District Wildlife Contest

Well, the boys must have been excited this morning...they were up by 4am and dressed and out the door by 6am.  It must be a 4H contest day!  We met up with the rest of the group and were on our way to our first real contest of the year.  We had 3 teams of 4Hers full of anxious pre-contest jitters!  However, we were not the only ones as we looked around at the other 4H and FFA teams, it was easy to see that they were all ready to get started. 

As the members arrived, I gave them their new Wildlife t-shirts.  The shirts say "Lone Star Wildlife team on the front.  On the back, a Davy Crockett quote saying, "Be always sure you are right--then go ahead," followed by Proverbs 16:9.  They all looked so good in their shirts!

I just loved seeing all the first-timers asking last minute questions and wondering how it would all happen.  We stopped to gather together for one last pep-talk and a prayer. 

I talked about how important it was to take a deep breath and remember that it was supposed to be fun and remain calm.  Each of the members was competing against themselves to improve their own score.  Also, we should remember the 4H motto to "make the best better."  Kevin graciously offered to lead the prayer and then we anxiously awaited the contest.

Once started, Lynda and I went around with the coaches group.  As we went from station to station we felt confident with our teams' abilities to do well.  It was especially nice to see the new ones come with their beaming smiles after the compass & pacing course to tell us they scored a perfect score! 

         

After a nice BBQ sandwich lunch we found out that our teams won 1st and 2nd place.  We actually had a tie with our third team and rank was determined by a tie breaker.  All teams should be very proud of their work today!

Two of our teams will now advance to the regional contest on November 2nd.  Looking forward to more time with the entire group as we have enough slots to take them all with extras going as alternates.

 

Last Chance to Study for Contest

After last week's mock contest, I quickly realized I needed to fill in some gaps before contest this Thursday. 

Javelina (straight tusks)

Feral Hog (curved tusks)

The first thing we did was add the techniques to the contest practice.  We did well with these but had a lot of debate over feral hog versus javelina skulls. 

You would not think there would be that much difference between the two but it is the little things that make it tough.  You have to look at the details.  In this case it means looking at the tusks.


Also, we discussed the aging of deer teeth for quite some time.  I found a website that does a great job of explaining this process.  Here is a second site.  Maybe my students will have time to look at one of these sites before the contest.

And the last debate was over the wings of waterfowl.  We were shown a picture of a duck wing, and had to determine which part of the wing was designated.  Here is the picture from the contest and a detailed drawing of the wing. 

After we went over these specimens, Sean did a presentation on javelina.  He did a great job! 

Javelina

In Texas, the javelina is found in the more arid or semi-arid parts of the state, with most occurring in the South Texas brush country, the Trans-Pecos' desert grasslands, and the Edwards Plateau's oak-juniper woodlands.

Group Behavior

•Javelina are herd animals, found in groups of 2-20 individuals, with 54 being the record sighting.

•These herds are usually comprised of close-knit family groups.

•Herds maintain a territory, which varies in size based upon food and cover availability. They defend the interior of these areas against all other javalina intruders, but other groups are tolerated along the perimeters.

•Javelina herds can cover a territory of from 1000 to 2000 acres

•Herds will consist of all age classes and both sexes. The sex ratio is typically 1:1, but the dominant male is usually the only male to do any breeding.

Breeding and Caring for Young

•The promiscuous male becomes sexually mature at about 1 year old.

•The female may mature as early as 8 months old, or as late as 14 months.

•A normal litter consists of 2 young, but may be 1-6. Gestation is 141-151 days.

•Young javalina may be born at any time of the year, but the peak of breeding activity in Texas seems to be the winter months.

•The female will leave the herd for just 1 day to give birth.

•The babies are able to follow their mom within a couple of hours, and they rejoin the herd soon after.

•Birth normally comes in a den made from a hollowed log, a rock crevice, or a hole in otherwise super dense brush.

•Older sisters of the babies often nurse them once the mom and young return to the herd.

•Weaning occurs at about 6-8 weeks but the young stay at mother's side for up to 3 months.

Diet

•The javelina is omnivorous, meaning it will eat just about anything that doesn't eat it first.

•About 60% of the javalina’s normal diet is nothing but prickly pear cactus, sometimes up to 95%

•They are true cud chewers, equipped with a three compartment, complex stomach, designed to break down foods high in cellulose content, like cactus, grass, roots, nuts and tubers, mesquite beans, lechuguilla, sotol, mast, fruits, and insects.

Cover

•Javelina prefer semi-desert conditions

•Dense thicket of brush, prickly pear or scrub oak

•Rough canyons and gullies for travelways and protection during inclement weather

•Most active during cooler hours with resting areas in denser thickets, under rock ledges, or other shady areas

 

Life Span

Adult javelina live to be about 15 years or more, and 1 individual in captivity made it to 24 years.

Land Management

•Brush management/range rehabilitation

•Retain 30-50% of rangelands in brush patterns (strips, motts, and draws)

•Feeding loafing and bedding areas should be joined by brush strips or brushy drainageways

•Dense brushy and prickly pear areas should be preserved

•Their succulent diet makes javelina less dependent on water.

•Javelinas seek water in streams, livestock ponds and troughs when prickly pear is not available

•If prickly pear and lechuguilla have been reduced through brush control, water replacement is necessary.

Plants on the Contest

•Agarito

•Honey Mesquite

•Live Oak

•Pecan

•Persimmon

•Prickly Pear

Promoting 4H with Baskin's

This week was National 4-H Week.  This is great time to highlight the 4H program for the general public.  Each year, during National 4-H Week, the local and county 4-H clubs/groups have the opportunity to showcase what they have gained from their membership in 4-H through activities and events at the local and county level.

Our county organized an effort with Baskins to promote 4H several years ago.  Each year we set up a booth with 4H information in order to let the community know about 4H and especially about what we have done the last year. 

Our club manned the booth for an hour today.  We enjoyed talking to everyone who came by the booth.

There is so much to tell the community.  I am so excited that we were able to tell them about this blog to find out more about 4H.

One Day for One Little Girl

As long as I can remember 4H has set aside a week in October as National 4H Week.  For the last few years, 4H has decided to take some time during the 4H promotion week to give back to the community.  Taking straight from the 4H website:

"One day 4-H is one day for all the 4-H members, parents, leaders, and volunteers to step out into their communities and county and say "thank you" by giving back for them more than 103 years of support to 4-H in Texas. This day of community service is what ever each 4-H members, club, or county 4-H Program wants it to be. It could be as simple as picking up trash and mowing the lawn for senior citizens to elaborate as hosting a 5K Walk/Run and raising money for a cause."

This year our club (along with others in the county) chose to help a little girl named Hannah.

Last Monday night, we all sat at banquet tables enjoying a nice meal and honoring the hard work from the past year of 4H. I posted on this that night. However, one part of the story I waited to share with you today. At the end of the night, our county 4H agent got up and gave a heart-felt thank you to all of the 4Hers who helped his family through a very difficult time.

Over the summer, he said he felt like his family was alone as doctors looked to find out what was wrong with his 2-year old daughter, Hannah. He said they went through 2 weeks of feeling very alone.  They would find out that she has Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.   Then he said he returned home to find out that he was not alone because the 4Hers were there to help him. 

He has proved to be the strong man we have grown to respect as he spoke these words.  What he did not know is that we had already decided that the best way we could help his family was to make this our One Day project. 

We knew that Hannah's treatment requires the family to travel to Houston once per week for six months. To help with travel and medical expenses not covered by their insurance, they would need extra help.  In the last month, we have provided meals and activities for the family as they travel to the Houston clinic each week. We will continue this effort throughout the treatment process.

The next day we kicked off our plan by presenting him a check.  Together with another county club, we sold raffle tickets over the last month in honor of Hannah.  We were able to raise $1200.  This was a complete surprise to our county agent.   It was great to see the look of gratitude on his face!

Then we heard that a dinner and silent auction had been planned. Our club members had the opportunity to bake desserts for the silent auction.  We even had a lap quilt made by Brianna for the auction.  We also had several members from our club help in serving the meal and with clean up at the end of the evening.  We were there from start to finish and had a great time helping raise money for Hannah.

Sean was so pleased that someone he knew won the auction for his key lime pie.  It sold for $25.  Henry made a lava cake that sold for $20.  All together our club auctioned off $100 worth of desserts and almost $50 for Brianna's quilt.  Even the little guys were able to help with clean up after the guests left.  And in the end we raised almost $5000.  The hard work paid off and we were able to help little Hannah.

And I can not end the post without saying that the most important effort our club has taken is to pray for little Hannah to be healed and her family to have the strength to continue.  God is good and our agent continues to stay positive throughout the ordeal.  We are so proud of him and his family...they are an inspiration to all of us to persevere in times of trial.

Just another way 4H tries to "make the best better!"

Quail and Mock Contest

Last weekend when we were at my mother's, we were able to see a little quail run across the parking lot. We were so excited because although we have heard them on our property, we had never seen one.

So today we were in for a really treat. Caitlin came to us with a quail presentation for our Wildlife meeting. The presentation was concise, yet informative. She then told us how she brought a little show and tell. We went to her car to find a pair of juvenile quail along with eggs from another's nest. The other members spent most of the afternoon looking at them!

 Some of the information she shared was:

The bobwhite’s breast, belly , rump , wings and tail are a reddish brown with black markings. The belly and flank are basically white , but the dark brown edging of the belly feathers give the belly a scaled appearance. The bobwhite quail’s bill , eyes , legs , and feet are black.

The plants that bobwhite quail like are ragweed, acorns, croton, and partridge pea sometimes sneak into peoples gardens (and are fed ) corn, grain sorghum, legumes, soybeans, and other small grains. Bugs are eaten by bobwhite quail to! They eat beetles, weevils, and caterpillars.

Bobwhite quail like a open space with tall grasses. Their nests are made of hay, grasses, mud, and twigs. 

Water requirements are generally met from food consumed, dew, or surface

water.

Quail usually form a weak pairing bond.  Either the hen or the rooster can incubate the eggs.  Incubation is not shared.  Hens or the roosters may abandon their nests leaving their mate to incubate.  The 'freed' parent will seek a new mate and attempt to nest again.  Some hens may nest as many as three times, leaving a new mate to incubate.

Well...only in between stations, as we then went out to our mock contest.

A wildlife contest consists of 9 components:

1. Plant ID
2. Plant-Animal Preference
3. Biological Facts
4. Habitat Evaluation
5. Habitat Management
6. Gaming Laws
7. Hunter Safety
8. Techniques
9. Compass and Pacing

We were able to complete 8 of these by the end of the day. We would have done them all but I left my computer at home with the final station!

The members did well...Next week they will find out their scores!  This will give them time to study before we compete just over a week from now.

Sidenote:  We also carried the 4H experience into the evening...more on that Friday!

Gold Star Banquet

As I settle back in my comfy desk chair and think about the evening, I cannot help but smile and be proud of our 4H club tonight.  From the creative work on the decorations for the banquet to the leadership throughout the program, not to mention the awards themselves, I saw our club shine.

Thanks go out to Mrs. Brenda for her creative ideas to turn a boring building into a county fair.  We even had our own Big Tex (Texas State Fair statue) drawn by our club artist, Katy.  He made an awesome back drop for picture taking!  Then we gathered up canned goods in jars and art work from past contests and set to work (again mostly Mrs. Brenda) and made it look great! 

Once the night began, we enjoyed a great meal and conversation.  This was followed by the presentation of the awards.  Sean got us started by welcoming our special guests, County Commissioner from Precinct 1 and a representative from Polk Oil Company.  Treyton introduced the county council and recognized all the clubs present at the event.  Sean then stepped forward again to present those 4H members who completed a record book.  We had 54 record books from our county this year!  Sean was a pro at shaking hands and handing out the certificates by the time we finished!

The 4H Spirit Awards are given out to the junior and teen members who show the most 4H spirit over the last year.  The clubs each submit a nomination and the county council takes a vote to determine who should win this award.  It is a great honor given by 4H peers and motivation to see others emulate the meaning of 4H in their club and community.  This year the awards were given out to Jennings and Corinne. 

Each year the county also presents a special recognition to the business who helps promote and support 4H throughout the year.  This year the award was given to Polk Oil Company for its continuous efforts to provide scholarships and support for 4H activities.

Our club president, Caleb, was also given the Teen Leader award for his dedication in assisting in his projects.  He is always available to help as needed.  This is true not only for our club events but also at County and State events.  Proud to have him leading our club! 

I even found myself be recognized for my 4H efforts tonight.  I had actually received an award called Salute to Excellence last May.  However, they recognized me again tonight.  I am just so glad to volunteer to help the youth.  I feel blessed and honored to be noticed for these efforts. 

The main highlight of the evening is the Gold Star award.  The Gold Star Award is the highest county achievement award and will be awarded only once in a member’s 4-H career. Counties have award quotas based on the number of senior 4-H members. The award is presented to the most deserving young people. The member must have completed at least 3 years in 4-H, and submitted an awards program recordbook, including three different project areas.

Last year, two of our seniors were honored with this award, so they were given the opportunity to present the award to this years recipients, Corrine and Whitney.  These two girls work very hard to make the beset better in their clubs, community and beyond. 

It really was a great evening!  It reminds us of all we have done and helps us set goals for the next year to 'make the best better!'

Inspiration in Devastation

Well, we headed off to my mother's this weekend and we could not stay away from our 4H motto to 'make the best better.'

You see, on September 4th, my mother and I were talking about the following weekend trip to her house.  However, those plans were cancelled when the next morning I was called and told that a terrible wildfire was sweeping through Bastrop (the town was in the direct route we would be taking). 

In actuality, the wildfires were sweeping through many parts of Texas.  Over the last six months, over 23,519 fires had burned 3,795,280 acres, 2,742 homes (1,939 of which were destroyed over the Labor Day weekend), and over 4,000 other structures.  This has been devastating to homeowners, farmers, and businesses in the areas affected and brings fear to all those who still suffere from the drought.  We have had such little rain in Texas this year that the potential for more fires is a reality.

4H has not been left unaware of this problem and many clubs have stepped to try to help those in need.  We have been collecting water for the volutneer fire departments in the area.  We posted early this month about the boys delivering water.  We also had more water at our county extension office that was picked up by a volunteer fire department this last week.

One of the other things we have done is collected new packages of socks and underwear for those in the Bastrop area.  We were told we could mail them to the county extension office; however, the boys wanted to deliver the items in person as we began our delayed trip to 'granma's house' this last weekend. 

This is not fall color but burn out trees
that will need to be cut down

As we approached Bastrop, we saw for ourselves the widespread affects of the wildfires.  Even though it has been a month since the fire, we could still smell the over-powering smell of burning and smoke.  The fire is still not completely contained (only 98%) at this time and the volunteer fire departments continue to work on the remaining embers. 

If you look past the burnt out trees, you will see several cars
that could not be moved before the fire took over the poroperty

In spite of the terrible sights we saw, we also were inspired by those who have not stopped working to clean up the mess left behind.  We watched people piling up debris and cutting down the remaining burnt out trees.  My mother also told me about meeting those who were left without homes.  She had yet to meet anyone without a smile and faith that all will be ok.  Most were happy to evacuate without injuries.  The only time you hear of anyone upset is when they speak of the animals that could not be saved. 

The boys being silly but also showing
that they cared about the community

We arrived at the Bastrop County Extension Office.  We had 54 items (socks, underwear, tshirts) to deliver.  The agent was so pleased and thankful for the donation.  She told us that many were still unsure of what would happen but were hopeful.  The main need is gift cards for groceries.  We will try to collect money for this need as well over the next few weeks. 

This made us appreciate our homes and family a little more.  May God bless all of those who try to prevent and contain the fires in our state.  You are all in our prayers.