Cameron County December 2014 4

Cameron County
December 2014 4-H Newsletter
Merry Christmas!!
OLD BUSINESS
* Kids Kows and More agriculture awareness program was held November 4th at the RGVLS
grounds in Mercedes. 4th grade students from Cameron and Hidalgo counties participated in this
event in which they attended concurrent sessions related to agriculture commodities such as
cotton, citrus, dairy, and beef.
* Fort Worth Stock Show entry deadline was November 7th. Best of luck to those representing
Cameron County at this show.
* District 12 4-H Food Show and Food Challenge was held Saturday, November 15th in Three
Rivers. We had close to 10 4-H youths who competed in the Food Show and 4 teams that
competed in the Food Challenge. Cameron County 4-H members did exceptionally well and
placed very high in each of the contest divisions. Special thanks to Brian Macmanus and
Michelle Cash for taking the time out of their busy schedules to serve as judges for this contest.
Congratulations to the following 4-H members on their placing. Sorry complete results are not
available at this time. Please allow 4-H members to stand and announce their placing.
* District 12 Fall Faculty Conference was held November 18th and 20th in Weslaco.
* Horticulture Project Training was conducted Monday, November 17th here at the Extension
office. Special thanks to Jennifer Herrera, CEA-Horticulture for conducting this very informative
training.
* Major Show Entry Deadline (San Antonio, Houston, Austin) was Monday, November 17th.
All entry forms and fees were due on this day here to the Extension office. We have two
livestock exhibitors entered for the Star of Texas Show in Austin. We have three exhibitors
entered for Houston, and two Ag Mechanics projects. We also have numerous livestock
exhibitors and six livestock judging teams entered for San Antonio. Good Luck to all of those
participating in these major shows.
* Thanksgiving Holiday Help was a collaborative community service project sponsored by the
Cameron County 4-H Council and the Cameron County Farm Bureau and was held Wednesday,
November 26th. 4-H members donated canned food items and the Farm Bureau donated $200.00
towards the purchase of 10 turkeys and other needed fixings for ten complete meals. These meals
were then donated to needy families that belong to the Harlingen I.S.D. Parental Center.
Thanks to those 4-H members, leaders, and parents who were able to attend this event.
* State Swine Validation was held Tuesday, November 25th at the San Benito Ag Farm. This
year we validated well over 400 hogs which is quite a big number. There is going to be some
tough competition out there at this year’s shows. Make sure you double check your ear notches
to be sure they are correct on your validation sheet. We have a short window of time to submit an
ear notch correction form.
* RGVLS Market Poultry orders were due to the RGVLS stock show office on December 5th.
NEW BUSINESS
* Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Reminder: Market Animal entries are due on January
15th, 2015. 4-H clubs are responsible for submitting their own entries and all entries must be
submitted online this year. Please call if you have questions.
* 4-H Club Managers and County Council Meeting will be held Monday, December 15th at
6:30 p.m. Please make plans to attend as we will be discussing Christmas Holiday Help.
* Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Cover Girl Revue contest entry forms are due by
Monday, December 15th to the stock show office. Entry forms can be obtained from the
Extension office or from your club managers.
* Christmas Holiday Help community service project will be held on Wednesday, December
17nd at the Extension office meeting room in San Benito. We will be having a (toy and gift drive
for teenagers) instead of the traditional family adoptions that we have had in the past. We will
meet at the Extension office at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17th and then deliver the
toys and gift to the Harlingen Teacher Credit Union in San Benito. The toys can be delivered to
the Extension office the night of the County Council and Club Managers meeting on Monday,
December 15th. We will be donating the items as part of a larger effort being conducted by the
Harlingen Area Teachers Credit Union. The toys do not have to be wrapped. Those in charge of
donating need to be able to see the gifts so that they can distribute appropriately. I hope to see
you all on or before the 17th. (See attachment for list of suggested gift items)
UPCOMING STOCK SHOWS
* Cameron County Fair & Livestock Show deadline for entries (livestock and Home show)
will be December 19th. Premium books with entry forms are in your mail boxes here at the
office. Late entries will be charged a $50.00 fee after the due date.
The Cameron County Fair Cowgirl Contest will be held on Saturday, January 17th, 2015 at the
Los Fresnos High School Cafeteria. The deadline for entry is also December 19th, 2014for the
Cowgirl contest.
Scholarship Applications are due by January 19th and must be mailed to:
CCFLS
Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 530985 Harlingen, Texas 78553
Gifts for Teens
RGVCU is asking for
everyone to open their
hearts and help us provide
gifts to the youth
who are less fortunate
this holiday season.
We are currently accepting NEW Items
for donations such as, but not limited to:
Basketballs, Board games,
Toiletry items, Pajamas,
Sweaters, Light Jackets,
Hygiene Products, Backpacks,
Perfumes/Colognes, Puzzles.....
RGVCU received Honorable Mention for the
Dora Maxwell award for our
community service project - Gifts for Teens!
Credit unions receive this award for their involvement in activities
that help other people or strengthens the structure of their community.
Donations are needed by December 17, 2014
CLUB NEWS
Highland Hustlers 4-H
Hello, this is Sadie Cash, reporter for Highland Hustlers 4-H Club. I’d like to tell you what has
been happening in our club. At our last meeting we had Jennifer Herrera tell us about
horticulture project and the rules and steps to help you make it to the show. We also had many
awards at District Food Show in Three Rivers. Celeste Villarreal, Angelina Galvan, and Avery
Fohn all got Top Chef and Cara Cash and Sadie Cash both got Blue Awards in Food Show. In
Food Challenge the team of Cara Cash, Angelina Galvan, Abigail Lamas and Naomi Macmanus
got first place. Celeste Villarreal, Sadie Cash, and Julia Macmanus team got second place. At the
Gala we had four people from our club attend: Jake Rhyner, Ty Rhyner, Hannah Wells, and
Hunter Wells all helped during the Gala. The Cameron County 4-H Council will be partnering
with Rio Grande Valley Credit Union in their “Toys for Teens” community service project.
Please keep them in mind as you do your Christmas shopping. Even a small gift is appreciated by
those that are less fortunate. Thank you very much and I hope to see a lot of donations!
Club Managers, please remind your club reporters to submit your club news on or before the 1st
of every month so that we can include your clubs highlights and activities in our County Monthly
Newsletter. The club news can be e-mailed to [email protected] or it can be faxed to my
attention at 956-361-8289.
Marco Ponce
County Extension Agent-4-H & Youth Development
Cameron County
Persons with special needs are requested to call the Extension Office in advance so these may be addressed.
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religi on, sex, national
origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the
County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

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