1st meeting will be held September 9 4:30 pm at Lofland Park. 
(The Rockin’ Riders are collecting food for Helping Hands at this meeting,
Donations from other families are appreciated.)    
Future meeting times & locations TBA

Rockwall Clovers 4-H Club
2nd Monday of every month
7:00 p.m. Chisholm Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall

New rules for event registration:  Beginning in the 2011-12 4-H year, a late entry extension will ensue for a two-day time period starting at 12:01 AM immediately following the standard district deadline.  This extension will only apply to district-level contests.  Example:  if the normal deadline is on Friday at midnight, late entry would open at 12:01 AM on Saturday morning and close at midnight on Sunday.  For entries placed during this late time period, there will be an added late fee of $20 (in addition to the standard contest fee).   No registration extensions will be granted beyond the late registration time period.

Visit us!
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Rockwall County
915 Whitmore Ste. B
Rockwall, TX 75087

Call us!
972-204-7660

Email us!

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Rockwall County 4-H Gazette
With the advancement of technology, budget crunches, and information on demand concerns, the "Gazette" has moved to a computer based e-letter format.  We will still send it out at the beginning of odd months.  It will be posted on the County 4-H News Blog and club managers will still have some hard copies available at the club meetings if needed.  This will allow more time for you as a family to have discussions on needed items, and make informed decisions with more lead time.  We are excited about this format and trust you will be as well.  We will try to be sensitive to those families who still may have dial up.  So the pictures may be minimal.  

If you are not returning to 4-H and no longer wish receive 4-H correspondence, please reply.