National 4-H Week, By Johanna Hicks
National 4-H Week For the 75th consecutive year, millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating National 4-H Week during the first full week of October. Hopkins County 4-H will leverage National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people , and will highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on...
Now Is The Time To Join 4-H
by Johanna Hicks Interested in Joining 4-H? Now is the Time! 4-H is the largest youth organization in the United States. In Texas, more than 550,000 youth are involved in 4-H experiences each year and we are pleased to announce that enrollment for the 2017/2018 year is now open. 4-H is a national organization which helps young people develop life-long knowledge and skills them “learn by doing.” It reaches people in their own...
Summer Gardening 101 By Mario Villarino
As we move into our hot gardening season, the increase of temperatures begins to show in both the garden and the gardener. As I was conducting one of our outdoor summer camps session earlier this week, the impact of the high temperatures in us the instructors and our participants was terrible. A similar effect can be expected in our livestock and plants during this time of the year. Because both July and August are in the top of the...
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Offers Something for Everyone and Summer Sewing Workshop
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Offers Something for Everyone Did you know that every state in the United States has an Extension Service? Did you know that every county in Texas has Extension Agents who work with them and that some agents in smaller counties work more than one county? Were you aware that some of the larger counties have multiple agents to cover the large territory? How much do you really know about your Hopkins...
Know Your Weeds By Mario Villarino
Know your weeds: MacCartney Rose Macartney rose, also known as “Cherokee rose,” “hedge” and “rose hedge,” presents severe management problems for livestock producers in Texas. Imported from the Orient in the late 1800s as a hedge for fencing purposes, the plant has escaped and naturalized . It now occupies more than 500,000 acres of Texas rangeland . This rose species forms dense stands that eliminate forage production and hinder...
NETLA Recap By Mario Villarino
It has been just over a week after our NETLA Junior Livestock Show is over and by now the final add on support is getting in and our totals getting computed. Just as we recap some of the experiences gained in putting a show as this together I was asked to explain to new families the reasons to get involved raising and showing projects. I can hardly start describing the experience without recalling my own experience growing up selling...
Recommended Activities for the Garden by Mario Villarino
This week and coming week are full of livestock activities as we get ready for our Northeast Texas Livestock Show starting Feb 23, 2017. More than sixty 4-H members will be showing their livestock projects during the event. We are looking forward for some friendly competition and a good display of husbandry and showmanship of livestock projects. For those not very familiar with raising show projects, the intensity of care and money...
NETLA, a Hopkins County Youth SUPER-Event
Make plans to visit the youth exhibitors at this year’s Junior Market Livestock Show when, along with their animal projects, they will be competing inside the Civic Center arena in Sulphur Springs in the NETLA event. 4-H and FFA youth showing lambs and goats will have their contests on Thursday February 23 starting at 4pm. There are 100 lamb and goat entries this year. Youth who are showing the other 218 livestock entries, from...
Agrilife To-Do List by Mario Villarino
February is traditionally our 4-H livestock show month. As our 4-H members are busy working with their projects, activities in the garden remain slow. Many gardeners suffer from “gardening fever” and start getting excited when temperatures warm up a little. I must remind you that our cold weather season has plenty to go before it is over. It is however, important to start thinking about pre-emergent application of herbicides before...
Creative Art Contest Results And More By Johanna Hicks
Creative Arts Contest Results The 2016 Hopkins County Fall Festival has come and gone until next year, and we could not have asked for better weather! Sun shine and a gentle breeze greeted fair-goers. Two of the highlights each year are the Arts & Crafts Show (by the way, I purchased some absolutely fabulous items handcrafted items!), and the Creative Arts Contest. Hopkins County residents showcased their talents in the...
