11/06/20 4-H Livestock Email Blast

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INFORMATION IN THIS EMAIL BLAST (IN ORDER)

  • Office Hours
  • County Livestock Show Reminders
  • Major Livestock Show Entries (all entries available – deadline extended)
  • 2020 Lost Pines Winter Classic Showmanship Clinic & Contest
  • Other Opportunities

Howdy and Happy Friday, Y’all!

I wanted to pass on a few quick additions/updates to the livestock email blast – we have a LOT going on in our county.  One of the major things we wanted to remind y’all about this week is that 4-H and FFA are family.  We might operate a little differently, but there are no consequences for choosing to show under one or the other.  Additionally, it does not matter who you purchased validation tags under, that information just helps us let the ag teachers know who purchased them and who we can reach out to if we can’t get a hold of you for any reason.

The other big thing that we wanted to remind you about is that the deadlines listed on the major livestock show websites are the deadlines for the Agents and Ag Teachers to collect entries and payment, correct any errors, complete signatures, enter them on the online entry system, and get them postmarked.  It takes us about 5-6 hours PER SHOW to complete this process, and that doesn’t include the time it takes us to contact you and try to get all of the information corrected to ensure your participation.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE help us get you entered by getting those entries turned in to us as soon as possible.  To help us accomplish that, we are going to implement a late fee for late entries – see below for more information.

Please remember that all of our livestock and validation information is available on our website at https://bastrop.agrilife.org/livestock/.  Additionally, you can see all of the upcoming workshops and opportunities on our calendar at https://bastrop.agrilife.org/calendar/ or at https://www.judgingcard.com/Registration/Default.aspx.  With that, we’ll jump straight in:

 

OFFICE HOURS:

  • The CEO will be closed Wednesday, November 11, 2020, in observation of Veteran’s Day
  • Normal Office Hours:
    • Monday – Friday
    • 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • Closed from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM for Lunch

 

COUNTY LIVESTOCK SHOW REMINDERS

 

  • Bastrop Area Livestock Show Entries:
    • Reminder that the next Validation & Entry day is Saturday, December 5, 2020, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Bastrop Area Livestock Show Barn
      • Entry/Validation night for swine, market goat, lambs
      • Entry night only for Rabbits (Rabbit Validation 2/4/21)
      • Entry night only for plant orders (plant pick-up TBA)
    • Families must attend and complete entries and payment for these species
    • You may pick up entry forms ahead of time at the CEO, please call to let us know how many you will need. 
    • Schedules and reminders available at https://bastrop.agrilife.org/bals/

 

  • Smithville Livestock Show Entries:

CURRENT LIVESTOCK SHOW ENTRIES – ALL Major Livestock Show Entries listed below are DUE to the CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 12th

  • IMPORTANT REMINDERS – PLEASE READ
        • DEADLINE EXTENDED: We had a situation within the past couple of days where an FFA Chapter found out that their school district will not allow them to enter shows through FFA this year, and they are required to show through 4-H in order to exhibit their animals.  In order to be as fair as possible across the county, we are extending Major Show Entry Deadlines to 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 12th. 
              • We will need a separate check written for each show to help with accounting and hard copies of the entries turned in.  (Please make checks payable to “Bastrop County 4-H”)
              • ALL entries turned in after this deadline will need to include a $100 late fee per child.
        • MAJOR SHOW WEBSITE DEADLINES: The deadline posted on each major show website is the deadline for the County Extension Agents and Ag Teachers to collect, process, do the online entry, and catch any errors or missing information on your show entries – it takes us about 5-6 hour per show to do this and catch all of the errors to ensure your participation.
              • The deadlines communicated by the CEO are the deadlines for all 4-H Entries
              • The deadlines communicated by your Ag Teacher(s) are the deadlines for all FFA Entries
        • ENTERING UNDER 4-H OR FFA: There has been a little confusion about this – You may enter each show through 4-H OR FFA – but you must turn in your entries to the advisor you wish to show under for that show.  4-H and FFA are family, there are no consequences or hurt feelings for entering under one or the other.  This simply impacts who will be communicating with you and supervising your projects for that show.  We will still stop in and visit with you if we see you at a show and you entered under your FFA Chapter.  We’re also happy to check in on you as requested if you let us know you will be there ahead of time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • REMINDERS FOR OPEN SHOW ENTRIES & ELIGIBILITY/EXCUSED ABSENCES:
        • We’re happy to help you get entered in the open show opportunities you want to participate in, but please remember that we are only allowed to request eligibility and excused absences for youth show entries that require the exhibitor to be a 4-H/FFA member. 
        • When we request excused absences for youth to participate in the shows, the schools do NOT have to grant them.  Please make sure that you are in communication with your teachers and principals to keep them in the loop on your 4-H activities to they understand the learning experiences associated with them and are more likely to grant the request. 

 

CURRENT CALF SCRAMBLE UPDATES – ALL CALF SCRAMBLE PAPERWORK DUE to the CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 12th

  • What is a calf scramble? A calf scramble is a competition where a group of youth and smaller calves are turned out into an arena.  The goal is for the 4-H/FFA member to catch a calf – if they do, they are awarded a certificate with a monetary value to purchase a show animal for the next show season.  Not everyone will catch a calf.
  • Rules and requirements:  Rules and requirements for calf scrambles vary from show to show.  On average, you need to be at least 12 years old to participate.  The other key detail is that if you get a calf scramble certificate, you must purchase an animal that you will show at their show the following year.  To enter the competition, you must turn in any application materials to your County Extension Agent or Ag Teacher.

 

 

 

 

2020 LOST PINES WINTER CLASSIC SHOWMANSHIP CLINIC & CONTEST:

  • The Bastrop County 4-H & Lee County 4-H Youth Livestock Coalitions are excited to invite you to our 2020 Lost Pines Winter Classic – Free Showmanship Clinic & Contest!!  We are super thankful to our sponsors, Circle WL Beefmaster & Boullion Cattle Company, for sponsoring our event this year!
  • Please note that an RSVP is REQUIRED this year – we need to have a head count for insurance, meal planning, and materials.  Please complete the Online RSVP Form (linked) by Monday, November 30, 2020

 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Other Livestock related opportunities can be found on the County Calendar – registration information should be included for each post.
  • Other Contest related opportunities can be found on the Judging Card Calendar – to sign up for these opportunities, please contact Mellanie at MLMickelson@ag.tamu.edu or at 512-581-7186

That is all for now!  Please let us know if you need anything and have a safe and happy weekend!

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

 

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