Klee Walker Is Grand Again!

Klee Walker and his Junior Hereford Heifer won Grand Champion at the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo Junior Hereford Show.

The duo will head next to the State Fair of Texas to compete at the Junior and Pan American Hereford Show.

Kaufman Co Heifer Team Wins Big at the East Texas Fair

The Kaufman Co 4-H Hooves and Horns club traveled to the East Texas Fair in Tyler, TX this past week to show off their hard work with their Junior heifers.

In the Junior Heifer Angus Show, Brooke Jones - March 07 Junior Hiefer -1st, Hannah Stalhman - January 07 Yearling Heifer - 2nd and her Senior Heifer was Reserve Breed Champion, Micah Stahlman -received a 3rd for her senior heifer.

In the Horned Hereford Show, Klee Walker - had a Breed Champion with his November 2007 junior heifer. (Pictured)

In the Polled Hereford Show, Hope Todd, place 2nd, with her junior heifer and her senior heifer. Klee Walker won another 1st with his Junior Heifer.

In the Shorthorn Show, Brooke Adams placed 2nd with her junior heifer.

The Hooves and Horns heifer team will be heading to the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

Mary Beth Johnson hits Gold!!

Mary Beth Johnson of the Southern Draw 4-H Archery Club hit the mark at the regularly scheduled practice in Kaufman this last month. Archers can earn the official “6-Gold” pin when they shoot six 10’s in a row—either in a single 6-arrow end, or in twoconsecutive 3-arrow ends. Jerry Hendrickson is the coach for the Southern Draw 4-H Archery Club. If you would like to know more about the Archery Club or about the 4-H Program in Kaufman County please email Carrie Sharp, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent for 4-H and Youth Development at cl-sharp@tamu.edu.

NEW RUMINANTS UNLIMITED 4-H CLUB

RUMINANTS UNLIMITED AKA LAMB AND MEAT GOAT CLUB.
MEETS EVERY 4th MONDAY OF MONTH.
COME TO SHOW AT KAUFMAN COUNTY FAIR!!!!!!!
MEETS AT COUNTY 4-H OFFICE
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING CALL KELVIN 972-249-5123 AFTER 4PM

4H Council Celebrates 100 Years of 4-H Texas

Kaufman County 4-H Council members prepare a musical "rapp" video to celebrate the Texas Celebration of 100 years of 4-H. Brianna Moore, Sarah Murff and song leader Logan Moore have created a rapp for your enjoyment.

Girls win big in 3 yr old futurity

Kaufman County Hits Top 5 at the State 4-H Horse Show.
Kaufman County 4-H’ers Lisa Roberts and Sarah Murff competed in the 2008 State 4-H Horse Show held July 20-26th at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene, TX, on their 3 year old Stock Horse Futurity Projects.
24 youth from across the state of Texas worked their 3 year old horses in the event sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The Texas 4-H offers 4 different futurity programs - Yearling Halter, Yearling Longe Line, 2 year old Western Pleasure and the 3 year old Stock Horse Futurity.
Lisa and Sarah were required to work their horses individually on two different designated patterns, where they were judged on how they negotiated the pattern in a quiet, and controlled manner. Lisa Roberts placed 1st overall by winning 1st in each of the two pattern classes (pictured on right). Sarah Murff placed 4th overall (pictured left).
Carrie Sharp, AgriLife Extension agent for Kaufman County, said this event gives an opportunity for the young people to learn how to train and show a young horse. As of May 1st the 4-H’er may only receive advice and counsel on fitting, developing and training techniques from parents and outside sources, no family members or trainers are allowed to ride the futurity projects after that date.
This year Sarah Murff received counsel and advise from Alumni 4-H’er Casey Deary originally from Forney, TX, now in Weatherford, TX. Casey competed in the 3 year old Futurity for several years before breaking out to now own his own training barn, Deary Performance Horses.
If you would like to know more about the 4-H program and the activities available email Carrie Sharp at cl-sharp@tamu.edu or call the Texas AgriLife Extension Office - Kaufman County at 972-932-9069.

Kaufman County 4-H'ers Win Big at State 4-H Roundup

Kaufman County 4-H'ers Alyssa Word and Sarah Murff and Alumni 4-H'er Cassie Bable were amoung the more than 2,500 youth who were present in College Staion to attended this years Texas 4-H Roundup competition and award ceremony. During the roundup, the Texas 4-H Foundation presented a record $1.2 million in scholarships to 233 young people. Among the largest donors are the Houston Livestock Show,which will provide 70 scholarships of $15,000 each; the Richard Wallrath Educational Fund, which will provide 71 scholarships of $10,000 each, and the San Antonio Livestock Show, which will offer 13 scholarships of $16,000 each.
"This is our 49th year to present scholarships during roundup," said Jim Reeves, executive director of the foundation. "The generosity of our donors has helped thousands of deserving young people go on to college."

The program will give more than $1 million in scholarships to Texas 4-H members - the first time that any state has met that amount, according to Gayle Hall, 4-H and youth development specialist for the Texas AgriLife Extension. Sarah Murff, Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club member was awarded the Richard Wallrath Educational Fund, Alyssa Word a Scurry Rosser 4-H member was awarded the Farm Ag Credit, and Cassis Bable, a 4-H alumnus from the Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club received the Baccalaureate Scholarship from the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

Alyssa Word wins Farm Bureau Memorial Scholarship

Alyssa Word recently met with the Kaufman County Farm Bureau and State
Director Charles Huddleston to thank them for the Joe Kapavik Memorial
Scholarship.
Alyssa is planning to attend Texas A&M University and major in Biomedical
Science. She was active in 4-H and FFA for four years and received the Gold
Star Award for her 4_H leadership in 2007.
She recently graduated from Scurry-Rosser High School where activities
included showing Polled Herefords, judging livestock, running track and
playing softball. In addition she assisted with numerous Kaufman County Farm
Bureau AITC Field Days for elementary students in Kaufman County.
Pictured are Carrie Sharp, Charles Huddleston, Alyssa Word, James Poston,
Chuck Carpenter and John Porter.

Caroline Costello Selected for Vet Camp

Kaufman County 4-H’er Caroline Costello one of the ninety youth selected in the State of Texas for the West Texas Youth Veterinary Science Workshop, held June 29 - July 3 at the Tom Green County 4-H Center in San Angelo.
The event is sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service offices in Sutton, Schleicher and Tom Green counties.
Carrie Sharp, AgriLife Extension agent for Kaufman County, said the event, now in its sixth year, is meant to expose high school students to careers in veterinary science. University and research faculty members, AgriLife Extension and Texas Animal Health Commission personnel, as well as veterinarians, served as instructors.
Course topics included: zoology, the Beef Quality Assurance Program, toxicology, parasitology, anaesthesiology, anatomy, nutrition, first aid, beef feedlot health management, large and small animal practice, necropsy and horse medicine. The workshop included classroom study, lab work and field excursions.
Caroline said she had the best time at vet camp and that it was such a wonderful experience. She learned that there were so many job opportunities in the veterinary world. She learned about the physiology of a badger, silver fox, porcupine, and a jack rabbit just to name a few of the classroom and field excursions.
IF you would like to know more about the 4-H program and the activities available email Carrie Sharp at cl-sharp@tamu.edu or call the Texas AgriLife Extension Office - Kaufman County at 972-932-9069.

Horse Judging Team Places in Top 5!

The Kaufman County Senior 4-H team placed 3rd Overall, 2nd in Performance Division and 3rd in the Reasons Division at the Fort Worth Junior Horse Judging contest held on February 2nd, in Fort Worth. This awarded the team the alternate position for the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association representative for the Quarter Horse Congress held in October and the American Quarter Horse Youth show held in Oklahoma City, OK in August.

The team included (pictured left to right) Jesse Rushton, Courtney Ries, Lynsey Culp, Sarah Murff and Lisa Roberts. In the Performance Division Lynsey Culp placed as 2nd high individual and Lisa Roberts placed as 7th High Individual. In the reasons division, Lynsey Culp placed 3rd high Individual and Sarah Murff placed as 7th high individual.

The next judging contest will be in San Antonio Junior Livestock Show Horse Judging where the girls will be competing for a $12,000 scholarship for top high individual.

Kaufman County 4-H’ers Fare Well at Ft. Worth Junior Livestock Show

Kaufman County Beef Club 4-H’ers did very well the first week of the Fort Worth Livestock Show. Kaufman County had 11 exhibitors competing in the Fort Worth Livestock Show competing in the Junior Heifer, and the Junior Breeding Swine show on January 16-20th.

Justin Jenkins of Crandall was Division Champion Shorthorn Heifer Calf (pictured). In addition, Klee Walker of Terrell, placed 4th with his junior Hereford heifer and 2nd in the senior showmanship. Hailey Hawes of Crandall placed 3rd with her Spring Yearling Maine Anjou heifer. Melissa Sleeper of Kaufman placed 6th with her January Junior Shorthorn Heifer. Also in the Shorthorn division, Kerri Hughes of Kaufman placed 7th with her Senior Heifer. In the Angus Heifer Division, Brooke Jones of Wills Point placed 2nd with her Junior Heifer, Brittany Krueger of Terrell placed 10th with her Late Senior Angus Heifer, Haley Breazeale of Forney placed 2nd with her Late Senior Heifer and Hannah Stalman of Kaufman placed 3rd with her Early Senior Heifer.

The Junior Breeding Swine Show featured Krista Day and Sara Holder showing their Berkshire Gilts.

The Kaufman County 4-H Beef Club will next be heading to San Antonio with their Junior Heifers and the Junior Breeding Swine projects on February 4th to the 9th.

4H Members Win Scholarship from B.I.G.

Allysa Word, Scurry Rosser 4-H member and Sarah Murff, of the Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club received a $500.00 scholarship from the Blacklands Income Growth Conference in Waco, TX. 10 Scholarships were awarded to residents of Bell, Bosque, Burleson, Collin, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Grayson, Hill, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Lee, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Navarro, Rockwall, Travis, Tarrant or Williamson County. The recipients needed to plan to major in an Agriculture or Family and Consumer Sciences related fields.

Alyssa plans on Majoring in Vet Science/Biomed at Texas A&M. Sarah plans on majoring in Equine Business and Management at West Texas A&M.

Pictured is Ed Smith, Director of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Coach Stallings, retired coach of Texas A&M, Sarah Murff, Alyssa Word and B.I.G. Committee President Barney Pustejovsky.

For more information on this or other educational programs, please call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Kaufman County 4-H office, (972) 932-9069.

Kaufman County Fair Coming in April

The Kaufman County Fair has a new date!! This year the County Fair will be hosted on April 1-5th, 2008 at the Kaufman County Fairgrounds in Kaufman, TX.

Kaufman County 4-H and FFA members have validated their animals and completed their entries through their FFA advisors and 4-H agent, so the count down is on. Lamb and Goat exhibitors had the opportunity to visit with the 2007 Market Lamb and Market Goat judge Kris Drews from Hunt County. He helped those in attendance on weighing their animal and working on how to show them in the arena. Scurry Rosser 4-H/FFA member, Chance Smith demonstrated proper showmanship in the arena.

The Creative Talent entries for youth and adults are due March the 7th, to the Kaufman County Extension Office, 2471 N Hwy 34, Kaufman, TX 75142. Creative Talent entry forms and the rule books are available on-line at http://kaufman-tx.tamu.edu/ or rules books can be found at local businesses across the county. If you have any questions please call the Kaufman County Extension Office at (972) 932-9069 for mor information. More on the County Fair coming soon!!!

Kaufman 4-H'ers Recognized for Long Miles and Hard Work

After a year’s worth of showing that included eleven competitions scattered across the state consistency paid off for two Kaufman County 4-H Horse Club members with the Stock Horse Of Texas (SHOT) Association. The Stock Horse of Texas Association hosted their End of the Year Awards for their members on January 12, 2008 at the Stock Yards in Fort Worth, Texas. Two youth from Kaufman County, Catlyn Wold (left) and Allison Rogers (right) was recognized for their hard work and long miles traveled during the past year.

The Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) is an association which was started by a statewide planning group in the mid 1990's and incorporated in 1998. Its purpose is education for western stock horse that can be ridden on the ranch, in the ring or down the road. SHOT's goal is to teach rider knowledge and skills to maximize horse trainability, performance and safety by offering affordable, fun and standardized western stock horse riding clinics and competitions.

Catlyn Wold, Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club member (right), won the High Point Youth Pleasure, Reining, and Working Cowhorse divisions which helped her cinch in the Youth All Around Saddle made by Don Gonzales of Bryan, Texas.

Kaufman County 4-H Alumnus Allison Rogers, won the High Point Limited Non Pro Pleasure Division and the All Around Saddle.

For more information, please call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Kaufman County 4-H office (972) 932-9069.

6th Annual Working Cowhorse Clinic

The 6th Annual Multi County Working Cowhorse clinic came to a close at Athens, TX with the participants putting the elements of 2 and a half days worth of training together.

Dr. Kris Wilson from Texas Tech University was the lead instructor with Allison Rogers, Texas Tech Ranch Horse Team member, and Dr Doug Householder, Emeritus Professor for Texas A&M helping clinic participants with the basics of reining, and working with cattle for the working cowhorse competition.

40 participants from Van Zandt, Henderson, Kaufman and surrounding counties worked with their horses for 2 and a half days learning basics on sliding stops, spins, changing lead to how to box a cow, and learn to take one down the fence. Youth and adults alike had a great time and under most comments will be back for more. Pictured below is Chloe Costello of Kaufman, getting ready to "box" a cow on her horse Annie.

This program is brought to the public every year from the County Extension Agents Tommy Phillips - CEA-4-H -Van Zandt County, Carrie Sharp - CEA-4-H-Kaufman County, and Hillary Grider, CEA - 4-H - Henderson County. For more information on programs like this or others please contact your local Texas ArgiLife Extension Service office. Texas AgriLife Extension - Service - Kaufman County - (972) 932-9069 or email cl-sharp@tamu.edu.

Kaufman County 4-H'ers start the 100 year Anniversary with "Hay Cakes"

Texas 4-H will be 100 years old starting September 1, 2007! For a century, kids across Texas have been learning, leading, and having fun in 4-H. In 4-H, you learn the value of helping your community, the importance of being a great leader, and, at the same time, you have fun.4-H provides youth from ages 9 (or 8 and in the 3rd grade) to 18 the experience to travel, work with other youth, participate in positive competitive experiences, and develop at the rate they want. Is 4-H for you? Yes, 4-H is for everyone, from those in the biggest Texas city to the smallest community. For the young person that wants to learn about computers to the teenager that wants to travel around the country. 4-H allows you to "Make it Yours".

The Kaufman County 4-H members participated in the County Hay Show by showing their club spirit. The 4-H clubs used their creativity decorating bales of hay like birthday cakes. Up for grabs was a pizza party for the winning display sponsored by the County 4-H Council.

Participating 4-H clubs were the Scurry Rosser 4-H club, the Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club, Kaufman 4-H, and the Green Machine 4-H club of Forney.

Placing 1st was the Scurry Rosser 4-H Club (Top) and 2nd was Kaufman 4-H (Bottom). Congratulations on the great spirit for 100 years in 4-H!!

For more information about 4-H in Kaufman County please contact us at the Kaufman County Cooperative Extension Service by phone (972) 932-9069 or by email cl-sharp@tamu.edu. We also have a website at http://kaufman-tx.tamu.edu/.

Hay Show "Hay Cake" Displays

Silver Spurs 4-H Club (left) and the Green Machine 4-H club (right) displayed their 4-H Spirit with their "hay cake" displays at the County Hay Show in Kaufman.

Kaufman 4-H Club prepare planters

Kaufman 4-H club officers, Rachel Braddock, John Mitchell and Christa Day prepared the planters outside the gym of Kaufman High School for the start of school

Klee Walker Wins Big in Denver

Kaufman County 4-H Beef Club member returned from the Jr. Nationals in Denver, CO, this summer. Klee exhibited his Sr. Yearling Horned Heifer at the show and recieved a Champion placing along with the $6000 scholarship.

Citizenship Youth Team Travels to Washington, DC

Kaufman County 4-H Youth Citizenship team Learns Leadership, Civic Process at Citizenship Washington Focus

[KAUFMAN, TX]—The Kaufman County 4-H Youth Citizenship team experienced the nation’s capital and governmental processes first hand this summer as part of Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), a 4-H summer civic education and leadership program for high school youth held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md.

“Watching the Youth team come together and work on national issues that they can bring home to the county to make a difference here was truly inspiring,” said Carrie Sharp. The teams choose Childhood Obesity to develop action plans and to help bring information out using good nutrition and fun exercise to help this disease that is effecting youth in American today. Representing Kaufman County was Logan Moore, Brianna Moore, Christa Day, Samantha Sunquist, Aaron Johnson, Alyssa Word, and Mandie Tippitt.

For more than 40 years, 4-H members from across the country have been coming to the National 4-H Youth Conference Center to experience the nation’s capital and the process of the federal government first hand through CWF. These 4-H youth broaden their appreciation and respect for themselves and others in the world through civic workshops, committees, and field trips. Participants learn and practice skills intended to make them better citizens and successful individuals. Nearly 2,000 youth will attend CWF in 2007.

“CWF is a premier 4-H opportunity that allows some of the brightest 4‑H yoH uth from across the country to visit their national 4-H home and explore the nation’s capital,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO, National 4-H Council. “These youth are exceptional leaders today, learning through 4-H how they can impact their communities, country and world now and in the future.”

4-H is a community of more than 6.5 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is led by CSREES National 4-H Headquarters at USDA, the nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges and National 4-H Council. Learn more about CWF and 4-H at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/.

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Contacts: Carrie Sharp, Kaufman County 4-H, 408 East College Street, Terrell, TX 75160 (972) 563-0233 Email – cl-sharp@tamu.edu