2020-2021 Quality Counts Reminders for Livestock Exhibitors

Hey y'all!  Are you looking for something to do to help prepare your for your livestock project for the 2020-2021 year? 

Get ready for the upcoming show year by completing your Quality Counts EARLY!  All livestock exhibitors in Bastrop County (both 4-H & FFA) will need to participate in the learning modules and pass the exam with at least an 80% to be able to exhibit their livestock projects. 

To register and get a head start, head over to https://www.texaslivestockvalidation.com/qc/qcregister.aspx.  Be sure to save the registration email to be able to access the program and take the exam. 

If you have any questions, please contact your AST/CEA.  The Bastrop County 4-H Agent can be reached at 512-581-7186 or at MLMickelson@ag.tamu.edu. 

2019-2020 County Recordbook Judging Results

Good Evening!

We are excited to share the results for county judging for the Bastrop County 4-H Recordbooks – please see the results below!  Please note that all FIRST PLACE Recordbooks will advance to District 10 Recordbook Judging in July.  All Recordbooks will be available for pickup from the CEO starting tomorrow, June 23, 2020 – please call to set a time with Stacy and Ciera.


Each recordbook should have at least 2 Recordbook Scoresheets with constructive feedback in them.  We suggest that you work on adjusting your recordbook forms as soon as you get the feedback so it is fresh on your mind and your book is ready for next year or the next level of judging.  If you would like an Agent to help you with this, please schedule some time with them.  Please let us know if you have any questions.  

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRST PLACE RECORDBOOKS ADVANCING TO DISTRICT:

• All first place Recordbooks are due back with corrections to the CEO by 12 Noon on Thursday, July 2, 2020. 
• NEW THIS YEAR: The District would like 2 color copies of your recordbook to be submitted to District for judging, the details of this are included below so you are aware of the following:
• Your original recordbook in fancy cover will stay in our office
• We will be making the copies so you do not incur any expense
• You may email us your updated forms for us to print instead of bringing your recordbook to us – we just need to make sure you include a scanned copy of your original check sheet for judging
• The copies we make of your recordbook will be destroyed after judging for sanitary purposes, so the only papers you will receive back are the scoresheets
• NEW THIS YEAR: All District Recordbook entries must be entered in 4-H CONNECT (https://tx.4honline.com/) under the event “2020 District 10 Record book Judging.” Each entry will be $5. All entries must be submitted in 4-H Connect by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, June 30th and certified by the county office on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

DISTRICT RECORDBOOK JUDGES WANTED:

• We will be judging recordbooks at the District Level on July 8^th and July 9^th in Uvalde at the Uvalde County Fairplex (215 Veterans Lane, Uvalde, TX 78801) and would like to open up the opportunity for volunteer judges.  This is a GREAT way to gain some perspective in developing recordbooks! 
• Unfortunately, this year we are asking for adults only.  Youth will not be able to help judge due to the safety precautions being taken. 
• If you are interested in helping, Please sign up on the google doc by Tuesday, June 30, 2020  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eknx4xfBJYt4znGou-Ww5xzLl8p2giWn_fATpOAII-o/edit#gid=0

Please let us know if you have any questions and have a great week!
M

Mellanie L. Mickelson
Bastrop County Extension Agent - 4-H & Youth Development
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services
P.O. Box 650 | 901 Pecan Street | Bastrop, TX 78602
p: (512) 581-7186 | c: (512) 522-9174 | f: (512) 581-7187
MLMickelson@ag.tamu.edu
Website - https://bastrop.agrilife.org
Blog - www.bastrop4h.blogspot.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/BastropCounty4H

2020-2021 Elgin Livestock Show Updates - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If you are planning on participating in the Elgin Livestock Show this year, please see the following rule changes that went into effect last night:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The following rule changes went into effect on June 17, 2020. Please note that state validation is June 23rd and ELSA validation (for non-state validated animals--excluding rabbits and poultry) will be within 7 days. Please contact ELSA President, Joe Lopez to set up a time to validate.

3. Ownership Requirements: All exhibitors must have owned and cared for their animals beginning on date of validation (state or ELSA).

4. ELSA validation: If any animal is not state validated or a registered breeding animal, they must be validated by the show. Exhibitors are required to provide proof of ownership that can be confirmed by bill of sale, proof of purchase, or by an Ag teacher or County Extension Agent (CEA). A validation will be held by ELSA officers, Superintendents, and Ag Teachers for these animals at the I.G. Janca Show Barn, specific date/time to be determined. For non-state validated animals, they will be validated within 7 days of the state validation.

• Steers: They will be ear tagged, pictures taken and tattooed for the Elgin Show.
• Heifers: They will be ear tagged, pictures taken and tattooed for the Elgin Show.
• Pigs: They will be ear tagged and pictures taken for the Elgin Show.
• Market/Breeding Lambs: They will be ear tagged and pictures taken for the Elgin Show.
• Market/Breeding Goats: They will be ear tagged and picture taken for the Elgin Show.
• (no change to rabbits or poultry)

Membership deadline has been moved to October 1, 2020 and all show Livestock Show and Youth Fair entries will be due by November 1, 2020

Updated rules will be available soon at https://www.elginlivestockshowassociation.com/livestock-show-youth-fair 

2019-2020 District 10 4-H Photography Contest Results

We are excited to share the results of the 2019-2020 District 10 4-H Photography Contest Results!  Please congratulation our Bastrop County Participants!!!!

***To view all of the 2019-2020 District 10 Photography entries please click on the following link: https://d104-h.tamu.edu/files/2020/06/2020-District-10-Photography-Contest-Album-Links.pdf***

Train Like a Champion Prospect Show - 07/18/20

The Train Like A Champion Show is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the Washington County Fairgrounds.  The event has been modified the event to make sure safety procedures are observed and everyone is kept safe.  They will NOT offer an indoor clinic this year.  

They are still offering the showmanship clinic/workout, showmanship contest, and the prospect show.  There is a fee of $30 per head and this includes showmanship (only allowed to show 1 species in the showmanship contest).  Deadline to enter is July 6 and NO ONSITE OR LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.  

2020 Summer 4-H Programming Updates

Good morning, all!

I wanted to touch base with you this morning on our summer 4-H activities.  We have been waiting for updates and guidance from our Chancellor’s Office and the Texas A&M University system to help us make some informed decisions on what programming looks like in our county this summer.  The guidelines provided to us ask us to follow social distancing guidelines, wear face coverings, and sanitize facilities before/after group meetings.  At this time, we do not have the facilities (and are unable to book facilities) that allow us to follow social distancing requirements.  Additionally, our county is continuing to be strict about group sizes and social distancing because we are still averaging an increase of 10 new cases of COVID-19 on a daily basis. 

As a result of all of these factors, and our ultimate priority being the safety of our youth, we have made the difficult decision to postpone any in-person 4-H activities for Bastrop County to August 1, 2020.  We are continuing to work on creating virtual opportunities to host at the end of June and through July that we can build on once we are able to resume in-person programming.  We are also happy to host any club or project meetings via Zoom during this time; please call or email us to arrange them.  We will be re-evaluating our programming capabilities for August during the month of July.  This means that our current plan for banquet is to push it back into August.  We are hoping to be able to host some form of recognition event for the kids and their hard work this year and will work to accommodate an in-person event if it is safe and possible to do so.  Our office will continue to be open on an appointment only basis to help limit the foot traffic in the office and help us to be able to sanitize the space. 


Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this unique time – it has definitely been hard not being able to see each other and to not be able to closely share in the strength and positivity of our community as we normally do.  Please know that we are family and we are here for you as much as we are able to be in this trying time.  We look forward to connecting with you all, please let us know if you have any questions and have a great week!

M

Mellanie L. Mickelson
Bastrop County Extension Agent - 4-H & Youth Development
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services

P.O. Box 650 | 901 Pecan Street | Bastrop, TX 78602
p: (512) 581-7186 | c: (512) 522-9174 | f: (512) 581-7187
MLMickelson@ag.tamu.edu

Website - https://bastrop.agrilife.org
Blog - www.bastrop4h.blogspot.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/BastropCounty4H

2020 Taylor County 4-H & Open Horse Show - Rescheduled to October 16-17, 2020

The 2020 Taylor County 4-H & Open Horse Show has been re-scheduled.  Please share with 4-H members everywhere!

Youth Career Expo - June 17, 2020

A great opportunity for college/career exploration is coming up!  Pre-register for the event at bit.ly/wsrcavirtualcareerexpo.  

Morning Ag Clips 06/15/20

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