Tarrant 4-H

Happy July! I can't believe we are halfway through the year.

4-H Club and Volunteer nominations are open! Please consider nominating some of our hardworking volunteers to be recognized at our Awards Banquet. You can also nominate a business or organization that has supported 4-H during this last program year. Links are provided below.

We have some meeting & contest dates set. Please be sure to mark those dates on your calendar!

Sincerely,

Miss Kate

kate.marshall@ag.tamu.edu

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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

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

Dear 4-H Club Managers and Volunteers,

Please complete the 4-H Club Award Application 2025 if you would like to nominate your club for the Honor, Blue Ribbon, or Rising Star club awards! Please remember that only one person, preferably the club manager, should complete the entry.

The following are descriptions of the awards:

• Honor Club Award-Clubs that meet 12 of the 16 standards of excellence. By meeting these standards, clubs ensure proper management and leadership and can better fulfill the mission of making the best better.

• Blue Ribbon Club Award-This award is given in recognition to clubs that place the youth as their focus. Clubs that provide positive experiences and opportunities to grow for all of their members will be considered for this award.

• Rising Star Club Award-This award is given to clubs whose members are extensively engaged in club, county, district, and state level events. While members engaging in club activities is great, we strongly encourage our youth to experience 4-H more completely by partaking in activities at all levels.

Application deadline is Friday, July 25, 2025, by 5 p.m.

*Club awards will be announced at the Annual County Awards Reception.

In Tarrant County, we are fortunate to have amazing volunteers who work diligently in support of our 4-H youth. In an effort to provide public recognition, the following awards have been established. A volunteer may receive each award only once.

Nomination deadline is Friday, July 25, 2025, by 5 p.m.

Youth and adults are encouraged to submit nominations for the following awards. More than one person can nominate an individual or organization.

Friend of 4-H Award: This award is presented to a group, business, organization, or individual that has contributed to the development of the overall 4-H program in Tarrant County. Application.

Alumni Award: This award recognizes a former 4-Her who continues to support the 4-H program and has made significant contributions to "Make the Best Better." Application.

Distinguished Leader Award: Each year, the Distinguished Leader Award recognizes an adult for his/her efforts to improve the 4-H program and make an impact on the 4-H members, not just within the local club, but at the county, district, and state level as well. Application.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, July 25, 2025, by 5 p.m.

*Awards will be announced at the Annual County Awards Reception.

Check out the success of our 4-Her's in the District Record Book Contest! Seniors who placed 1st will be advancing to the State Competition. Good Luck!

Make plans to join us on Monday, September 22, at 6:30 p.m.! We will be holding our annual 4-H Club Officer training. New and returning officers/members are all encouraged to attend! Not currently serving as an officer? That's ok, we're here to help you learn! ALL members are welcome.

Please be sure to join us on Thursday, August 28th for our Club Manager training. It will be held at the Extension Office & begin at 6:30 p.m. Check out the details on the flyer below! *All clubs must send a representative.

*Assistant Club Managers and Adult Volunteers are all welcome to attend! Please email: kate.marshall@ag.tamu.edu to RSVP.

The date has been set for our Tarrant County Food Challenge Contest! Please save Thursday, October 23rd, 6:00 p.m. Please note: Teams MUST participate at the county contest to qualify for Districts. Contact us with questions!

Thanks to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, for visiting with our Interns at Livestock Validation! We appreciate your support of Agriculture and 4-H!

Please use the forms below when making entries for these shows. *Some of these shows haven't posted the worksheets yet. We will add those as soon as they become available!

East Texas State Fair (Athens)

Entries open July 1 - August 17 (for your information)

Our deadline to have them in office is August 8 by 5 p.m.

West Texas Fair & Rodeo (Abilene)

Entries open July 1 – August 15 (for your information)

Our deadline to have them to the office is August 8 by 5 p.m.

State Fair of Texas (Dallas)

Entries open August 1 – August 25

Our deadline will be August 15 by 5 p.m.

*Parents will be able to go to the online portal to enter exhibitors and then we can approve from our side. However, will need to require they bring in the completed and signed worksheets, because those are required to be sent in with the final entry submission.

Heart of Texas (Waco)

Opens July 31 – Aug 25

Our deadline will be August 15 same as State Fair, by 5 p.m.

Applications for the 2025-2026 Texas 4-H STEM Ambassadors will open July 1 and close on July 31, 2025.

Mission

As STEM Ambassadors, our mission is to educate communities about science, technology, engineering, and math opportunities; both inside and outside of 4-H, while learning essential skills in STEM, communication, and teamwork. Application Link.

Eligibility for New Members

• A Texas 4-H member entering the 9th – 12th grade (as of September 1, 2025).
• Complete and submit the application by July 31, 2025.
• Have a willingness to learn about and promote STEM.
• Attend a mandatory virtual orientation along with his/her parents/guardians on August 28 at 7 PM.
• Attend the mandatory fall and spring in-person meetings (dates and locations will be listed in the application).
• Be willing to work collaboratively on a team with other youth and adults.
• Be responsive and engaged in team communications.
• Share knowledge and skills with others.
• Not serving on the 2025-26 Texas 4-H Council.
• Applications will be reviewed in August and applicants notified by the August 25th.

Check out this FREE state-wide 4-H photography contest for Juniors & Intermediates. This is an invitational contest that only requires a digital upload of your photo. Three photos can be entered per youth. Deadline to register is July 31st. See registration here. If you have any questions, please contact Jordan Peldyak at the Tarrant County Extension office at Jordan.Peldyak@ag.tamu.edu.

Even though our clubs don't traditionally meet in the summertime, our 4-H'ers have been busy!

• Gavin Slough received a $10,000 4-H Foundation Scholarship at State Roundup.
• Jack Stoffels attended the Tier I 4-H Water Ambassador Leadership Academy.
• Leilah Burnside attended the 4-H Equine Ambassador short course in Stephenville.
• Kaden Gordillo, Sammie Duncan, Emma Harvey & Finley Montana attended District 4 Leadership Lab camp in Point, TX.
• Kaden Gordillo & Sammie Duncan were installed as District IV 4-H Council Officers
• Kaden Gordillo placed 9th at State Roundup in the Ag & Natural Resources Ed. Presentation
• Evelyn Cook placed 9th at State Roundup in the Sheep & Goat Ed. Presentation
• Elizabeth Hall placed 4th at State Roundup in the Invitational Vet Skillathon Contest
• Kaden Gordillo will be representing Tarrant County and District IV on the State 4-H Council
• Drew Parker placed 1st in the TFAA Outdoor competition and 1st in the Fort Bend County Contest!
• Saginaw 4-H volunteered at the Windy Ryon Memorial Roping event.
• Lanelee Walden participated in the District IV Horse Camp in Gainesville.

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

• Tarrant County 4-H Calendar: https://secure.smore.com/n/mb3qj

• 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 Activity Report: (Google Form)
• Individual Activity Report: (Google Form)
• Club Manager Forms (Sign-in Sheets) link

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is an equal opportunity employer and program provider. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.