4-H Events and Activities

Saturday, February 25, 2012

NO BULL Teen Video Contest Invitation for 4-H Members


NO BULL Teen Video Contest Invitation for 4-H Members
 
The largest campaign to combat cyberbullying in America’s history:  The Great American NO BULL Challenge, invites 4-H’s State Advisors to get their youth members involved with the annual campaign that inspires America’s 25 million teens to stand up and create a video with an anti-bullying message. 
 
We appreciate what you do for the 4-H organization, and we want to encourage all your youth members to upload their NO BULL videos at www.nobullchallenge.org.  The earlier the better, as major media will be selecting videos and youth within the months of February and March to appear on their shows to talk about the Challenge.
 
Just in case your youth members have yet to create their video, we’ve provided all of the information they need to know about making a video, cyberbullying basics, standing up, prevention, and intervention tips via the online NO BULL Cyberbullying 411 toolkits.  The student toolkit was written by teens for teens - authored by the NO BULL Youth Advisory Council, a group of 9 student leaders from around the country who were chosen by our non-profit partners. 
 
 
Fifteen finalists will be selected by a panel of expert judges to attend the star-studded NO BULL Teen Video Awards show in San Francisco, promoted by Live Nation.  At the NO BULL Teen Video Awards, students will watch amazing artists perform live, and meet their favorite celebrities on the red carpet. The spotlight will shine on the student-made films pertaining to NO BULL, offer students the chance to win thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes, and have their video presented center stage for the world to witness.  
 
Two 4-H’ers, Paige Logan of Illinois and Tess Hammock of Georgia, are serving on the National NO BULL Youth Advisory Council.  Georgia 4-H Specialist, Cheryl  Varnadoe, is representing 4-H on the National Advisory Committee for the campaign .  Please help us get 4-H’ers from your state and counties involved!   Cheryl can be reached at cv4h@uga.edu  and 706-542-4444. Together we CAN make a difference! 
 
Please let us  know if you have any questions, and thanks again for everything you do to empower youth and inspire bravery.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Shawn Edgington

Livestock Trailer Safety

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ kicks off next week and many 4-Hers, extension agents, and parents are preparing to travel with large loads and trailers.  Before you hit the road, ensure that your vehicle and trailer are in good working condition and that the animals and equipment are
loaded properly in order to avoid an expensive and potentially dangerous incident.
Pre-operation check:
  • Check latches and safety chains.
  • Inspect the trailer brake breakaway cable & battery.
  • Grease wheel bearings regularly and replace them annually (or every 12K miles).
  • Make sure cables are in good condition and supplying power to the intended places.
  • Check all lights on the vehicle and trailer.
  • Inspect the tires for dry rot, wear and damage.  Check the air pressure in all tires, including spares.  Replace tires at least every 5 years, regardless of use or tread depth.
  • Make sure the trailer floor is sturdy and clean.  Rubber mats are good for traction.
  • Inspect lug nuts regularly.
Loading the trailer:
  • Ensure that the elevation of the back of the trailer is as low as possible for loading animals.
  • Be patient and calm as you load animals into a trailer.  Do not excite or stress the animals.
  • On a bumper pull trailer, put the heaviest weight distribution in front of the axles.  Load older, bigger animals in the front and smaller, younger animals in the back.
  • Tie animals high in the trailer using a slip knot.
  • Make sure animals are aware of you as you enter/exit the trailer and tie/untie them.
  • Be aware of pinch points.
  • Close gates as quickly as possible.  Make sure they are secure.
  • Make sure nothing is hanging or protruding from the outside of the trailer.
Hauling:
  • Don’t use a lock on the trailer, especially while the trailer is in motion.  In the event of an incident, first responders need quick and easy access into the trailer.
  • Don’t allow animals to hang their heads out of the trailer while it is in motion.  Flying objects could injure the animals.
  • Maintain a safe speed and stay alert!
Check out these resources for more guidance on trailer safety, including hitching.
Cattle Trailer Safety/Hitching:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyd0rUAtIig
Horse Trailer Safety/Pre-Op Check/Hitching:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nWPqAsiCwc
This safety tip by Amanda Wickman

Rangeland - it covers 59% of the state of Texas. 

Management needs of rangelands are as diverse as the state - and require innovative approaches for good management.  Each part of the state is unique and no two management approaches will achieve the same results, even on adjacent properties.

Users of rangelands are also varied.  Most people think only of beef cattle, but wildlife, and humans are also users.  Remember, rangelands are a type of land - not a land use.

This Workshop is structured to provide critical knowledge in the areas of:
·           Stewardship
·           Rangeland Ecology
·           Plant Species and Growth
·           Plant-Soil-Water Relationships
·           Primary and Secondary Succession
·           Watershed Management
·           Range livestock and wildlife needs
·           Tools of range and natural resources management and restoration
·           Landowner Goals & Objectives
·           Impacts of Management Decisions
·           New Technology
·             Rangeland Monitoring  (including photopoint establishment and monitoring using yearly and seasonal photographs, and fecal sampling).
This workshop has many hands on activities:  plant id and collecting, plant species composition, total ranch planning, stocking rate evaluation, etc.  Special sessions are held on water and total resource management.
The dynamic curriculum is constantly changed as increasing importance is placed on the landowner's ability to make sound environmental, social and economic decisions.  

Sponsors are often sought out by the students attending.  Consult with your 4-H club/FFA Chapter leader for ideas.  One can also contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District for potential leads.
Youth should be at least 14 years of age and have finished eighth grade but not have finished high school.

Applications are accepted by mail and can be completed by tearing off the form at right and completing both sides or printed from the following web site:

Applications/information, see the web at:  www.rangelands.org/texas/youtheducation.htm

Kaufman County 4-H'ers participate in Fuel Up for 60 event in Dallas

DALLAS – Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was a featured speaker at the recent Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Fuel Up to Play 60 Partnership kickoff, which took place at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road in Dallas.
Lto R - Ricky & Meagan Grevelle, Cassie Boyd, & Catlyn Wold 

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council, Dairy MAX and the National Football League, in collaboration with U.S. Department of Agriculture. It encourages young people to consume nutrient-rich foods, including low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and to get at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

“Fuel Up to Play 60 is a great initiative to get kids interested in exercise and nutrition,” said Lee, who has been a program spokesman and supporter since 2010. “If you get kids interested in a healthy lifestyle, it will help them in whatever career or endeavor that may have by making them feel better, have more energy and have better concentration.”
Ricky ready to run!!
The kickoff, which included speakers’ presentations, a press conference, an exercise warm-up with more than 30 area 4-H club members and a 5K walk/run led by Lee, officially welcomed AgriLife Extension to the program. It also introduced AgriLife Extension’s plans to support and promote Fuel Up to Play 60 statewide, beginning with their multi-county East Region, which includes Dallas and Tarrant counties.
“I had seen the Play 60 commercials on TV and was really excited that 4-H would have the opportunity to play a part in the program,” said Catlyn Wold, 17, a senior at Wills Point High School.
 Wold, who participated in program activities, serves as president of the Kaufman County 4-H Youth Council. Texas 4-H and Youth Development is the statewide youth program of AgriLife Extension.
“The whole event was amazing in every aspect,” she said. “It was great to meet Sean Lee and to hear from Mr. Ramsey, who is a dairyman and one of our biggest area 4-H supporters. I’m also glad the NFL is behind this program, because the players are our heroes.”
4-H club members at the event also represented Collin and Denton counties.
In addition to Lee and 4-H club members, event participants included Shelly Sturges, district aide to Sen. John Carona; Katy Aldredge, deputy district director for Rep. Stefani Carter; Rear Adm. Epifiani “Epi” Elizondo, regional health administrator, and Stacy Harper, both with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Pat Thompson, Dallas Cowboys organization; Julie Stefko, youth fitness project manager, NFL Play 60 FITNESSGRAM Project and Kate Losecco, Cooper Institute; Dolores Bell, regional manager, Big Thought; The Texas A&M University System, Dairy MAX and dairy industry representatives; and local dairy farmer and Dairy MAX board member Lynn Ramsey.
More than 60 AgriLife Extension East Region family and consumer sciences agents also participated in event activities, including the 5K and post-activity “refueling” where they were provided bananas, chocolate milk and yogurt for energy.
“Our agency’s family and consumer sciences and 4-H and youth development agents already work extensively in Texas schools,” said Dr. Susan Ballabina, AgriLife Extension family and consumer sciences regional director for the East Region.
Ballabina helped coordinate the Fuel Up to Play 60 event with Dairy MAX, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Dairy Council and funded by dairy farming families in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and southwest Kansas.
“The Fuel Up to Play 60 umbrella will allow us additional visibility and resources to enhance our school-based efforts and increase our visibility,” Ballabina said.
She added that health and nutrition is one of the agency’s key program areas and AgriLife Extension has an “extensive network of specialists, county agents and volunteers” who work together to serve Texans through community-based education.
Lee, who has visited area schools over the past two years as part of Fuel up to Play 60 program participation, said he was excited about having more people out in the community to spread the word about health and wellness to young people.
“The more people we have out there reaching the kids, the greater the impact of the program and its ability to help them learn the importance of good nutrition and physical exercise,” he said.
“The Fuel Up to Play 60 program puts kids in the driver’s seat to their own health,” said Teresa Wagner, registered dietitian and director of medical outreach for Dairy MAX. “It’s our responsibility to create the type of collaborative environment we have in 70,000 schools across the nation, so youth can ultimately apply healthy habits and make nutritious choices throughout their lives. This partnership can help extend our resources and increase our impact.”
“We already offer significant learning opportunities to 4-H members interested in health and nutrition,” Ballabina said. “The physical activity and nutrition challenges offered through Fuel Up to Play 60 will give our 4-H members more opportunities to learn about health and to positively influence the health of their peers.”
Dr. Chris Boleman, Texas 4-H and youth development program director in College Station, who attended the kickoff, said he had already seen the “enthusiasm and excitement” of 4-H members aware of AgriLife Extension’s new involvement in the program.
“I know our 4-H members will take the enthusiasm and excitement they’re showing about the Fuel Up to Play 60 to others in their clubs and to schools throughout this region and, as it expands, throughout the state,” Boleman said.
Boleman noted that currently there are more than 14,000 4-H club members in the agency’s East Region and more than 60,000 members statewide. More than 662,000 youth are involved in 4-H programs or activities statewide.
“Our collaborations with other organizations make our network of agents able to accomplish even more, and we couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with Dairy MAX and the NFL to support the Fuel Up to Play 60 program,” Ballabina said.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

SOIL AND CROP SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Outstanding students are eligible for scholarships in amounts up to $8000

Deadline March 15

Apply at http://soilcrop.tamu.edu/scholarships.html

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE CHOICES:
Agronomy,  Turfgrass Management Option,  Soil & Crop Management Option
Agro-Industry Option, Plant & Environmental Soil Science
Soil Science Emphasis, Plant Science Emphasis

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staci Frerich,  Recruitment Advisor
sfrerich@ag.tamu.edu          361-290-0988
http://soilcrop.tamu.edu

2012 Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Courses


TEXAS 4-H LIVESTOCK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
 
Mission
 
The Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador program strives to provide high school aged 4-H members the opportunity to develop and practice advanced leadership skills related to mentoring other youth, and to become advocates for animal agriculture.
 
Objectives
 
•     Prepare youth to serve in leadership capacities in junior livestock programs
across Texas.
•     Prepare youth for the experience of the University setting, through intensive
science based instruction and experiences.
•     Prepare and provide opportunities for youth to serve in advocacy roles for
animal agriculture,   4-H, and junior livestock programs.
•     Develop a heightened awareness of career opportunities in animal agriculture
and advocacy.
History
 
The Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program is an in-depth learning experience for selected youth to represent the agricultural industry in Texas. Training includes a short course experience on the campuses of either Texas A&M  University  or Texas Tech University. During this four-day training, more than 30 hours of rigorous instruction by university faculty, Texas AgriLife Extension Specialists, and County Extension Agents cover topics such as animal science principles, leadership, career development, and animal agriculture advocacy. Youth also learn the value of giving back to the community.
 
Once a young person becomes a Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador they are required to commit at least 30 hours of service annually, in most cases the service goes back to assisting novice 4-H families with their livestock projects and education. Ambassadors conduct and assist with educational livestock project clinics, conduct home project visits, speak to civic groups, assist with livestock shows, speak at agricultural awareness days and advocate for the livestock and agriculture industry across Texas.
 
In the three years since the inception of the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program, there have been 117 outstanding  4-H members complete the course and serve in the role of 4-H Livestock Ambassador On average, these youth have  volunteered more than 150 contact hours over their year of service. This equates to more than16,000 hours contributed at a value in volunteer time of more than $336,000.
 
4-H Livestock  Ambassadors  have  presented  topics  in  agriculture  advocacy,  nutrition, selection, daily maintenance and care, showmanship, sportsmanship, preparing new 4-H families for show, and management of show animals during a livestock show. Additionally, the ambassadors teach livestock ethics and animal care to the novice 4-H families. These individuals have represented 4-H at interpretative  events  with such individuals and groups as members of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate, Texas  Commissioner  and Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, County Judges and Commissioners, Livestock Show Management and 4-H Families.
 
2012 Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Courses:
 
Texas A&M University July 16-19, 2012
 
Texas Tech University July 23-25, 2012
 
Selection Criteria:
 
·         senior aged (14-18) 4-H youth that have exhibited a superior level of ambition regarding their livestock projects
·         students with a profound interest in animal science and animal production
·         students have shown advanced leadership qualities and a willingness to help others
·         County Extension Agent approval
·         top 25% class rank
 
  Process:
 
A selection committee will review the applications and accept 25 participants per university.
 
If you are interested, contact the county extension offices.