Tarrant 4-H

Howdy!

We have made it all the way to March! There are a bunch of opportunities and important dates in this newsletter, be sure to read it carefully! Please reach out if you have questions!

Sincerely,

Miss Kate

kate.marshall@ag.tamu.edu

Kate Marshall, CEA 4-H Youth Development, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

kate.marshall@ag.tamu.edu

Jordan Peldyak, EA 4-H Youth Development, Prairie View Cooperative Extension Program

Jordan.Peldyak@ag.tamu.edu

Sanci Hall, EA 4-H Youth Development, Prairie View Cooperative Extension Program

sanci.hall@ag.tamu.edu

Andrea Amador, 4-H Administrative Assistant

andrea.amador@agnet.tamu.edu

Traveling to the Tarrant County AgriLife Extension Office:

The entrance to our building is on the West side facing our surface parking lot and Burnett St., it is not on Taylor St. The surface parking lot entrance is on West 2nd Street (Parking will be validated for those participating/staying at an event. Please bring the ticket up with you and we will provide a sticker barcode that scans to get you out free of charge). You will enter the building on the 2nd floor and then take the elevators to the 5th floor where our office is located.

Email: tarrant4-h@ag.tamu.edu
Website: https://tarrant-tx.tamu.edu/
Location: 200 Taylor Street suite 500, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Phone: 817-884-1291
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TarrantCounty4H

Please keep this link handy! This is the 2025-26 Tarrant County 4-H Calendar. County & District Event dates are listed. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Dear 4-H'ers - Please note due to some circumstances beyond our control the date for County Awards Interviews will be the 5th Monday of June in 2026. Please mark Monday, June 29, 2026 on your calendars. This is for county awards that require an interview.

We are trying something new this year. CYC will meet the same months that the Adult Leaders Association meets. Our schedule for 2025-26 is listed below. Our incoming officers have some BIG things being planned.

All 4-H members are welcome to attend! Be sure to join us at our March meeting! We'll be talking about different Texas 4-H Ambassador opportunities.

County Youth Council is a great way to interact with other 4-H'ers from all over the county and build your leadership skills!

• March 23, 2026 (CYC will be hosting a 4-H Ambassador Panel)
• May 18, 2026 (CYC will be hosting County Officer Elections)

The 2025-2026 Texas 4-H Record Book Family Guide is now available. You will notice a few changes to the record book format for this coming year.

Tarrant County 4-H Record Books are DUE to the office no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1st.

Link to updated Texas 4-H Record Book information: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/recordbooks/

Howdy everyone!

It's time to start thinking about getting your 2026 State Validation tags ordered.

Early Tag orders are February 10 – March 31.

Late Tag orders are April 1 – May 8.

More information is below, please be sure to pay attention to the pricing as a few of them have changed.

For the June validation we will be validating all species, especially those that will be attending the Fall Show run (State Fair of Texas, West Texas Fair, Heart of Texas, etc.). Please keep in mind if your project is State Validated, this qualifies for county validation as well.

Steers:

• Are only validated in June for all major shows.

Heifers:

• Validation is good for 2 years – unless ownership changes
• If ownership changes then the heifer will need to be completely revalidated in the new owner’s name.

Sheep/Goats:

• Market Projects validated in June for the Fall 2026 season are validated for the Spring 2027 season if there are no changes (* if TLBA/TGBA tags need to be added after the June validation, then they will need to be completely revalidated in October*)
• Breeding Sheep and Breeding Goats roll over validation for 3 years; they do no need to be validated every year. Unless the animal was validated as a whether dam and now has registration papers. Then the animal will need to be completely revalidated.
• Dairy Goats do NOT require State Validations. They require county only.

Swine:

• Validations do NOT roll over to the Spring show season

Payment for your tag is due upon ordering. Price for the tag is the price of the tag on the day the order was placed.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR TAGS ORDERED BY THE DEADLINE. NO TAGS WILL BE ORDER PAST THE ORDER DEADLINE!!!

*********!!!!!!!! SHEEP/ GOAT !!!!!!!!!!*******

Tags ordered February 10 – March 31 will be $25 each (Sheep & Goat Only)

Tags ordered April 1 – May 8 will be $35 each (Sheep & Goat Only)

*********!!!!!!!!! Heifer Tag Orders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!************

Tags ordered February 10 – March 31 will be $25 each

Tags ordered April 1 – May 8 will be $35 each

*********!!!!!!!!! Steer Tag Orders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!************

Tags ordered February 10 – March 31 will be $25 each

Tags ordered April 1 – May 8 will be $35 each

********!!!!!!!!!!!!Swine Tag Orders!!!!!!!!!!!*************

Tags ordered February 10 – March 31 will be $20 each

Tags ordered April 1 – May 8 will be $25 each

!!!!!! NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 5 PM ON May 8!!!!! (NO EXCEPTIONS)

(Order form will be closed at 5 pm on May 8th)

State Validation – June 2026 – order link

If you have any questions, please be sure to reach out!

Jacklyn Jones – Doyle

Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent

Tarrant County - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Texas 4-H Horse Validation for the 2026 season will be open in our new platform, Texas Show Pass, from March 1 – May 1, 2026.

*NEW IN 2026* - Texas 4-H Horse Validation has launched a new system to best fit the needs of families, County Extension Agents, and district and state specialists. Texas Show Pass is very user friendly, and we look forward to a pleasant, refined user experience for our horse project families! We will be providing many resources to all parties to aid in a smooth transition.

• From March 1 – April 15, the validation cost for each horse is $10.00. The $10.00 cost is only guaranteed if the validation is submitted and payment is processed.
• From April 16 – May 1, the validation cost for each horse is $20.00. The $20.00 cost is only guaranteed if the validation is submitted and payment is processed.
• *NEW IN 2026* - Families may add and save all of their horses to their profile and then pay for all horses in one credit card transaction! Check out the walk-through video and validation guide at https://texasyouthlivestock.com/horse-validation/ for more information.

Validation Resources:

• For a validation guide, walk-through video, one-pagers and other resources, please visit https://texasyouthlivestock.com/horse-validation/

Application Process:

1. Applications will be released on the Texas Youth Livestock and Agriculture website (www.texasyouthlivestock.com) on February 15, 2026
2. Student will complete the application and enter the contact information of supervising County Extension Agent
3. CEA will be automatically emailed a recommendation survey
4. A selection committee will review the applications and accept up to 25 participants per short course
5. Applications are due April 15, 2026

Selection Criteria:

• Senior level (grades 9-12 in fall 2026) 4-H youth that have exhibited a superior level of ambition regarding his/her livestock/equine/poultry projects
• Students with a profound interest in animal/equine/poultry science, animal production and advocacy
• Students have shown advanced leadership qualities and a willingness to help others
• Top 25% class rank preferred

2026 Short Course Offering:

1. Texas 4-H Equine Ambassador Short Course, Texas A&M University – June 8-11, 2026
2. Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Course, Texas A&M University-Kingsville – June 15-18, 2026
3. Texas 4-H Poultry Ambassador Short Course, Texas A&M University – June 22-25, 2026
4. Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Course, Texas A&M University – July 13-16, 2026
5. Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Course, West Texas A&M University/Texas Tech University – July 20-23, 2026
   

2026 Phase II and Phase III Offering:

1. Texas 4-H Advocacy Academy, Austin – June 29-July 1, 2026
2. *NEW* Texas 4-H Agribusiness Academy, College Station – June 29-July 1, 2026
3. Texas 4-H Pacific Agricultural Experience – July 31-August 10, 2026 - *dates tentative*

Mark your calendars for June 1-4, 2026. There are multiple opportunities to engage in workshops, invitational contests and MUCH more! Get all of the details here and be watching for hotel room blocks to be released soon.

Due to increased participation and demand, we will be expanding our Junior Master Photographer trainings next fall. We will continue to host JMP 1 and 2 in Dallas during September and December. In addition, we are adding a second training location (both workshops on one weekend) in Kerrville

November 7-8, 2026. So, mark your calendars for these dates and locations:

• Dallas JMP 1 – September 26, 2026
• Kerrville JMP 1/2 – November 7-8, 2026
• Dallas JMP 2 – December 5, 2026

For information on the steps required to become a JMP or Ambassador, please refer to this document. This expansion will also help us increase our JMP and Ambassador ranks, further enabling us to help grow the photography program. Registration for these workshops will take place after the start of the new 4-H year. More details will be shared in the summer.

We are pleased to offer to our 11th and/or 12th grade Tarrant County 4-H members the opportunity to apply for the Millie Hurst Memorial Scholarship, A Scholarship Program Funded by the Tarrant 4-H Adult Leader's Association.

Scholarship award(s) will be made in the amount of $1,000, payable as indicated in this document: ALA Scholarship Guidelines 2026.

The Application is available in both MS Word and fillable PDF formats. Both formats may be found at this link: ALA Scholarship Guidelines 2026 .

Application deadline is Monday, June 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Original applications must be received in the Tarrant County 4-H office by that time. (Electronic submissions will not be accepted.)

All applicants must attend an in-person interview. Interviews will be held on Monday, June 29, 2026 at the County 4-H Office—interview times will be emailed to applicants on or about June 9th.

All questions regarding these scholarships should be addressed to tarrant4hala@gmail.com.

The 2026 Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Scholarship applications are now available!

We are proud to extend our commitment to Texas youth and announce a new, Workforce, Career & Technical Education Program Scholarship in addition to our Academic Scholarship.

All information for the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Scholarship program is available on our website at www.hotfair.com.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026.

In 2025, we awarded 53 scholarships totaling $313,000 to high school seniors! Our mission is to produce events for education, entertainment, and agricultural experiences at our premier multi-use facility while giving back through youth scholarships and having a positive economic impact on Central Texas.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding our scholarship program!

Kathryn “Kat” Hill

Extraco Events Center

Home of the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo

Mission Coordinator

4601 Bosque Blvd. | Waco, TX 76710

office 254-224-8278

kat@hotfair.com

ExtracoEventsCenter.com | hotfair.com

Link to the application. Scholarship Award: Five $15,000 awards distributed over the 4 years at Prairie View A&M University.

Applicant Eligibility:

• United States Citizen – scholar will be required to provide proof of citizenship.
• Texas high school graduate with college enrollment within two years of high school graduation.
• Accepted to enroll at Prairie View A&M University and participate in a curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in an approved major (See page 4 for a list of S.A.L.E. acceptable majors).
• Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.80 or above on a scale of 4.0.
• Minimum Test Scores: SAT- 800 (total score) or ACT- 15 (composite score).
• Applicants have demonstrated leadership, community service, and the potential to be successful.
• Applicants have demonstrated financial need.
• Youth participation in PVAMU 4-H and Youth Development events will get points for 4-H participation.

The application deadline is May 1, 2026

Check out the attachment below for the complete listing of camps being offered by the Texas 4-H Center in Brownwood this summer! Texas 4-H Conference Center - Lake Brownwood, TX

Here are some handy links for our Club Managers and Adult Leaders!

• Tarrant County 4-H Calendar: https://secure.smore.com/n/jx6ak
• Texas 4-H Management (Complete Listing of 4-H Resources and Official Logos): 4-H Management - Texas 4-H (tamu.edu)

• Texas 4-H Curriculum and Resources: Curriculum and Resources - Texas 4-H (tamu.edu)

• Tarrant County AgriLife Extension 4-H Webpage: Tarrant County 4-H – Making the Best Better | Teaching, Research, Extension, and Service (agrilife.org)
• Club Manager Forms (Sign-in Sheets) link