DATES TO REMEMBER

November 19 – Brown County Youth Fair Workday 8:00am at the Youth Fair Barns

22 – Deadline to Enter San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, Austin & Texas Elite Stock Shows

23 – Extension Office Closes at 12pm for Thanksgiving Holidays

24-25 – Extension Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holidays

29 – Food Challenge Practice 5:00pm at the Extension Office

29 -Brookesmith 4-H Meeting 4:15pm at Brookesmith ISD

December

1 – Deadline to Enter Brown County Youth Fair

3 – Brown County 4-H Project Show at the Youth Fair Barns

6 – Early 4-H Club Meeting 5:30pm at the Extension Office

13 – 4-H Rabbit Club Meeting 6:00pm at the Extension Office

17 – Brown County Youth Fair Workday 8:00am at the Youth Fair Barns

MAJOR STOCK SHOW AND YOUTH FAIR DEADLINES

• The deadline to enter Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Texas Elite Gilt Show, and San Angelo Stock Show is November 22^nd.
• The deadline to enter the Brown County Youth Fair is December 1^st.

REMINDERS:

You must be enrolled in 4-H and Quality Counts needs to be completed/up to date at the time of entries.

BROWN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION WORKDAYS

Workdays are:

November 19, 2022

December 17, 2022

January 21, 2023

January 28, 2023

Times will be 8am start until noon or when jobs have been completed.

To see more rules and dates go to browncountyfair.net youth fair link to see the updated rule book.

EXHIBITOR REQUIRED WORKDAYS-

Two weekends prior to show and two weekends after the show exhibitors must participate in at least ONE of these 4 workdays. Participation is mandatory in one of these 4 days to receive premium checks from Brown County Youth Fair Premium Auction in addition to having required thank you notes to buyers. Appropriate attire is mandatory, which will be jeans (long pants) and closed toed shoes. In the event you were unable to participate in at least one of these workdays you must write a one-page essay as to why you were unable to attend and present it in person at the February board meeting to the entire board of directors for consideration.

QUALITY COUNTS FOR MAJOR STOCK SHOWS

In order to enter and show livestock at any major stock show in Texas your child must have completed the Quality County verification.

• Junior – Grades 3 – 5

• Intermediate – Grades 6 – 8

• Senior – 9 – 12

  • Your child will only have to take the quality counts verification 1 time per age division. They will take it for 3rd, 6th, & 9th grade. 

To register for the quality counts verification, follow this link: https://www.texaslivestockvalidation.com/qc/qcregister.aspx

1BROWN COUNTY YOUTH FAIR CHECKLIST

The Brown County Youth Fair is approaching fast. Everyone should have your animals if you are planning on entering in the Livestock Division of the Youth Fair. There are a few other things that have to be done in order to participate in the Brown County Youth Fair. Below is a check list for you to go by to make sure you are covered.

• – Enroll in 4-H
• – Attend Validation (have your animal validated for county or state)
• – Purchase a Youth Fair Membership (this is mandatory if you are entering livestock or home economics)
• – Fill out an entry form for the Brown County Youth Fair (Deadline to enter is December 1st)

2023 MAJOR LIVESTOCK SHOW CALF SCRAMBLES

If you have a 4-Her that is 12 – 18 years of age and is interested in participating in a calf scramble at any of the spring major stock shows in Texas, please contact the Extension Office.

Brown County 4-H Project Show, December 3rd.

The Brown County 4-H Project Show will be held on Saturday, December 3^rd at the Brown County Youth Fair Barns. Entry fee for the show will be $10.00 per head for cattle, sheep, goats and swine, $5.00 per head for rabbits, and $5.00 per head for jackpot showmanship (showmanship will be broken up into juniors & seniors). You must be enrolled in 4-H to participate in the show (clover kids can participate). If you use a pen it is your responsibility to clean it out before you leave. The schedule is below. If you have any questions, please contact the Extension office.

Schedule

7:00a.m. ———-Barns open

7:30a.m. ———-Purchase Weight Cards

8:30a.m. ———-All weight cards for sheep, goats, swine, & rabbits must be turned in

9:00a.m. ———-Begin Show (order: sheep, goats, swine, cattle) (rabbit show will start at 9:00a.m. in sheep and goat barn)

10:00a.m. ———All steer & heifer entry cards must be turned in

4-H FOOD CHALLENGE PRACTICE

  The first 4-H Food Challenge practice will be held on November 29^th 5:00pm at the Extension Office. This will be an introduction of the food challenge contest, organizing teams, and scheduling practices. If you plan to participate in the food challenge contest is highly encouraged to attend this first practice. If you have any questions, contact the Extension Office.

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR A DAY IN THE BROWN COUNTY SHOW RING

We are once again hosting A Day in the Brown County Show Ring at the 2023 Brown County Youth Fair. This show will showcase differently able students from across the county, and their 4-H/FFA member buddy, as they exhibit lambs.

The objective of A Day in the Brown County Ring is to give differently able youth an opportunity to participate in the Brown County Youth Fair. Exhibitors will be partnered up with a 4-H/FFA member who will help them present their lamb in the show ring. Each exhibitor will receive a t-shirt, lunch, rosette, and an amazing opportunity to show. The show will be after breeding sheep and does on Tuesday, January 10^th. We have partnered with the Youth Fair and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance to help fund this event.

We are looking for youth volunteers to “buddy” up with exhibitors. Participants will be “showing” lambs so we will need volunteers to help supply the show lambs for that day. We want to keep the grade level of the volunteer’s 7th grade and up.

Each exhibitor will be partnered with 2 “buddies” (4-H/FFA members) that will assist with walking the lamb, on a halter, around the ring.

Tentative Schedule is as follows for Tuesday, January 10, 2023:

• Participants will arrive at the Youth Fair Barn at 10:00am (we will need volunteers there by 9:00am for orientation)

• Participants will eat lunch around 11:00am

• Show will tentatively start at 12:00pm

  • Each participant will be awarded a rosette and a picture in front of the backdrop.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Extension Office to request a Youth Volunteer Application. The deadline to sign up is December 6^th. For more information contact Nick Gonzales at the Brown County Extension Office.

2022-2023 Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship

The Texas 4-H Youth Development Program and the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation is once again pleased to offer to our senior high school 4-H members and current college students the opportunity to apply for an Opportunity Scholarship through the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation. This year Texas 4-H members can apply for scholarships in three areas, baccalaureate, courageous heart, and technical. Former Texas 4-H members will be able to apply for scholarships through the collegiate scholarship program. Information can be received through the Brown County Extension Office or downloaded from the Texas 4-H Foundation website at: https://texas4hfoundation.org/

2023 Texas 4-H Foundation Opportunity Scholarship Important Dates

November 1, 2022 – Application will be available online

November 30, 2022 – Submit your intent to County Office if you plan to apply

December 14, 2022 – Due for County Review

February 15, 2023, by 11:59 PM – Deadline to Apply

April 28 – April 29, 2023 – Interviews in College Station

May 2023 – Award Notifications

June 6-8, 2023 – Scholarship Banquets in College Station

DISTRICT 7 4-H SCHOLARSHIP TRAININGS

If you are senior in high school and plan to apply for the Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship, District 7 4-H is offering two training opportunities (one virtual and one in person). We encourage juniors, sophomores, and freshman to attend to start learning about the Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship. Below are the dates for the upcoming trainings:

• November 22^nd – Face to Face Training 6:30pm at the D-7 Research Center
• November 29^th – Virtual Training – Via TEAMS – 6:30pm

For more information contact the Extension Office

4-H RABBIT FEED CONTAINERS

If you have bought rabbit feed from the Extension Office and have containers, PLEASE bring them back to the Extension Office. Feed cannot be distributed without containers and at this time Mrs. Becktold does not have containers. PLEASE RETURN RABBIT FEED CONTAINERS!

4-H ENROLLMENT IS OPEN ON 4-H CONNECT!

The enrollment process for the 2022-2023 4-H year begins August 15, 2022. All 4-H families, new and returning, are encouraged to log in and enroll to become an official 4-H member.

As you begin your enrollment for the year, here are some tips in using 4-H CONNECT:

• If you already have a profile DO NOT create another one!
• If you lost your email and password, call the county office so we can reset, it for you.
• An active membership will not be granted until the $25.00 participation fee is paid on 4-H Connect!
• You cannot register or participate in an event until your profile is ACTIVE.
• When you are doing your re-enrollment for the 2022-2023 4-H Year please make sure you update your address, phone number, and e-mail address.
• For any youth who is joining 4-H in 2022-2023 for the first time as a 3rd grader we ask for you NOT TO ENROLL until September 1st.  September 1st is actual first day of the new 4-H year and what is used to calculate grade/age.  If a 2nd grader moving into 3rd grade enrolls before September 1st it will “tag” them as a Clover Kid, not charge an enrollment fee and lock them in as a Clover Kid for the year.