Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs

Virginia 4-H Group to Visit Hopkins County

Virginia 4-H Group to Visit Hopkins County

Those of you who keep up with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hopkins County know that we offer abundant opportunities including, camps, workshops, educational programs, field trips, exhibits, and the list goes on and on.  Perhaps one of the most exciting opportunities pertains to our 4-H families.  I’m talking about 4-H Exchange trips!

During the past three summers, Hopkins County has either hosted a group or traveled to other locations as part of a 4-H Exchange trip.  The summer of 2015 is no exception.  As you read this column, 28 4-H youth, parents and Extension agents from Smyth County, Virginia, are preparing for their drive to Hopkins County!  They will arrive at our Extension Office on Friday, June 12 around 5:00 p.m.

Several host families have been lined up to house our guests.  We have a full line-up of activities for our Virginia visitors.  Since they will be in our county during opening weekend of the 2015 Hopkins County Dairy Festival, we plan to indoctrinate them fully in festival activities!

We’ll start with a meal provided by our Infinity 4-H Club, and then proceed to the Hot Air Balloon Rally.  The next morning, our guests will attend the Dairy Festival Parade, Dairy Show, Cow milking Contest, and Ice Cream Freeze-off. We will all have matching shirts, so if you see gray t-shirts with the states of Texas and Virginia linked by 4-H clovers, you’ll be able to recognize Exchange trip participants! Of course, no visit to Hopkins County would be complete without a trip to Celebration Square for picture-taking, shopping, and delicious treats!  After a brief respite from the crowds and change of clothes, the group will venture to Bobby McDonald’s home for swimming and a meal.

Sunday morning, the group will meet for a worship service at the home of some of our 4-H leaders, followed by outdoor activities to include zip-line, hay ride and other outdoor activities as weather allows.  Lunch at Foster’s in Pickton will provide a taste of East Texas cuisine.  A tour of a local dairy, followed by a trip to Coleman Park for more pictures (and maybe a little horseshoes and disc golf), will provide another glimpse of Hopkins County attractions.  A little Tex-Mex and time with host families will wrap up the day.

Monday morning, June 15, the Virginia group will tour AT&T Stadium and spend some time in the metroplex before coming back to the country life, as they visit my home for a covered dish meal provided by host families.  Tuesday will bring the end to their visit as they gather at the Extension Office for an early breakfast before heading to Louisiana to see Duck Commander.

Whew!  That’s quite a trip!  Plans are for our Hopkins County youth to travel to Virginia during the summer of 2016 to complete the exchange.  So, if you would like to help some of our kids make this plan a reality, contact our office, and we will tell you how you can assist!

 

Dairy Recipe Contest

Don’t forget to enter a recipe in the 2015 Dairy Festival Recipe Contest!  It’s easy to do.  Simply select a recipe containing at least two real dairy products and submit the written copy to my office by 5:00 p.m. on June 15.  Then, on Saturday, June 20, bring your dish to the Extension Office between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m., for tasting by our panel of judges.  The awards presentation will take place following judging, around 2:45 p.m., depending on the number of entries.  It’s that simple!

If you want to see a list of guidelines, go to www.hopkinscountydairyfestival.com or drop by our office at 1200-B W. Houston Street in Sulphur Springs.  There is an age division for all ages!

 

Closing Thought

The starting point of all achievement is desire – Napoleon Hill

 

 

Johanna Hicks

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Family & Consumer Sciences

1200-B W. Houston

P.O.Box 518

Sulphur springs, TX 75483

903-885-3443 – phone

903-439-4909 – Fax

[email protected]

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