This Week in Gillespie 4-H

May 11, 2026

*New Gillespie 4-H News*

Leadership Lab
Leadership Lab registration is open through May 25, 2026 for 4-H members age 13-18. Register through 4HOnline.

Member Highlights
Help us gather all the pictures from the 2025 - 2026 4-H year by using the easy upload feature in Member Resources - Member Highlights!
Upload up to 10 photos at a time from your phone, and clear up that space, and make sure that in 20 years from now we still can have Throwback Thursday pictures! 

Meat Judging
Practices will be moved to Wednesday's  from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. beginning April 22nd. Practices will be at the Extension Office and are for Seniors and incoming Freshman ONLY

Ag Product ID
We will have 2 additional practices to prepare for State Roundup. Although these practices will be geared towards our Seniors, Intermediates are welcome to attend. Practices will be on the following dates:

-Tuesday, May 5th @ 6:30 pm

-Thursday, May 26th @ 6:30 pm 

Lost & Found
If you think you may have any items at the office in our lost and found area, please come and pick them up - we will be going through items. Please stop by if you think you left something at the office. 

Livestock Project Friendly Reminders

Livestock Reminders & Validation

• Checks to be picked up:

• Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show

• Fort Worth ALL

• Grandstand ALL

• San Angelo - Floor & Premium

• San Antonio - Floor  & Premium 

• Houston - Floor

• Austin - Floor

• State Fair of Texas schedule has been released! SAVE THE DATES

• Quality Counts is now open for youth who need to complete the course for the first time or renew their verification. Exhibitors only need to complete Quality Counts once per grade level division: Junior (Grades 3–5), Intermediate (Grades 6–8), OR Senior (Grades 9–12). Quality Counts needs to be completed prior to completing stock show entries. Quality Counts course: https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/product/quality-counts/01t4x000008HBZdAAO

Project Updates

Clothing and Textiles Project

Sewing Summer Camp Registration is OPEN - due to be limited spots please stop by the office to sign up! 
Save the Dates:
June 15 - 17th (3rd - 5th graders)
June 22nd  - 24th (6th - 12th Grade)
July 15 - 17th  (6th - 12th Grade)
*Depending on sign ups there is possibility for an additional 3rd - 5th grade camp .  Register at the Extension Office.

$100 per Gillespie 4-H member
Lunch - Machine - Fabric/Supplies Included
8 campers limited per camp
Gillespie 4-H Members - first come first serve and priority registration till May 8th (after May 8th - non -4-H members will be invited to sign up*)  

Cattle Project
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Cattle Raisers Roundup:  Camp applications are being accepted till May 3rd. Camp takes place July 19 - 24th in West Texas. This offers junior and senior high school youth a hands-on look at the beef industry while building leadership skills through tours, industry connections and professional development. MORE INFORMATION 

Sheep Project

MJL5 Goat & Sheep Showmanship Clinics - Kendall County Barn

Mini Clinic - July 30, 2026
All Day Clinic - July 31, 2026
2 Ring Sheep & Goat Show - August 1, 2026

MORE INFORMATION

STEM Project/Robotics

Advanced Robotics Camp 

Gillespie 4-H member who previously participated in the Gillespie 4-H robotics program are invited to attend Robotics camp hosted my Texas Tech STEM in Gillespie County on June 15th & 16th, 8:30 - 3:30 p.m. w/ optional extension till 5:15 p.m. Gillespie 4-H member price - $80 regular (lunch included), $100 with extension to 5:15 - we will open camp to surrounding area Robotics programs on 5/1. Please come by the office to secure your spot before May 1st.

Beginner Robotics Camp
If you are interested in robotics we will have a beginner robotics camp - more information and dates to come soon. If you would like to participate in the robotics program for 26 -27 4-H year, it will be highly encouraged that you attend camp! 

Photography Project

Farm Bureau Photography Contest

The annual Texas Farm Bureau Photo Contest is an opportunity for members to share their best pictures with the entire Lone Star State and maybe even win a cash prize. To enter the contest, you must be a Texas Farm Bureau member and a resident of Texas. Employees and agents (and their spouse, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents) of Texas Farm Bureau, its affiliated companies, or a county Farm Bureau are not eligible to enter. Entries Due June 1st

MORE INFORMATION

Dog Project

Texas 4-H State Dog Show

The Texas 4-H State Dog Show will take place July 7-9, 2026 at the Hill Country Youth Events Center in Kerrville, Texas.  All participating dogs must be validated.

Poultry Project
Texas A&M Summer Poultry Judging Camps

The Department of Poultry Science is offering three action-packed poultry judging camp sessions, tailored to different experience levels and groups. Each session is filled with hands-on learning, giving participants the skills, knowledge, and confidence to dominate 4-H and FFA poultry judging contests. 

MORE INFORMATION

Food & Nutrition Project
On the Road with Food Science

Looking for a great opportunity for Texas 4-H Youth this summer? On the Road with Food Science is just that!  Incoming 9th–12th grade 4-H members are invited to apply for On the Road with Food Science, a 3-day hands-on learning experience hosted at Texas Tech University on June 16–18, 2026.

MORE INFORMATION

Food Network Kids Baking Championship Casting

Food Network is currently casting the next season of Kids Baking Championship, now known as Baking Championship: Next Gen on Food Network. They are searching nationwide for kids ages 8–14 who love to bake. This season, they are specifically looking for teams of siblings, cousins, or friends who bake together and want to compete! There have been some amazing 4-H kids on the show in the past! For a chance to audition, parents can fill out an application here:

https://bakingchampionshipcasting.castingcrane.com/ We encourage any young bakers with a passion for baking to apply.

Meat Judging
Practices will be moved to Wednesday's  from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. beginning April 22nd. Practices will be at the Extension Office and are for Seniors and incoming Freshman ONLY

Ag Product ID
We will have 2 additional practices to prepare for State Roundup. Although these practices will be geared towards our Seniors, Intermediates are welcome to attend. Practices will be on the following dates:

-Tuesday, May 5th @ 6:30 pm

-Thursday, May 26th @ 6:30 pm 

Entomology
2026 Entomology Collection Contest

This contest is offered to Junior, Intermediate, and Senior level 4-H members. The 2026 Entomology Collection Contest is not officially a contest of Texas 4-H Roundup. Contest registration DOES NOT grant you access to Texas 4-H Roundup events or activities. Collections will be judged during the week of Texas Round Up only because it was a time that we could collect the collections at a central state location. Information, drop off location and drop off rules can be found at https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/entomology/. It is the responsibility of the 4-H member to arrange transportation of their collection to College Station. Collections are due by 9 am, Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

2026 Entomology Photography Contest

4-H members are invited to participate in the Texas 4-H Entomology Photography Contest. This contest can be a fun way to get outside and study nature, and insects! Award winners will be recognized electronically late June. Results, judges’ comments, and scores will be released to county offices and results posted online. Prizes per division will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Entry deadline is May 20, 2026. Contest information can be located at https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/entomology 

Horticulture
Junior Master Gardener Summer Camps

• Junior Master Gardener – Learn, Grow, Eat & GO Camp – Tuesday – Thursday, June 2-4, 2026 – NOTE: this is during Texas 4-H Round UP and great opportunity for families with younger children whose older kids are doing Round UP events. Learn, Grow, Eat, & Go! Camp - New Registration

• Junior Master Gardener – Bugs N’ Blooms Camp – Tuesday – Thursday,  June 9-11, 2026 2026 Bugs-n-Blooms Camp - New Registration 

They are also offering a Summer Teacher STEM training on Wednesday – June 17, 2026 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.  It is targeted for those working with late elementary through middle school. Registration details coming soon!

Shooting Sports
Texas 4-H State Games

The Texas 4-H State Games will be July 5-10, 2026 at the Mike Myers Shooting Complex in Caldwell, TX for Rifle, Pistol, Muzzleloading & Hunting Skills. Archery & Shotgun events will be held July 12-18, 2026 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, TX.

Registration Deadlines: 4HOnline and iClays June 15, 2026 (both registrations must be completed)

Wilson County 4-H 4th Annual Summer Blast

4-H Members are invited to the 4th annual Summer Blast Shootout! The event will take place in Kingsbury, TX. Register for this event on iClays.com.

Save the Date: May 23, 2026

Fort Bend County 4-H Summer Shoot Out

4-H Members are invited to the Fort Bend  County 4-H Summer Shootout! Options for .22 Rifle '50 Indoor Shoot or Archery 65.6' Indoor Shoot (20mm). Register for this event at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/summer-shoot-out

Save the Date: Friday May 29th and Saturday May 30th

Community Service Opportunity

Coming Sooon! 

District/State 4-H News

District 10 Leadership Lab- Registration OPEN!

Leadership Lab is our annul Leadership camp for 4-H members from ages 13-18.  This event provides a variety of leadership, recreation, and project enhancement workshops that participants are challenged to take back to their own county and implement.  District 4-H Council Delegates from the 21 counties are highly encouraged to attend and participate in the District 4-H Council Business Meeting which includes the election of the District Council Officers for the new 4-H year.  Candidates for District 4-H Council will present their campaign speech and participate in a question/answer session in front of the voting delegates. 

Save the Date: June 24-26, 2026

MORE INFORMATION

District 10 Record Books

4-H Record Books allow youth to see just how much they have accomplished in their main projects.  District Record book Judging is held annually in July.  First place books from each county advance to District in three age divisions:  Juniors, Intermediates & Seniors. The 1st place senior record book in each category will have the opportunity to advance to State level! Only one book per category advances, if multiple entries are submitted, we will hold a county judging. Registration Opens: June 1, 2026 More Information

Gillespie 4-H Seniors

Continue checking this space for upcoming opportunities

If you need a school excuse for a 4-H activity CLICK HERE to access the form.
Non-stock show 4-H school requests must be submitted at least 3-4 business days before the dates you are requesting.
Stock show excuse request deadlines are emailed to exhibitors prior to shows.