4-H year to kick off on Labor Day

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H gets started on the new year with a kickoff party Monday, Sept. 4.

The event is scheduled for 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Webb Park.

Pizza and drinks will be provided along with a variety of activities for the whole family.

“There’s no need to bring anything; just come and bring the whole family,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “We’ll have a water slide for the kids. Parents can ask me questions, several of our adult volunteers will be there, and everyone can find out what they need to know about 4-H.”

Enrollment for the new 4-H year officially starts Friday, Sept. 1. For information, contact Bell at 325-762-9435.

Shackelford County 4-H will offer more than a dozen projects for the year, but Bell said there will be some slight changes to the lineup.

“There are a couple of things we’re not going to do, but we’ll add others,” she said. “For example, gardening will be more like a friendly club. We’ll do some things to teach kids about gardening rather than it being a project area.”

Much of September will be filled with meeting various stock show deadlines and planning for the year. National 4-H Week will be the first week of October (Oct. 2-5), and Bell said plans are being made for the event.

On Sept. 18, the Horse Club will travel to Abilene to watch Hardin-Simmons University’s Six White Horses.

Areas such as Outdoor Education, Food and Nutrition, and Sewing are still awaiting finalized dates for initial meetings.

Commercial Steers

Those intending to exhibit commercial steers this year must declare their intent by Friday, Sept. 8.

Initial weigh-in is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Rathjen Ranch (the old Pitzer Ranch) at 1650 County Rd. 112.

Final weigh-in will be Jan. 7 with record books due Jan. 9.

Swine Tags

Anyone planning to show a barrow or gilt at a major show must have a state tag for each animal. Those who intend to just show a gilt at the county show only need a county tag.

Tags are $15 each and must be ordered by Friday, Sept. 22.

Rabbits & Chickens

Orders for rabbits and chickens must be placed by Friday, Sept. 15.

Rabbits will cost between $30 and $50 each. Chickens will cost approximately $1.74 apiece.

Rabbits may be purchased as a market pen of four or individually for bucks and does.