Workshop Reminder

Just a reminder that the photography workshop will be tomorrow night (Thursday, Oct. 2nd) at the Extension Office.  We will meet at 6:30.  If you already have some photos for Ms. Tabitha to look at go ahead and bring them.  :-)

4-H/FFA Agrigultural Photography Contest

**  This is NOT the regular photography project contest**

Website:  http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/ffa4hphoto

The Texas State Preservation Board in partnership with the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program are pleased to present an annual photography contest for members of the Texas 4-H and FFA Programs. This photography contest allows 4-H and FFA members to showcase Texas Agriculture through photos.

A select number of the photographs will be displayed in the Texas State Capitol Agriculture Museum starting in January 2015 before the opening of the Legislative Session. Selected photographs will feature a place card with the photographer's name, city, and age. Photos will remain on display for one year in the Agriculture Museum.

Entry Period:  September 19, 2014 to December 10, 2014

Entry Location:  http://fs4.formsite.com/state4h/4hffa/index.html

2014-2015 Guidelines Are Available

The rules and guidelines for this year are available.  These are the rules for State, but County and District will also follow these rules.

However, there is no cost to enter the county level and everyone from Pee Wee to Senior may participate at the county level. I would encourage you to enter all 15 categories at the county level.  :-) 

There will be a small fee to enter the district level.  Last year it was $8 for the first photo and 50 cents for each entry after that.

Only Seniors, age 14 and up, may enter the state level.  The cost for that is $10.00 per photo.  

You do not have to enter advance in the photo contest.  That means you can enter district without having participated at county.  However, I would strongly encourage you to enter each division to receive feedback from the judges at each level.  This would definitely be a good idea for the Seniors wanting to compete at State.

***  Please not the following changes in this year's rules***

Theme:  The theme is "Inspiration". This year the theme will focus on pictures of subjects that move and inspire YOU.  Photos can include photos of leaders, mentors, family, friends, things in your community, school, church, or across the country and world.  Examples include images of family members, a leader/teacher or someone that you look up to, something in nature, or things that give you daily inspiration.

Changes:  Due to past issues with photographs not be sized or formatted correctly, the contest now has a size criteria.  All photos must be 8x10 in size. Photos should be at least 800 pixels by 1000 pixels. The ideal 8×10 quality is 2400 pixels by 3000 pixels, which is the same as an 8×10 photo at 300 dpi (resolution). Higher variations of the 8×10 ratio are allowed but the final file size may not be larger than 2,048k (2MB).  County Extension Agents are encouraged to work with volunteers and project leaders to stress the importance of instructing 4-H members on this basic photography skill.  

Remember that photos taken between January 1, 2014 through April 2015 are eligible for entry.

There will be a Workshop on October 2nd, 6:30, at the Extension Office for all of those interested. 

We have a workshop!! :-)

The first photography workshop for the 2014-2015 4-H year will be held October 2nd at 6:30.  We will meet at the Extension Office in Rusk. Tabitha will go over the rules/guidelines set by the State 4-H office.  We HOPE to have this years Theme and any changes that have been made by then, but if not it is pretty much the same each year, so will go over last year's rules.  

Tabitha will also cover basic photography tips with the kids. Remember, any photo that the children have taken since January 2014 is eligible, so if you have already taken photos this year bring them with you and let Tabitha take a look and give you some feedback.  :-)

If you would like to familiarize yourself with last year's rules you may do so here: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/files/2014/01/13-14_Photo_Rulesjan14.pdf

East Texas State Fair Reminder

Just a reminder; the East Texas State Fair is September 19th-28th.  If you plan to enter the Photography Contest, the deadline is in August.  For all of the rules and categories, just visit the website. 

Parents, you can enter this too!!  :-)

This is not a 4-H event, but it sure is fun and the experience would look great in a record book.  ;-)

913 Camp 2014

913 Camp info.  Passing this on from Willie.  If you have not received the summer newsletter from the Extension Office, please let me know and I'll forward it to you.  :-)  

Youth 912 Camp Gets A New Name… Youth 913 Camp is Just Around the Corner

Our 3rd Annual Youth Camp will be held on July 22nd – 25th at the Cherokee County Expo Center in Jacksonville.  This camp will follow a similar format as the two previous years.  It will be a hands-on day camp for kids ages 9 to 13 years old from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day. This camp is meant to be an introduction to some of the major projects that 4-H has to offer.  Though the final schedule has not been set, the topics covered will range from Livestock & Animal Projects (large & small), Dog Projects, Food & Fashion Projects, Entomology & Horticulture Projects, Shooting Sports Projects (Archery & Rifle), Public Speaking Projects, Consumer Decision Making Projects and Water Education & Appreciation. 

Meals, snacks and refreshments will be provided.  You may pre-register for this camp by contacting the County Extension Office at (903) 683-5416. We will then send you the registration form that you can either mail in or drop off in person by the registration deadline (July 16th). This camp is open to non-4-H members as well as 4-H members.  In fact, if you are a member and planning to attend, you are encouraged to bring a non-4-H member with you to camp.  

Enrollment fees for this camp are as follows:
Non-Member: $90.00
Current 4-H Member: $60.00

If a family will have multiple siblings attending camp, a declining schedule will be applied to each subsequent enrollee.  First child enrolls at full rate; each additional child enrolls at $10 less than the child before them.  Example: Family with three non-members attending would be $90+$80+$70=a savings of $30.00.

Remember the deadline to register is July 16th at 5:00 p.m.  A late registration is open on the 17th and 18th fee of $15.00 will assessed to each enrollee.  
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Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

East Texas State Fair 2014 Photo Contest

As the school year is beginning to wrap up and everyone looking forward to summer vacation, let's not forget that this also means the time to enter the photography contest at the East Texas State Fair is also approaching.  Keep those camera's handy this summer, and take A  LOT of photos.   :-)  Don't forget, this is done by age division, and adults may enter as well.

The Photography Contest information has been updated and posted on the ETSF Website – www.etstatefair.com

·         Find all the rules for the contest

·         Find registration and submission information

·         Register online by clicking Register under Items.  Please register online by August 22nd.

You will submit your entries to the East Texas State Fair Office August 25-29 or September 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

Please have the Photo Identification form printed, completed, and attached to the back of your photo.  When you bring your entries, you will complete entry tags and pay the entry fees for your photos.

Other Contests you may be interested in:

Creative Arts Contest – Pre-Register by September 3; Submit entries September 4 (3:30 to 6:00) or September 6 (9:00 to 1:00).

Horticulture Show – Register by September 12; Submit entries September 26.

Fun Photo Contests – More info coming soon to the website – “Show Us Your Selfie” and “Funny Holiday Photos”

Livestock Show – September 19-28; Register by August 29

Pasture and Wildlife Plant Identification Contest – September 19; FFA & 4-H Teams should register by September 13

Details about these contests and more are on the ETSF website.