Beginning with this year’s Horse Validation Program the process will now be all electronically completed using the 4-H CONNECT online management system. 

ALL 4-H members who wish to show in a district or the state 4-H Horse Show(s) will be required to validate their horse(s) on the 4-H CONNECT system.

BEFORE YOUR BEGIN YOUR VALIDATION PROCESS, YOU MUST:

• Have a family and youth member profile established on 4-H CONNECT
• Be an paid/active youth member of Texas 4-H for the 2011-2012 year.
• Have digital photos of your horse(s) from the front, left side, and right side. These photos must be
accessible for upload during the validation process.
• For registered horses, you need to have a pdf copy of your horse(s) registration papers for upload.

IMPORTANT

Horse Validation is completed for EACH HORSE and will cover all 4-H youth members in that family profile. However, when validating your horses on 4-H CONNECT, you will select ONLY ONE 4-H youth member to conduct the validation under. Once a horse is validated, validation paid, and you begin registering for district horse show, the validate horse(s) can be moved to the appropriate 4-H member(s) that will be exhibiting the horse in the show.


OTHER FACTS ABOUT THE HORSE VALIDATION PROCESS FOR 2012:
• VALIDATION WILL BE OPEN FROM APRIL 1, 2012 TO MAY 1, 2012. Any horse validated before or after this date will not be accepted as a legitimate validate animal.
• An illustrated step-by-step instruction guide for families is available for download and reference from both the Texas 4-H website and the Texas AgriLife Extension Animal Science - Horse Section website.
• Validation cost for each horse will be $10.00. Each 4-H family validating a horse(s) will need to print an invoice for each horse and provide the invoice(s) and check to the County Extension Office. The County Extension Office will prepare ONE consolidated Club/County check, and mail it to the Texas 4-H Foundation. INDIVIDUAL, PERSONAL CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE 4-H FOUNDATION OFFICE. The ONLY payment accepted at the Texas 4-H Foundation for horse validation will be a Club/County check.
• There is no limit to the number of horses that can be validated in the process.
• Ownership requirements are still the same as in the past.
• In the past there was a Grade Horse worksheet that included the need for sketching markings and colors of horses. That form is no longer required, however, it is a requirement for ALL horses that photos of the front, left side, and right side are uploaded during the validation entry process. The entire horse MUST be in the photograph. Photos should be as close as possible and markings should be clearly visible. The photo should be in jpg or gif format.
• A pdf or jpg of the registration papers will be uploaded for registered horses. If you do not have capabilities with scanning papers, contact your county Extension Office to see if they can assist or direct you in scanning the papers.

BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW SYSTEM THIS YEAR IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED THAT YOU
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE IN CASE OF ANY COMPUTER, PHOTO, UPLOAD ISSUES!

2012 Texas 4-H Photography Contest for Senior 4-H'ers

Entries for the 2012 Texas 4-H Photography Contest will be accepted between April 1st and April 15th. All SENIOR 4-H members ( 14 years old to 18 years old) will be required to upload their photos into 4-H CONNECT as they enter the event. Please refer to the 2012 Photography Rules on how to format the file names. It is extremely important that file names are correctly label to prevent disqualification and/or loss of photos.

For more information:  http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/photography_contest 

FAQ’s that may help you!

Q: What is the Storyboard?
A: The storyboard is both a test of photography and layout skills. The storyboard is ONE PHOTOGRAPH FILE where three individual photos have been placed on a created canvas along with mimumal text to tell a story. As you can imagine you will need to have three great photos to make this work and still stay within the file size. Do not submit three separarte files, nor submit a pdf file. The skill is taking a jpg and creating a jpg!

Q: What size format should the photos be entered in?
A: Photos should be able to be printed at a 300 dpi (dots per inch) at a size of 3 X 5 inches. If a 4-H members is taking their photos on a “standard” or “fine” setting on their camera their size and resolution should be good. If the photo is not clear and ‘grainy’ then it is not of the quality that should be entered!
The Internet can provided resources for adjusting the size and resolution of a photograph.

2012 Texas 4-H Equine Ambassador Leadership Program

2012 Texas 4-H Equine Ambassador Leadership Program

 

On June 3-7, 2012, the Statewide Texas 4-H Equine Ambassador Leadership Program will be held in Gainesville, Texas at the Lone Oak Retreat, http://loneoakretreat.com .   This event has been developed in order to encourage young people in 4-H to develop leadership skills and an understanding of the equine industry.  The goal of the program is to enable these young people to develop abilities that will make them leaders in tomorrow’s horse industry.

 

Participation is open to all districts of the state.   Participation is open to 4-H youth ages 14-17 years of age with a genuine interest in the equine industry.  

 

The cost of the school will be $250.00 per participant.  This will include meals, lodging and all materials.  Students will not be allowed to stay elsewhere.  It is necessary that we have 4 chaperons, either in the form of Adult Leaders or County Extension Agents. Cost for an adult leader chaperon is $180.00 each to attend. 

 

Registration will be through an online application process on 4-H Connect from April 1 through April 20. The maximum number of 4-H Equine ambassadors will be 30.   These participants will be chosen by the Texas AgriLife Equine Ambassador Committee. Application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

 

Attached  are Letters and information on Participation, Goals and Expectations, and list of questions for applicants to consider prior to registration.  This should clarify any questions that you may have about submitting applications.  A Tentative Agenda is also attached. Also Attached are the Waiver and Code of Conduct the participant will need to provide upon arrival.

 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the 4-H Office.

East Region Livestock Mentor Training-May 18-19, 2012

The East Region Livestock Mentor Training will be held May 18-19, 2012 in Athens, TX.  The training begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude approximately 7:00 p.m. Saturday.  The majority of the training will be at the Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex, 3356 Hwy 31 E., Athens, TX  75751 (903) 670-3324.  Website www.hendersoncountyfairpark.com.

 

Registration for mentors will be $100.00, which includes three meals, break refreshments, training materials and fees.  Registration will open April 1 and close May 1 on 4-H Connect.  An agenda will also be posted on 4-H Connect.

 

A block of rooms has been reserved for Friday, May 18th at the Holiday Inn Express in Athens, which is very close to the Fairgrounds.  The room rate is $85.00 and is being held under “LMT” code.  Phone is (903) 675-2500 and the address is 1119 E. Tyler Street, Athens, TX  75751.  Reservations should be made prior to May 1, 2012.

 

Program presenters in beef, swine and sheep & goats are tops in the industry.  Speakers include the following:

 

Dr. Chris Boleman                            Mrs. Laura Huebinger                    Mr. Chuck Real

Dr. Jason Cleere                               Dr. Stanley Kelley                             Mr. Aaron Renfroe

Dr. Frank Craddock                          Mr. Tad Knight                                  Mr. Edward Schneider

Mr. Josh Elkins                                  Mr. Stefan Marchman                   Mr. Kyle Smith

Mr. David Groschke                        Mr. Kelton Mason

 

If you are interested in representing Kaufman County and working with the 4-H Livestock Projects please contact Carrie Sharp, 972-932-9069 to see how you can help make a difference.