4-H Weekly Blast

All events are on the 4-H Website! Add them to your calendar by clicking HERE

August 27: Tag Orders Due for October Validation (see below)

September 1: 4-H Enrollment Begins!!!!!*

September 1: Cameron 4-H Club Meeting, 1st Meeting, 6pm, CH Yoe High School Cafeteria*

September 3: Major Show Broiler Orders-HLSR, SALE, and Austin, Extension Office

September 4: Rockdale Fair Broiler Pick Up, 12-2pm, RFA Home Demo Building*

September 6: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

September 7: Thorndale 4-H Club Meeting, 1st Meeting, 6pm, Thorndale HS AG Bldg*

September 13: 4-H Awards Ceremony*

September 14: Rockdale 4-H Club Meeting, 1st Meeting, 6:30pm, Rockdale Peach Lutheran Fellowship Hall*

September 14: Rockdale Fair Breeding Beef Heifer entries postmarked*

September 14: Rockdale Fair Ag Mechanics Entries Due

September 14: Rockdale Fair Rabbit Tag In, 5:30-7pm, Home Demo Building

September 14: Rockdale Fair Baked Goods Entries Due

September 18-19: Texas 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza

September 18: Spring Major Swine Tag Orders Due, Extension Office

September 20: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

September 20: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

September 21: Shooting Sports 4-H Club Meeting, 1st Meeting, 5pm, Minerva/Rockdale

September 21: Rockdale Fair Eligibility Forms Due

September 25: State Fair of Texas AG ID Contest

September 26: State Fair of Texas Plant ID Contest

September 26: JMP Workshop #1, Dallas

October 1: 4-H Consumer Butterbraid Fundraiser Starts

October 4: Rockdale Fair Cleanup/Setup Day, 1:30-4:30pm*

October 4: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

October 8: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

October 10: HOT AG ID Contest, Waco

October 11: Rockdale Fair Cleanup/Setup Day, 1:30-4:30pm*

October 14-17, 2026: Rockdale Fair

October 15: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

October 13-14, 2026: Rockdale Fair-Home Economics Division*

October 18: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

October 18: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

October 22: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

October 25: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

October 29: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

October 31: Holiday Classic, Belton

November 1: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

November 5: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

November 5: District AG Product ID Contest

November 11: Rockdale Fair Thank you Notes drop off, 4-6pm, RFA Livestock Office or postmarked by November 13th.*

November 12: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

November 15: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

November 19: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

November 21: Invitational Consumer and Ag ID Contest, Gatesville'

November 23: Holiday Gift Idea Exchange, 6pm, Cameron FMC

December 8/9: Rockdale Fair Picture and Delivery Confirmation card pick up, 4-6pm, RFA Livestock Office*

December 20: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

January 7: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

January 10: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

January 11: Rockdale Fair Picture Confirmation card and picture delivery deadline*

January 14: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

January 17: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

January 17: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

January 21: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

January 24: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

January 28: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

February 4: County Consumer Contest, 4-7pm, Extension Office

February 7: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

February 11: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

February 20: San Antonio Consumer Contest, San Antonio

February 21: San Antonio Ag Product ID Contest, San Antonio

February 25: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

February 28: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

February 28: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

March 4: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

March 7: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

March 11: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

March 21: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

April 1: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

April 4: Ag Product ID Practice, 2pm, Extension Office*

April 8: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

April 15: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

April 18: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

April 22: Consumer Practice, 6pm, Extension Office

April 24: District Consumer Contest

April 24: District Roundup

May 16: Photography Project Meeting, 6-7:30pm, Extension Office*

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.

• 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
• WIC Kitchen- Meeting room in Extension Office Building (down the hallway from Extension Office door)

• Cameron 4-H Club: 1st Tuesdays, 6pm, Yoe High School Cafeteria, 1st meeting- September 1st
• Gause 4-H Club: 2nd Mondays, 6:30pm, Gause Baptist Church Family Life Center, Next meeting: September 14th
• Rockdale 4-H Club: 2nd Mondays, 6:30pm, Peace Lutheran, 1st meeting- September 14th,
• Thorndale 4-H Club: 1st Mondays, 6pm, Thorndale HS Ag Building, 1st meeting- September 7th
• Shooting Sports 4-H Project Club: 3rd Mondays, 5pm, American Legion Rockdale, 2534 N Hwy 487 Rockdale, TX 76567, 1st meeting- September 21st

Each month, club managers and project leaders need to fill out their meeting reports!!!

Click HERE to do those reports!

Tag orders for the October Validation will be due to the office August 27th. Tags will be $30/tag for heifers, sheep and goats.

This validation is for any heifers not previously validated, and sheep or goats that were not validated in June that are intended to show in Spring majors.

Projects validated in June do not have to be revalidated unless they changed breed or owner.

All orders for spring major swine tags will be due September 18th. Tags will be $25 each.

Couple of reminders -

• All pigs MUST have an ear notch in both ears. Pigs without a notch in both ears will be disqualified.
• All dates on the registration papers for gilts must be on or before November 30, 2026. If any date on the registration papers is December 1, 2026, or later, the papers will be rejected.

Please check the website for DATES and DEADLINES for Rockdale Fair! We will update the calendar above soon with those dates! https://milam.4h.agrilife.org/rockdale-fair/

• September 4: Rockdale Fair Broiler Pick Up, 12-2pm, RFA Home Demo Building
• September 14: Rockdale Fair Breeding Beef Heifer entries postmarked
• September 14: Rockdale Fair Ag Mechanics Entries Due
• September 14: Rockdale Fair Baked Goods Entries Due
• September 14: Rockdale Fair Rabbit Tag In, 5:30-7pm, Home Demo Building
• September 21: ALL ELIGIBILITY FORMS DUE FOR ROCKDALE FAIR!!!!!
• October 4: Rockdale Fair Cleanup/Setup Day, 1:30-4:30pm
• October 11: Rockdale Fair Cleanup/Setup Day, 1:30-4:30pm
• October 14-17, 2026: Rockdale Fair
• October 13-14, 2026: Rockdale Fair-Home Economics Division
• November 11: Rockdale Fair Thank you Notes drop off, 4-6pm, RFA Livestock Office or postmarked by November 13th.
• December 8/9: Rockdale Fair Picture and Delivery Confirmation card pick up, 4-6pm, RFA Livestock Office
• January 11: Picture Confirmation card and picture delivery deadline

October 14–17, 2026

The Rockdale Fair Association is looking for high school students to help at the ticket gate during Rockdale Fair week. This is a great opportunity for FFA, 4-H, and National Honor Society students to earn community service hours.

Students will volunteer for a two-hour shift and may assist with:

• Handling money at the ticket gate
• Stamping hands for guests entering the park

These volunteer hours can count toward the four hours of community service required for the Rockdale Fair Association scholarship application. Please note that these hours are separate from any setup or post-event cleanup hours.

The attached schedule includes available shifts for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Yellow time slots are designated for high school students and students will work alongside an adult or Rockdale Fair Association board member.

To sign up, students may text their name and requested day/time slot to the contact listed on the schedule. Requests will be confirmed as quickly as possible.

If a student needs documentation or a signature for their community service hours, a Rockdale Fair Association board member will be happy to sign their community service form.

Thank you for helping us share this opportunity with local high school students! If you have any questions, please reach out to the Rockdale Fair Association.

Mark your calendars: September 1st! 🎉

A brand-new 4-H enrollment system is launching, and we think our 4-H families are going to LOVE it!

This year, EVERYONE will need to renew their enrollment in the new system. That means our Cloverbuds, Juniors, Intermediates, Seniors, and Adults all need to complete enrollment for the new 4-H year.

🌟 New Year. New System. Same Great 4-H!

The new enrollment system is designed to make enrolling in 4-H easier, more family-friendly, and more convenient. We’re excited about the improvements and can’t wait for you to see it!

Whether you are a longtime 4-H family or brand-new to the 4-H adventure, September 1st is your starting line. 🏁

👧🧑‍🎓👩‍🌾 Everyone Needs to Enroll!

When enrollment opens, remember:

Cloverbuds → Renew!
Juniors → Renew!
Intermediates → Renew!
Seniors → Renew!
4-H Adults & Volunteers → Renew!

Even if you were enrolled last year, you will need to complete enrollment again in the new system.

📅 Enrollment Opens September 1st

Watch for more information from Milam County 4-H about how to get started. We’ll help guide you through the new system so you can get enrolled and get back to the fun stuff: projects, friendships, leadership, contests, community service, and all the adventures that make 4-H AWESOME! 💚

New system. Fresh start. Another year of 4-H adventures!

We’ll see you in the new enrollment system on September 1st! 🎉🐄📸🍳🏆

Our annual Milam County 4-H Giveaway is here, and we're asking every 4-H member to sell just TWO books of tickets!

Why does it matter? Every ticket sold helps fund the programs our members love, including:
⭐ Judging Teams
⭐ Leadership Opportunities
⭐ 4-H Camps
⭐ Day Camps
⭐ Exhibitor Clinics
⭐ Cloverbud Activities
⭐ And so much more!

💚 NEW this year!
🎁 Sell a winning ticket and you'll receive a gift card! Just make sure your name is listed as the seller on every ticket.

🎉 Club Challenge!
The 4-H club with the highest percentage of ticket sales based on enrollment will win a club party! Every ticket counts, so let's see which club comes out on top!

🎟️ Pick up your tickets from your Club Manager and help us make this year's fundraiser our biggest one yet! Make sure you turn in your tickets by the deadline set by your 4-H Club!

📅 Drawing: Monday, November 23, during the Holiday Gift Idea Exchange.

Together, we can continue providing amazing opportunities for every Milam County 4-H member. Thank you for helping make Milam County 4-H AWESOME! 💚🍀

Fall Shows and Contests are ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!!!! Make sure you have turned in all Eligibility Forms to Kimberly at the Extension Office. Here is the LINK to the Fillable Form. Please call 254-697-7045 if you have any questions. It's never too early to turn in forms. If you know your 4-H'er is going to be attending an event, send in the form!

YOU MUST BE AN ENROLLED 4-H MEMBER IN ORDER TO FILL OUT AN ELIGIBILITY FORM!!!!

Rockdale Fair Elig Forms are DUE SEPTEMBER 21!!!!

We have updated the form to better help you with filling out the eligibility forms! PLEASE USE THE NEW ONE!

For the 2026-2027 Fillable Eligibility Form Click Here

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. We do have a drop box for after hours. For questions, please call the Extension Office.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO TURN IN ALL ELIG. FORMS FOR THE YEAR NOW!!!

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!!!!!

Sign Up Here for AG PRODUCT ID: https://forms.gle/PMw36x9Po7zLc8Ek6

Practice Dates:

(Meetings held at Milam County Annex: 908 N Crockett Avenue, Suite B- Cameron, TX)

2 pm on Sundays

Fall:

• September 6
• September 20
• October 4
• October 18
• October 25
• November 1

Spring:

• January 10
• January 17
• January 24
• January 31
• February 7
• February 28
• March 7
• April 4

Contest Dates:

• September 25: State Fair
• October 10: HOT Fair Ag ID Contest- Waco
• November 5: District AG ID contest
• November 21: Central TX Invitational Ag ID Contest
• February 5 (Tentative): Bell County Youth Fair- Belton
• February 21: San Antonio Livestock Show
• March 17 (Tentative): Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
• April 9 (Tentative): Leon County

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 using QR Code below by October 1: https://forms.gle/HpRx4twkPjbg9PNf8

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 8
• October 15
• October 22
• October 29
• November 5
• November 12
• November 19
• January 7
• January 14
• January 21
• January 28
• February 4, 4-7pm (COUNTY CONTEST)
• February 11
• February 25
• March 4
• March 11
• April 1
• April 8
• April 15
• April 22

Contest Dates:

• November 21- Invitational CDM Contest- Cameron
• February 4th- County Consumer Contest- Cameron (MANDATORY TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER CONTESTS)
• February 20th- San Antonio CDM Contest- San Antonio
• April 24- District CDM Contest-Belton

4-H Butterbraid Fundraiser:

his fundraiser pays for trip to San Antonio contest that require us to spend the night:

• Start Date: October 1st
• End Date: October 26th
• Delivery Date: Monday, November 23

Forms are will be emailed once available and ready on October 1st!

For more information:

Micah Holcombe, CEA-FCH (CDM Coach)

254-697-7045

mlholcombe@ag.tamu.edu

📸 Discover the Milam County 4-H Photography Project!

Do you enjoy taking pictures, telling stories through your camera, or simply want to learn how to take better photos? The Milam County 4-H Photography Project is the perfect place to develop your skills while having fun!

Beginning August 16, youth will meet monthly from 6:00-7:00 PM at 908 N. Crockett Avenue in Cameron. Throughout the year, participants will explore a variety of photography topics including camera basics, smartphone photography, lighting, portrait and action photography, macro photography, photography judging, contest preparation, creative composition, and much more. The year concludes with a fun mini field trip in May.

This year's topics include:
📷 Intro to Photography
📱 Smartphone Photography
👀 Photography Judging
🎭 Portrait & Action Photography
🍔 Macro & Food Photography
💡 Lighting Techniques
🏆 Contest Categories
🌿 Plant & Landscape Photography
🍎 Still Life & Creative Photography
🚍 Plus a fun mini field trip to wrap up the year!

NOTE: 4-H Cloverbuds are welcome to attend meetings but must be accompanied by an adult.

One of the unique aspects of this project is that many of the lessons are taught by Texas 4-H Photography Ambassadors, giving members the opportunity to learn directly from experienced youth photographers who have competed and excelled in the 4-H photography program.

No expensive equipment is required. Whether you have a DSLR camera, mirrorless camera, point-and-shoot, or even just a smartphone, you can participate and build your photography skills.

Come discover a new hobby, make friends, and learn to capture amazing moments one photo at a time.

📍 Meeting Location: 908 N. Crockett Avenue, Cameron
🕕 Time: 6:00-7:00 PM

📷 Focus. Create. Capture. Grow with 4-H Photography!

2026 Texas 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza is coming up! Compete in youth skills contests, exhibit a rabbit, and attend educational workshops.
The Rule Book is being posted ASAP to the event website.
Learn more here: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/events/rabbit-extravaganza/

Tickets are on sale now for the Texas A&M versus Arizona State football game during 4-H & FFA Weekend in Aggieland. The game is September 12th with a kickoff time of 11 AM. Registration for other events of the weekend will be coming soon. Purchase your game tickets now at https://www.gofevo.com/event/4HARIZONASTATE.

We want to take One Day 4-H back to its roots and see the impact that Texas 4-H can make across the state in One Day (October 10, 2026). Texas did a great job doing this last year, let’s see the impact we can make this year!

Texas 4-H will be looking for the events that make the biggest impact on October 10, 2026, in the following five categories from across the state:

• Blood Drive
• Goods Drive (Clothing, Food, Pet Supplies)
• Recruitment (New member enrollment, 4 more for 4-H)
• Hands-on Service (highway clean-up, park clean-up, manual labor, etc.)
• Partnership Service (working with another non-profit: helping at an animal shelter to bathe animals, clean runs, build ramps, build beds, etc.).

The county/counties determined to make the largest impact on One Day (October 10th) in each of the above five categories will receive a $100 gift card for their club/county and will be presented with a banner on Tuesday night of the 2027 Texas 4-H Roundup to hang in their county office.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OUR COUNTY SERVICE PROJECT, COMING SOON!!!!!!

In addition, Texas 4-H will be selling T-Shirts once again!

T-shirts are being offered in youth and adult sizes, in five different colors (these do vary slightly between youth and adult) and must be ordered on C.C. Creations Texas 4-H Storefront at: https://texas-4h-one-day-summer2026.itemorder.com/shop/home/ and they will all be shipped directly to you. T-shirt ordering is open now and will close on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Shirts will be mailed directly to the purchaser. Shirts will be $18+tax and shipping.

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 2026-2027 Junior Master Photography workshops have been set and are as follows:

Option 1:

• Workshop I - September 26, 2026, Dallas

• Workshop II - December 5, 2026, Dallas

Option 2:

• 2 Day Workshop: November 7-8, 2026, Kerrville

Registration is open September 1, 2026 on 4-H Online for the Dallas Workshops and October 1 for the Kerrville workshop. Space is limited to 60 participants per Dallas or Kerrville 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.

Check out the 4-H State Annual Report! You might see some pictures and names from Milam County 4-H!

High school students who are members of Texas FFA or Texas 4-H can grow their ag advocacy skills and take home prizes through the Speak Out For Agriculture (SOFA) Challenge.

The contest will be held Oct. 3-4 at the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo.

Registration closes Aug. 31.

Contest manual and registration can be found HERE

Supporting the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders – Fall 2026

Texas A&M University
Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications

An exciting opportunity for Texas Youth!

This program aims to support dedicated student members of Texas FFA Chapters or county 4-H Clubs who may face barriers to livestock project participation. Selected recipients will receive a pre-conditioned, donated market barrow from Texas A&M University to kickstart their show season journey!

HOW TO APPLY

• Nomination Limit: Strictly limited to one (1) student nominee per FFA Chapter or county 4-H Club. Coordinate with your AST or CEA to secure your club's single nomination!
• 2-Minute Video: Introduce yourself, share your passion for agriculture, explain how this project will impact your livestock journey, and detail how you plan to 'pay it forward' to your local community.
• Facilities & Care Plan: Provide a short answer description (max 250 words) of your animal housing facilities, daily care routine, and biosecurity protocols.
• Financial Impact (Optional): Detail how this project overcomes barriers and supports your family's successful participation in this show season (max 150 words).
• Complete Application: Include AST/CEA endorsement and all required sections. Send everything in a single email to Dr. Randy Lund at randy.lund@ag.tamu.edu.

PROGRAM TIMELINE

September 1, 2026
Application Submission Deadline (11:59 PM)

September 15, 2026
Official Recipient Notification

October 5, 2026
Mandatory Pick-up (3:00 PM, College Station, TX)

Video Tips

Smartphone quality is perfect! Just ensure your audio is clear, speak from the heart, and share via a Google Drive or YouTube link.

NOTICE: All barrows MUST be picked up October 5, 2026

All selected recipients and parent/guardians must agree to pick up their market barrow in person in College Station, TX, on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM. A safe, secure trailer or crate is required. Failure to arrive on time results in immediate animal forfeiture to an alternate student.

Ready to apply?

Submit your application, video link, and required documents to:

Dr. Randy Lund
randy.lund@ag.tamu.edu

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

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!

www.join4h.com

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

mlholcombe@ag.tamu.edu

4-H FCH Projects (CDM, AG ID, Fashion, Food), Recordbooks, Scholarships

Josh Evans

County Extension Agent- Ag/NR

joshua.evans@ag.tamu.edu

4-H AG Projects/4-H Livestock Projects

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is an equal opportunity employer and program provider. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 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.