4-Hers face busy month, sheep/goat clinic set Dec. 4

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H is gearing up for a busy December with practice, clinics, and a Christmas party on the schedule

Up first is a mock Food Challenge at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at The Feed Store. The event is to help 4-Hers prepare for the District 7 Food Challenge on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in San Angelo.

“We have four teams that will be going to Food Challenge in January,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “Saturday’s event will be a full contest, but we’re not actually placing teams. It’s just for them to have a practice run.”

The Food Challenge involves teams of three or four preparing a dish based on a specific ingredient and category.

“For instance, contestants are given zucchini, and they’re supposed to make a side dish with that vegetable,” Bell said. “They go to a fabricated grocery store and get other ingredients.”

Once a team receives its assignment, it faces a 40-minute time limit to prepare the dish and make a presentation.

“The kids will have a tub full of things they’re allowed to use – cooking utensils, a hot plate or electric skillet,” Bell said. “They’re only allowed to have certain things in their tub. They cook their dish and have to put together a presentation in that time frame, then they present the dishes to the judges.”

Sheep & Goat Clinic

A sheep and goat clinic will be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at the county show barn. The clinic will be conducted by Grace and Faith Fry and Leddie and Laithe Leech.

“The clinic is for 4-H and FFA members,” Bell said. “Anyone showing a lamb or goat is welcome to come and bring their animal.”

Bell said the clinic is aimed at younger exhibitors.

“These older kids will teach showmanship skills and answer any questions,” she said. “If it’s the first time for someone to show an animal, they might have questions about feed or handling their animals.”

Outdoor Education

Tamara Trail will speak at the Thursday, Dec. 8 outdoor education class.

“Wildlife is the topic, and Tamara has lots of different skulls and bones to teach the kids how to identify what animal the bones came from,” Bell said.

Big Day

Monday, Dec. 12 has two events on the calendar.

At 4:00 p.m., a horse judging study session will be held at Dairy Queen.

“We have three teams entered at San Antonio and this will be the first practice for that,” Bell said.

At 6:00 p.m. the same day, the 4-H Christmas party will be held at The Feed Store.

“We’re asking all our members to bring a newly purchased blanket to donate to ResourceCare,” Bell said. “Others can donate, too.”