4-H Weekly Blast
August 27, 2025
4-H Events and Dates to Remember:
All events are on the 4-H Website! Add them to your calendar by clicking HERE
August 30: Junior Master Photographer Registration Opens (OPEN to ONLY 50)
September 1: ITS TIME TO JOIN 4-H!!
September 5: RFA Broiler Pick UP, Rockdale HE Building
September 5 & 6: 4-H & FFA Weekend in Aggieland 2025
September 7: 4-H Awards Ceremony*, 2pm, CH Yoe High School PAC
September 8: Major Show Broiler (HLSR, San Antonio, Austin) Order DUE, Extension Office
September 12-13: Rabbit Extravaganza, Bell County
September 13: Youth Grill Off
September 14: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office
September 15: RFA Breeding Beef Heifer entries postmarked and due
September 15: RFA Rabbit Tag In, 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Home Demonstration Building, Rockdale Fair Park
September 16: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
September 21: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office
September 26: State Fair Ag Product ID Contest
September 27: State Fair Plant ID Contest
October 1: ALL Rockdale Fair Eligibility Forms Due to the Office
October 1: All 4-H memberships complete for Rockdale Fair participation, 4-H ONLINE
October 1: 4-H Butterbraid Fundraiser BEGINS!
October 2: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office
October 4: HOT Fair Ag Product ID Contest- Waco
October 9: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office
October 12: Ag Product ID Practice TBD, 2pm, Extension Office
October 15-18: Rockdale Fair, Rockdale
October 21: Heifer Validation, 5-6:30pm, YEB
October 21: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
October 23: Sheep and Goat Validation, 5-6:30pm, YEB
October 26: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office
October 27: 4-H Butterbraid Fundraiser ENDS!
October 28: 4-H County Council/Club Officer Training, 6pm, Annex/Bea's Kitchen
October 30: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office
November 2: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office
November 6: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office
November 6: District Ag Product ID Contest- Belton
November 9: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office
November 13: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office
November 16: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office
November 18: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
November 24: Holiday Gift Idea Exchange/Co. Council Meeting/4-H FCH, 6pm, TBD
December 16: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
January 20: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
January 27: County Council Meeting/Recordbook Training, 6pm, Annex
February 17: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
April 21: 4-H Photography Project Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office
April 28: County Council Meeting/Office Elections, 6pm,
Cloverbud Friendly*: This means that cloverbuds are welcome to come and participate in this activity. To learn more about the projects in the calendar, find the information below about the event.
Important Addresses:
· County Extension Office: 908 N Crockett Avenue, Cameron TX
· YEB (Youth Exposition Building): 301 S Houston Ave, Cameron, TX 76520
· "Annex"/Extension Office Conference: Meeting Room inside Milam County Annex (OLD BUILDING-where the Office used to be)
· "Annex"/Bea’s Kitchen (Senior Center inside of Milam County Annex): 806 N Crockett Avenue, Cameron TX
WEBSITE UPDATED!
We are working on updating the website so it has all the current activities and dates! We also now have a calendar of events on the website! Take a look! Missed 4-H Open House?? No worries! We have majority of the flyers on the website!
4-H Club Meetings:
- Cameron 4-H Club: September 2nd, 6pm, Yoe High School Cafeteria
- Gause 4-H Club: September 1st, 6:30pm, Gause Baptist Church Family Life Center
- Rockdale 4-H Club: September 8th, 6:30pm, Peace Lutheran
- Thorndale 4-H Club: August 25th, 6pm, Thorndale Chamber
- Shooting Sports 4-H Project Club: September 15th, 5pm, American Legion Rockdale, 2534 N Hwy 487 Rockdale, TX 76567
NEW 4-H YEAR STARTS SEPTEMBER 1st!!!!
The New 4-H year will start on September 1st! Please mark this on your calendar to register and re-enroll on 4-H online starting on September 1st. All 4-H club leaders and managers will need to re-enroll from August 15-September 1st.
ENROLLMENT: SEPTEMBER 1st is the first day to RE-ENROLL in 4-H! This is for 4-H members and volunteers!!! www.join4h.com Tell your friends to sign up!!! To re-enroll or join 4-H, please see our website: http://counties.agrilife.org/mc4h/4-h-enrollmentguidelines/ This link will show you the steps to join as well as many important items for the 4-H year! Join us for 4-H fun!
PLEASE CHECK YOUR ENROLLMENT BEFORE YOU SUBMIT IT! If you are awaiting review, you are good! If it says resubmit or incomplete, you will need to finish before you can be approved!
4-H Cloverbuds
We are so excited to get back to cloverbuds meetings this year! Cloverbuds are Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students. We regularly meet each month and learn about 4-H and have fun!!!! This year, we have a new 4-H leader, Adison Dach! She is excited about getting going and has some fun activities for you all!
All meetings will be at 5:15pm at the YHS Cafeteria (303 E 12th St, Cameron, TX 76520).
Here are the dates for each month:
- September 2
- October 7 (5:30-7pm National Night Out- Cameron PD)
- November 4
- December 2 (6pm- Christmas Party in conjunction with Cameron 4-H)
- January 6
- February 3
- March 3
- April 7
Fall Major Entries
Forms Available at Extension Office
All completed forms MUST BE submitted to the Extension office by Thursday August 14th - 6pm
The office will be open 8am-6pm and through lunch on Thursday, Aug 14th
Payment due with Entry Forms--Cash/Check only
Major Broiler Orders Due
Major show broiler orders (HLSR, San Antonio, Austin) are due to the Extension office by 9/8
Fall Validations/Tag Orders
Tag orders for the October Validation will be due to the office on August 26th.
This validation will be for heifers, sheep, and goats attending the spring majors (Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, etc.) that were not validated in June (heifers only have to be validated once as long as breed and owner remain the same).
October Validation Dates:
- October 21st: Heifer Validation - 5 - 6:30 PM at the YEB
- October 23rd: Sheep & Goat Validation - 5-6:30 PM at the YEB
4-H & FFA Weekend in Aggieland 2025 - Tickets on Sale NOW
Save the date for 4-H & FFA Weekend 2025: September 5-6. More information to come about educational opportunities and the tailgate with COALS, but purchase tickets now for the TAMU vs Utah State football game at the button below.
Rabbit Extravaganza
September 12-13, 2025
Bell County Expo Center
Join us for the 2025 Texas 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza! Compete in youth skills contests, exhibit a rabbit, and attend educational workshops. Learn more or sign up here: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/events/rabbit-extravaganza/
Ag Product ID Project
We will be starting the 4-H Ag Product ID project in the fall. This judging contest involves judging meats, fruits, vegetables, grains, and many other food related items. You will identify the item and then answer a question about its production in agriculture. Below are the dates for the project meetings. It’s a fun project with many contests!
If you are interested in participating, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/NHQCj55yAjezAnLAA
Practice Dates:
(Meetings held at Milam County Annex: 908 N Crockett Avenue, Suite B- Cameron, TX), at 2pm pm on Sundays
Practices:
Fall:
- September 14
- September 21
- October 12- TBD
- October 26
- November 2
- November 9
- November 16
Spring:
- January 4
- January 11
- January 18- TBD
- February 1
- February 8
- February 15
- March 1
- March 8
- March 22
- March 29
Contest Dates:
(Most dates are tentative based on last year)
- September 26: State Fair (deadline to sign up August 14)
- October 4: HOT Fair Ag ID Contest- Waco
- November 6: District AG ID contest- Belton
- February 6: Bell County Youth Fair- Belton
- February 22: San Antonio Livestock Show- NEW
- March 18: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
- April 10: Leon County (Tentative)
4-H Consumer Project
Below are the dates for the consumer project meetings.
Consumer Decision Making project is teaching youth how to be a better shopper and use these skills to be better consumers in the future.
We learn need vs want, how to find the best quality of an item, and how to give reasons on why you placed an item a certain way.
It’s a fun project with many contests! If you are interested in participating, please fill out the form by October 1: https://forms.gle/zb7wvayHP8uMYw4j9
Practice Dates:
(Meetings held at Milam County Annex: 908 N Crockett Avenue, Suite B- Cameron, TX)-
Practices will be held at 6:00pm (unless otherwise stated)
Thursdays:
- October 2
- October 9
- October 30
- November 6
- November 13
- January 8
- January 15
- January 22
- January 29
- February 5, 4-7pm (COUNTY CONTEST)
- February 12
- February 26
- March 5
- March 12
- March 26
- April 9
Contest Dates:
- January/February (TBD)- Invitational CDM Contest- Gatesville
- February 5th- County Consumer Contest- Cameron (MANDATORY TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER CONTESTS)
- February 21- San Antonio CDM Contest- San Antonio
- April 10- District CDM Contest-Belton
4-H Butterbraid Fundraiser:
This fundraiser pays for trip to San Antonio contest that require us to spend the night:
- Start Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- End Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
- Delivery Date: Monday, November 24, 2025
Forms are will be emailed once available and ready on October 1st!
Rockdale Fair
October 15, 16, 17, & 18, 2025
Rockdale Fair Rules have been updated on the website: https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/rockdale-fair/
Ownership and Tag-in dates are as follows:
- Rabbits: September 15th, 2025, 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Home Demonstration Building, Rockdale Fair Park
- Broilers: Order through RFA, by May 16th, pick-up September 5th, Home Demonstration Bldg.,
- Rockdale Fair Park, 12:00 to 2:00 pm, Cost per broiler: $1.74. A minimum of 25 chicks
- per entry must be purchased by each exhibitor.
- Breeding Beef Heifer entries postmarked and due September 15, 2025.
Rockdale Fair Home Economics has been updated and posted on the website above! Take a look and get started on those projects now!!!! Don't wait till the last minute!
All exhibitors showing market animals, commercial heifers, breeding beef heifers, baked food and ag mechanic projects will be required to come to one board approved cleanup/set up day, Saturday, October 4th, 8:00 to 11:00 am, Saturday, October 11th, 8:00 to 11:00 am or Sunday, October 12, 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Exhibitors will be required to sign in. FAILURE TO ATTEND MAY RESULT IN PROBATION OR DISQUALIFICATION.
4-H Awards Ceremony
The Milam County 4-H Banquet will be held September 7th at 2pm at the Cameron ISD Performing Arts Center. We will be recognizing 4-H clubs, leaders, recordbook participants, award winners, and even outstanding 4-H club members! Come and plan to attend! It’s also a great way to learn more about 4-H!
Photography Ambassadors
We are very fortunate to have 3 Photography Ambassadors in our County!
Would you like to start this adventure and leadership role? It is a fun experience!
See the attached document as well as the information below on how to become a JMP and Photography Ambassador!
The dates for the 2025-2026 Junior Master Photography workshops have been set and are as follows:
Workshop I - September 27, 2025, Dallas
Workshop II - December 6, 2025, Dallas
Below are the details for both trainings. Please note that these will not be offered at any other times during the 4-H year.
JMP Workshop I
Date: Saturday, September 27
Times: 8 AM to 4:30 PM
Fee: $50
Location: Dallas Research and Extension Center; 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX
Age divisions: Intermediate and Senior; limited to the first 50 youth to register
Registration: Opens on 4HOnline August 30 and closes September 21
Equipment: DSLR Camera Required (a limited supply will be available for loan on the day of the workshop)
JMP Workshop II
Date: Saturday, December 9
Times: 8 AM to 4:30 PM
Fee: $50
Location: Dallas Research and Extension Center; 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX
Age divisions: Intermediate and Senior; limited to those who have attended Workshop I
Registration: Opens on 4HOnline November 10 and closes November 30
Equipment: DSLR Camera Required (a limited supply will be available for loan on the day of the workshop)
These two workshops are the training ground to becoming an ambassador. Youth must attend and fulfill the requirements of the JMP program first and can then become an ambassador.
Photography Monthly Meetings
Capture your county in a new light! This summer, our local county is hosting a series of exciting photography events designed for shutterbugs of all skill levels—from beginners to seasoned professionals.
These gatherings offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts, hone your craft, and celebrate the unique beauty of our community.
Texas Farm Bureau Student Success Series
Texas students put together the pieces that make up a successful leader through the Student Success Series. Students in 8th through 12th grade can learn more about leadership and networking and grow confidence and personal professionalism. For questions, email youthactivities@txfb.org or call 254.399.5037. Click here to learn more and apply today at the button below.
4-H County Council Meetings 2025-2026
Join us for 4-H County Council Meetings!
All meetings start at 6pm.
Locations:
August, October, January, April: Annex
November: TBA
Milam County Junior Livestock Show:
All rules have been posted on the MCJLS website and can be found here: https://mcjla.org/
Eligibility Forms
All Contests and Livestock Shows (any competitive event) requires an Eligibility Form to be completed AT LEAST 2 weeks OR BEFORE the contest/show. Please print and complete this form and turn it in to the County Extension Office, 908 N Crockett Avenue, Suite B, Cameron, TX 76520. Or it can be faxed to 254-697-7046. We do have a drop box for after hours. For questions, please call the Extension Office.
All forms will be emailed to: mailto:kimberly.mcelwrath@ag.tamu.edu
Forms can be found by going to: https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/4-h-enrollmentguidelines/eligibility-form/
DO NOT SEND TO SCHOOLS!!!!!
REMINDER: YOU MUST BE ENROLLED ON 4-H ONLINE BEFORE COMPLETING AN ELIGIBILITY FORM!
SEE PICTURE FOR INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!
MyPI Program
Do you want a way to build skills, help your community, enhance your college applications, potentially get CTE hours?
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit is offering a class, open to youth between the ages of 13 and 19.
Beginning in 2025, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer a four-time national award-winning youth preparedness, leadership and educational outreach program known as MyPI (My Preparedness Initiative) for teenagers across Texas. MyPI Texas is a component of the National Youth Preparedness Initiative (MyPI National), a partnership of 37 states and 3 US territories, delivering an innovative, engaging, and comprehensive curriculum for teenagers that will enable profound impact on emergency preparedness for households and communities in addition to youth leadership characteristics across the nation.
If this is something you would be interested in, please fill out form. We will need 10 students to form a class. Once we have enough to begin a class, we will contact you regarding a class time.
Learn more about the program by clicking on the brochures below, follow this LINK to the website, or contact Danny Hale, DAR Specialist at d.hale@ag.tamu.edu
4-H Facebook & Instagram:
Do not forget we have a 4-H Facebook and Instagram page! We post 4-H Blasts, 4-H contest results and neat opportunities to do in 4-H! Make sure that you “see us first” in your settings. Step 1: Like the Page, Step 2: Click on 3 dots by search and like and then click Follow Settings, Step 3: set as favorite, Step 4: Click on Posts and choose STANDARD, then you will see all 4-H posts when they arrive!
Facebook: Milam County 4-H and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Instagram: milam4h
Milam County 4-H Information!
For information about any 4-H related activity, please go to the website or facebook page! www.Join4-h.com or www.facebook.com/milamcountyfourH
Contact Information:
908 N Crockett Avenue, Suite B
Cameron, TX 76520
254-697-7045 or 254-605-0226
Kimberly McElwrath
Office Manager
4-H Enrollment questions, general 4-H questions
kimberly.mcelwrath@ag.tamu.edu
Mary Mowdy
Secretary
Micah Holcombe
County Extension Agent- FCH
4-H FCH Projects (CDM, AG ID, Fashion, Food), Recordbooks, Scholarships
Josh Evans
County Extension Agent- Ag/NR
4-H AG Projects/4-H Livestock Projects
The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.