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General Rules and Regulations for the Old County Fair Craft and Food Show
0-3rd grade- Clover
3-5th grade- Junior
6th-8th grade- Intermediate
9th-12th Grade- Senior
4. All work must be original work of the artist; no craft or hobby kits will be accepted.
5. Work shown in the Fair here in previous years will not be accepted and work must not be over three years old.
6. No incomplete work will be accepted, including wet photographs or paint.
7. All artwork must be either framed or mounted on mats with wire attached for hanging.
The label provided must be attached to the back of all entries. Incomplete or missing labels will result in disqualification. All entries will be hung for judging or otherwise displayed by the FCH 4-H Coalition. Any entry that comes apart will be removed from the exhibition. The Fair will not be responsible for those that are improperly matted, framed or prepared for hanging.
7. Entries will be accepted at the building next door to City Hall in Linden during the Wild Flower Trails between 3:00 and 5:00 PM on Thursday, April 25th before the judging will take place. No entries will be accepted after 5 pm.
8. Entries must remain in place until Sunday, after the fair. Entries will be given the opportunity to be auctioned off via silent auction.
9. Only INDIVIDUAL entries will be accepted.
10. A $5.00 entry fee will be charged for each initial entry, with additional entries costing a dollar, benefitting the Cass County Spay and Neuter Project.
11. Entries will be paid by check to the Cass 4-H Fund. Entry Fees from the contest will be donated to the Cass County Spay and Neuter Project.
12. The money generated from the silent auction will be collected by the Cass 4-H Fund and then paid to the youth exhibiting the project.
13. The 4-H FCH Coalition reserves the right to prohibit the entry of any entry they deem inappropriate for a family-oriented exhibition.
14. Ribbons will be awarded in each class and will be placed on winning entries after judging. Entries will be categorized as blue, red, or white. There will be a class winner and a category winner selected. Class winners and category winners will receive rosettes.
15. No one will be allowed in the building while judging is in progress.
16. Entry into competition indicates entrant has read, understood and agreed to abide by all rules stated.
17. Youth may enter as many categories and classes of this contest as they choose.
Fine Arts Rules
01001 Landscape – Natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests
01002 Genre – A representation of everyday life.
01003 Portrait – An artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression are predominant.
01004 Contemporary- Art produced at the present period in time.
01005 Still Life – A work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, or shells) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, and so on).
01006 Floral
01007 Animal and Wild Life
01008 Mixed Media Open – in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed.
5. The artwork must be appropriately mounted for framed with a wire on the back for hanging.
6. The artwork must feature the tag below displayed on the back. Make sure that the tag has the correct information when attached.
Name: | Age Divison:
Clover Junior Intermediate Senior |
Category: Fine Art
Class #: |
Contact Number: | School: | 4-H Club: |
Silent Auction: Yes or No | Minimum Bid: | Percent of proceeds to be donated to Cass County Spay and Neuter Project? |
Photography Contest Rules
Name: | Age Divison:
Clover Junior Intermediate Senior |
Category: Photography
Class: |
Contact Number: | School: | 4-H Club: |
Silent Auction: Yes or No | Minimum Bid:
Are additional Prints Available for purchase? |
Percent of proceeds to be donated to Cass County Spay and Neuter Project? |
Home Arts- Home Decor and Crafts
6. The tag below must be attached to the item or hanger when the item are entered:
Name: | Age Divison:
Clover Junior Intermediate Senior |
Category: Home Decor and Crafts
Class #: |
Contact Number: | School: | 4-H Club: |
Silent Auction: Yes or No | Minimum Bid: | Percent of proceeds to be donated to Cass County Spay and Neuter Project? |
Home Arts- Sewing and Needle Work
Name: | Age Divison:
Clover Junior Intermediate Senior |
Category: Sewing and Needle Work
Class #: |
Contact Number: | School: | 4-H Club: |
Silent Auction: Yes or No | Minimum Bid: | Percent of proceeds to be donated to Cass County Spay and Neuter Project? |
Food Show
Name: | Age Divison:
Clover Junior Intermediate Senior |
Category: Food Show |
Class #: Contact Number:School:4-H Club: Silent Auction: Yes or NoMinimum Bid: Percent of proceeds to be donated to Cass County Spay and Neuter Project?
The number of goats being raised in East Texas is rising. Many people buy a few goats while they are still under the impression that goats are hardy animals that will eat almost anything. The problem occurs whenever reality hits, and new goat owners quickly realize that those hardy goats are mostly mythological creatures.
The misconception of goats eating everything comes from their exploratory nature; they identify things by taste and will mouth and lick items. They won’t eat them, however and are incredibly picky animals generally. Goats prefer to forage on the same types of plants that our native white tailed deer prefer, and will only eat grass or graze as a last resort. If you are wanting to clear brush goats can be quite helpful, but they are not suitable as lawn mowers.
The primary issue we face with goat production in East Texas is caused by our high levels of humidity. Goats were designed to live in dry, arid climates which is a far cry from the rainforest like spring, summer, and fall that we encounter in a normal year. Our winters are also often too mild to freeze long enough to be detrimental to the population of nematodes and bacteria present in the soil. The humidity and lack of cold temperatures creates a great environment for intestinal parasites that are a goat farmers greatest enemy. Goats are far more sensitive to the infestations of intestinal parasites than cattle and horses, which is a lesson that new goat owners will learn very quickly in East Texas. There are varieties of intestinal parasites who can cause death due to extreme dehydration and anemia in less than a week of not managed adequately.
Goats can experience a rapid decline in health when they have a moderate to high worm or intestinal bacteria load and monthly worming schedules can be ineffective as different types of wormers are effective against different classes of parasites. This is the primary reason why goat owners should develop a strong relationship with a veterinarian who can conduct fecal samples to identify the types of parasite that is impacting the goat. Once the culprit has been identified, the correct and effective anthelmintic can be administered to correct the problem. Goat owners also need to pay close attention to the products being used on animals that are used for meat or milk. Many products on the market are not designed for goats or haven’t been tested on goats to determine withdrawal periods and should only be administered following veterinary supervision.
The old saying “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” is certainly true when it comes of goat herd management. Goat owners in East Texas must stay a head of the potential issues that can and will arise if given the opportunity. Goats should be vaccinated with a CD&T vaccine annually in addition to receiving the regionally recommended immunizations.
Goats must be handled to maintain their health and condition. This time of year many goats will develop lice which are visible on the coat of the goats if you brush your hand against the grain of the hair. There are both topical and internal treatments to rid your goats of lice. Visit with your veterinarian to determine what best meets your needs. Goats also need to have their hooves trimmed on a monthly or bi monthly basis depending on how quickly they grow. With the humid conditions in East Texas, hoof rot and foot infections can pose a great problem to goat herds if hoof health isn’t maintained. It is recommended that goat owners handle their goats weekly to check the “Fa Macha” scale which is indicative of parasite levels in most cases and also to ensure that goats hooves are in trimmed and in good condition.
While goats are a little high maintenance, they can be profitable for producers who get herd management down. Does who are managed well can kid up to 3 times in 2 years and are ready to breed at 7 months old in most cases. Does are also more prolific than cattle, often safely having 2-4 kids per kidding. There is a growing market for goat meat in Texas due to our ever changing population. The market trend for goats shows them averaging $2.50 per pound across ages, sizes, and types. — Jessica Rymel, Cass County ANR Extension Agent
It is recommended that you get your private well tested once per year. There is a list below of locations that are within driving distance of Cass County that will test your well water. Please call our office or any of the locations below for more information–
Texasd Well Owners Network TECQ Awards Video
Advanced Analytical Laboratories- Whitehouse, Texas
903.561.8630
Ana Lab Corporation- Kilgore, Texas
903.984.0551
Analytical Environmental Labs- Tyler, Texas
903.509.8700
Analytical Water and Wastewater Services- Hallsville, Texas
903.668.4133
City of Texarkana Water and Waste Water Lab- Texarkana, Texas $20 per sample
903.798.3850
The above link gives you access to the editable pages and tip sheets provided by the Texas 4-H.
Recordbooks at a Glance– Includes what each age division must have in their completed recordbook
Project Areas– Which area does your project best fit within so that you can tailor your recordbook to be most successfull?
Recordbook Information Sheet– The first page in every age division’s recordbook
The Guide to Recordbooks– This is a comprehensive guide to each step of your recordbook
Recordbook Checklist– This is makes sure that you have all of the parts of your book
Drought Feeding Management- Jessica Rymel, Cass County AgriLife Extension Agent
Where pasture is still plentiful but low in quality the following suggestions are made concerning supplementation for cattle. Cost is going to be a limiting factor as hay prices rise, but producers will have to utilize all options in order to maintain the herd numbers to remain in production.
First, providing a good mineral supplement is crucial to maintaining forage intake and effective utilization. This mineral needs to be a complete supplement with a composition containing 10-20% salt, 12% calcium, 12% phosphorus, 5% magnesium, 0.9% zinc, and 0.2% copper, which has worked well in drought conditions. When adding feed to supplement diet, you want to feed your dry cows as much as 1-2 pounds each per day and lactating cows will need 2-3 pounds to maintain forage intake and efficient utilization of the forage as well as the energy coming off the cows back as weight loss. Oil meal supplements such as cottonseed meal, protein blocks, and liquid supplements are appropriate for this. If only dry, dormant forage is available for more than 100 to 200 days consecutively you need to consider supplementing with vitamin A, as cattle will be unable to get the recommended amount from their forage.
When pasture is scarce and low in quality, purchasing hay is going to be necessary as, range cubes will only be an effective solution for a little while, and will not be a cost effective solution if fed solely for a long period of time. When choosing a range cube, cubes with a large amount of natural protein and a crude fiber level of less than 10% will be preferred. When analyzing the options of replacement feeds, producers must keep in mind that most grass hay has 50-65% of the energy content of grain, so feeding one pound of grain can replace 1.5 to 2.0 pounds of hay, unless it is alfalfa. Because of this, it simply won’t make sense for producers to pay $105 per ton when the cost of grain would only be a little more, but have more energy content. Where hay is scarce, give ammoniated wheat straw a try. Ammoniation of straw with 60 pounds of anhydrous ammonia per ton of straw will increase cattle performance and make it possible to utilize wheat straw as the only roughage in the diet, something not recommended for untreated straw. Ammoniation does not make wheat straw a complete feed. A good mineral supplement will be essential and supplementation with 1-2 pounds of natural preformed protein is advisable along with the non-protein nitrogen added by ammoniation. Toxicity problems, involving calf losses and wild irrational cattle behavior, have been reported when ammoniating high quality forages such as sorghum sudan hybrids. The problem appears to be related to high available carbohydrate content and the reaction with ammonia to form toxic methylimidazoles. Imidazole formation and toxicity problems have not been observed with ammoniation of wheat straw or similar products. If you’re short of forage and wheat straw is available, give ammoniation a try. Stay alert for potential problems which might result because of drought conditions
Some types of cattle are going to naturally do better on a grain based diet. British cattle can be kept in maintenance with up to 80% of their diet being made up of grain. This ratio is not as feasible for cattle with Brahman influence. Even though cattle can subsist of limited forage, and body condition can be maintained with grains, all cattle must be kept on an adequate amount of forage to minimise digestive problems.
The absence of proper nutrition will have a weight loss impact on cattle. When such weight losses occur, milk production decreases and reproductive activity may cease. The end result is light-weight calves and unbred cows. To prevent such undesirable effects, cows either must be provided sufficient nutrients to avoid weight losses and maintain production requirements or they must be relieved totally or partially from body stresses. Unavailability of feeds or their unusually high cost often prohibits feeding lactating cows the nutrients necessary for lactation and rebreeding. Production requirements of the mature cow for which nutrients are needed include body maintenance, lactation and rebreeding. First-calf heifers and young cows must have additional nutrients for growth. To reduce stress and lessen the total feed necessary, the only production requirement that can be removed is lactation. Lactation stress may be removed from cows or heifers by weaning calves after 60 to 80 days of age, or partially removed by creep feeding and holding the calf off the cow for part of the day. In so doing, nutrient requirements are lessened and reproductive activity is more likely to commence or be maintained.
When feeding during a drought, there are several issues that can create serious health issues for your herd. The use of salt to limit feed intake may increase water intake 50 to 75% or approximately 50 gallons of additional water for each pound of salt. Water must not be limited in any way or salt toxicity may result. The over-consumption of urea-containing supplements by cattle on forage scarce ranges can result in urea toxicity. Generally, cattle performance on urea-type supplements is also poor whenever energy or forage is in short supply as the non protein nitrogen must have cellulose containing material to be effectively utilized. Hay cut under moisture stress conditions, especially sorghum type hays, may contain high levels of nitrate. If in doubt, it would be good to test for nitrate before feeding such hays, especially before feeding large amounts. Producers who cut drought corn or sorghum for hay are enouraged to check nitrate levels before feeding. Be sure to take a good representative sample when sending to the laboratory for analysis. In addition, prussic acid or cyanide poisoning can also be a problem in grazing drought stunted plants such as Johnson grass, sorghum, sorghum hybrids, and sudan grass. If forage for hay is allowed to sun cure thoroughly for three to five days, bleaching out any bright green color, prussic acid should not be a problem. Cattle grazing short pasture are more likely to consume toxic plants. High energy acid-producing feeds tend to decrease rumen pH and fiber digestion and alternate day feeding of large amounts, more than four pounds, simply magnifies the decrease in rumen pH. Further, unadapted cows should be started on grain feeding slowly or the problems of acidosis, founder and even death may result. Rumen impaction may result where cattle receive inadequate protein (less than 7 to 8% CP in total diet) and too much of a low quality high fiber forage such as drought pasture. Lack of adequate water will aggravate the impaction program.Hay harvested from vacant city lots, roadsides etc., broiler litter and other such feed may contain nails, wire, or foreign objects which can pierce the rumen wall resulting in death of the animal. When roughage supply is limited it may also be necessary to ensure complete consumption of coarse stems, moldy portions, etc. Grinding prevents selective consumption and helps to mix and thus dilute portions of the ration which by themselves are unpalatable or possibly toxic. Grinding does not in itself make the feed any more nutritious; in fact it reduces the digestibility of the feed slightly, but because animals can consume more, a larger proportion of the feed intake is available for production, and a smaller proportion is used for maintenance. When using high levels of poor-quality roughage in the diet, proper supplementation is essential to avoid impaction. Since many livestock procedures will be using unfamiliar feeds or rations during periods of feed shortage, they should keep a close watch over animal performance and adjust rations as necessary to meet production requirements.
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.
(Last Updated On: June 27, 2018)
Example of a picture sent by someone who never bothered to to make sure it was focused before sending. Yes, I know, it actually hurts to look at this picture.
I get lots of images in email and on the web for identification. I get to see some amazing insects and good pictures this way, but I also receive a lot of really bad insect pictures. And since bad pictures don’t help your chances of getting a successful identification, it’s in everyone’s interest to take better pictures. So here are five tips for improving your chances to get an insect identified via email, your cell phone or other mobile device.
How big is this spider? Hard to tell without information about its size from the sender. To find out how big this giant crab spider really is, click here
There you go. Five simple rules for getting an identification made by your pest control company, your county extension agent, or a university entomologist.
Wait, I’m going to add one more. Use discretion when sending pictures. Sending someone picture after picture out of curiosity, or because you’ve just figured out what the closeup setting does on your iPhone, is not fair to the professional juggling lots of job responsibilities on the other end of the e-mail trail. It’s also polite to tell the identifier why you are submitting the sample. Did it bite or sting you? Is it an unwanted guest in your house? If so, how many are you seeing? Was it seen damaging a plant? If so, what kind of plant? Is it just for curiosity, or is your entire corn crop on the line? Curiosity questions will probably get a lower priority compared to the farmer or person suffering an allergic reaction to a sting.
If your identifier asks you to fill out a form, please do. It makes that person’s job way easier, and allows them to keep serving you this way.
Besides the identification authorities I’ve listed above, consider some of the online communities providing insect ids (at no cost) such as https://bugguide.net/ and https://www.inaturalist.org/ . You will probably have to follow similar rules for these sites, and they may not be as polite as your county Extension agent or pest control professional when you send really bad pictures.
Protecting Pets from Summer Heat
Summer time in Texas means more time to play outside, go swimming, and soak up the sun. However, warmer temperatures also mean that pets may be more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heat stroke As temperatures are increasingly high this week, it is vital to take the necessary precautions to protect pets from heat exhaustion.To help pet owners avoid these risks, Dr. Stacy Eckman, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offered some insight.
Although there is not a set temperature that is considered too hot for animals, temperatures in the high-80s and above can pose problems for pets, Dr. Stacy Eckman, lecturer at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) said. Every pet is different, however, on the temperature they can endure. Cats, for example, are usually more tolerant of the heat than dogs and can often find a shady place to lounge.
She added that, generally, if it is too hot for the pet owner to be outside, it is too hot for the pet. “Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are major problems for pets in the summer, especially in short nosed breeds, such as a pug or a bulldog,” Eckman said. “These conditions can occur during hot and humid days and even cooler days, if your pets aren’t accustomed to the heat.”
“It is very dependent on the pet itself. For example, overweight dogs and brachycephalic (short nosed dogs such as bulldogs) are at a greater risk for heat stroke/exhaustion for even short period of times in warm weather,” Eckman said. Eckman said other dogs that have a higher chance of heat exhaustion are those genetically sensitive to the heat and those not acclimated to the heat such as indoor dogs. Both dogs with long, thick coats and those with short, thin coats can become overheated so she recommended taking precautions for all types of dogs.
She explained that even dogs who exercise vigorously can become overheated.
“The perfect example of this is a dog who goes to the dog park on a nice, warm, spring day when they have not [been] all winter, and they play [with a] Frisbee [disk] and run more than normal,” Eckman said. She added that this was a common case of heat exhaustion. “Dogs cool themselves by panting and this can dehydrate them, so they will need more water than you may think,” Eckman said.
Eckman said, generally, the first symptoms of heat exhaustion are lethargy and listlessness.She added that if pets are outside for too long and become overheated, they can develop diarrhea and vomiting which could lead to shock.
Heat exhaustion is the early stages of a heat stroke and causes lethargy, vomiting, and weakness. Following continued exercise or exposure to heat, Eckman said a heat stroke can occur with more severe signs, including extreme lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and pale mucous membranes. This can lead significant problems up to and including death if not recognized and treated immediately.
If a pet has these symptoms, Eckman recommended taking him/her to a veterinarian immediately for a diagnosis and treatment. She stressed not to put cold water or ice packs on the animal because it makes it harder for them to cool off.
Though it may seem like a quick-fix to put your pet in cold water if they do become overheated, Eckman said it is best to slowly cool down your pet to avoid causing more internal heat.
“Some people will try to provide ice water baths for overheated pets; this can actually make them retain heat internally,” Eckman said. “Instead, bring the overheated pet inside and provide them with cool
water and a fan. Wetting a towel and putting it on the pet’s coat also may be helpful.”
Other dangers pets may face in the summer heat include paw pad burns from walking on hot concrete. If your dog is going to be active outside when it is hot, be sure to keep them off concrete or asphalt for extended periods of time. You can also provide your pet with other means of exercise, such as playing indoors or in the grass.
Eckman added that leaving pets in the car or bed of a truck is also a bad idea. This can also lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
“Even if there is a breeze outside, there is no shade or water in the bed of a truck, so the temperature can really heat up,” Eckman said.
Other tips for keeping your pet cool during the summer include providing a dog house, a shallow kiddie pool, and enough cool water. Also, try to exercise your pet during the cooler parts of the day, such as the morning or evening
Whether your pet lives primarily indoors or outdoors, it is important to protect your pet from the heat this summer season.
Adapted by Jessica Rymel, Cass County Agrilife Extension Agent
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.
STEPS TO BECOMING A PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Step 1: Complete a Private Pesticide Applicator training session FIRST. Contact your county Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office for training opportunities.
o You may purchase training materials from certain County Extension Offices, via mail in order form (PA-1405) at www-aes.tamu.edu, or call (979) 845-1099 and we can take you order over the phone with a Master Card or Visa.
o You can obtain your Private Pesticide Applicator training session from your County Extension Agent, or you can obtain the training online for $75 by registering here.
Step 2: Upon completion of the training, a Training Verification form (D-1411) will be provided to the applicant (form provided by County Extension Agent or trainer).
o Applicants should keep the yellow copy for their records.
o The white copy (original) should be mailed to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) with the Private Pesticide Applicator license application form (PA-400P).
Step 3: The applicant needs to obtain a hard copy of the Private Pesticide Applicator license application form (PA-400P) from TDA, or by clicking the link. (Website: www.TexasAgriculture.gov or Phone: 1-800-835-5832 or 512-463-7622).
Step 4: Submit the completed Private Pesticide Applicator application form (PA-400P), license fee of $100, and the white (original) copy of the Training Verification form (D-1411) to TDA for processing.
Step 5: When the license application is accepted, TDA will send the applicant a letter in the mail with their Account Number. This Account Number is the number the applicator will use to register and schedule the Private applicator exam with PSI
Step 6: Applicants can go to PSIexams.com or call 1-800-733-9267 to schedule an exam at one of 22 locations around the state. PSI staff cannot provide licensing advice or information.
o A Pesticide Licensing Examination Candidate Information Bulletin is provided at the PSI website to assist the applicant with the exam scheduling process.
o The private applicator will pay $64 per exam.
o There is a 24 hour waiting period to take a repeat exam.
o PSI will provide a confirmation number and testing location information.
Step 7: Upon completion of the exam, the testing center will provide test results immediately. A passing grade is 70% or higher.
Step 8: PSI will send exam scores to TDA daily. If all licensing criteria are met, TDA will issue the license.
Important: If an applicant has any questions about licensing or exam categories, please contact TDA at 1-800-835-5832 or 512-463-7622. Texas Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Pesticide Program | P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711 | phone 800-TELL-TDA.