45th Annual Bosque County Hay Show & Scholarship Auction

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The 2023 Bosque County Hay Show will be held at the Meridian Civic Center, located at 309 W River Street, in Meridian on Monday, October 16, 2023. This year 98 hay bale samples were entered into this year’s contest.

 

Please make plans to come out and participate in the 45th Annual Bosque County Hay Show beginning with a meal at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets for the steak meal are available at the Bosque County Extension Office (104 S Fuller, Meridian) or maybe purchased onsite for $10/each.

 

This year’s program will be presented by Dr. Jason Johnson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Ag Economist. Dr. Johnson will speak on “Hay Production Costs & Market Updates.”

Prior to the educational program, the 45th Annual Bosque County Hay Show winners will be recognized, and the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Bale of Hay will be auctioned off in the Kenneth Shrank Memorial Scholarship Auction, which supports the youth of Bosque County, at 6pm.  To date, 310 scholarships for $254,100 have been awarded to Bosque County High School Seniors. If you are an individual who would like to help contribute to this scholarship auction, please let the Extension Office know. Or for more information on this year’s event, contact Chelsea Dorward at the Bosque County Extension Office in Meridian at 254-435-2331 or Rex Royal, Hay Show Representative.

 

2023 CEN-TEX BEEF CATTLE SYMPOSIUM

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The CenTex Beef Cattle Symposium is an annual Multi-County educational program targeted at Central Texas beef producers that rotates each year to a site within one of the 10 host counties. The Beef and Forage Committees within these counties are dedicated to identifying issues and needs that will economically benefit cattle and forage production in Central Texas.

The 15th Annual CenTex Beef Cattle Symposium will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023 at Moreno Ranches, located at 948 FM 2307 in Riesel, Texas. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. The program starts at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 3:30 p.m. A variety of Ag Commercial Vendor booths will be set up for you to visit throughout the day. Door prizes will be drawn at the end of the day. For Pesticide Applicator License holders, 1 CEU hour (1-IPM) will be offered.

The morning program will begin with the History of Moreno Ranches by Ranch Owner, Kelvin Moreno. Since 1819, seven generations of the Moreno Family have been perfecting the art of raising genetically superior Brahman cattle. Currently, Moreno Ranches runs registered seedstock Brahman cattle and cow/calf operations in both Venus, Florida, and Riesel, Texas. The Morenos have focused the ranch on artificial insemination and embryo transfer research, while becoming a premier distributor of superior beef genetics to various businesses and private cattle ranches around the world. Presentations throughout the day will address the following topics:

  • Concentrated Beef Cattle Reproduction, Cary Crow, Business Acquisition Specialist, Trans Ova Genetics
  • Ranch Marketing Strategies, Catherine & Luke Neumayr, Marketing & Advertising, V8 Ranches
  • Nutritional Needs of Beef Cattle, Brayden Hawkins, Southern US Sales Manager, Ridley Block Operations
  • Veterinary Feed Directive & The Importance of Developing Relationship with Your Vet, Andrew Roemisch, DVM, Cottonwood Creek Veterinary Hospital
  • Structural Selection Considerations in American Influence Cattle, Joe Paschal, Beef Cattle Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
  • External Parasite Control in Beef Cattle, Sonja Swiger, Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

The program will conclude with a panel discussion by five prominent leaders in the Brahman industry. Steamer Swaner, Joe Pascal, Kelvin Moreno, and Catherine and Luke Neumayr will discuss Then and Now, The Evolution of the Brahman Breed.

A registration fee of $25.00 is payable at the door. Registration includes breakfast, refreshments, and a steak lunch. You must contact your county extension office to RSVP no later than September 15th, 2023. This program is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Beef & Forage Committees in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Limestone, McLennan, and Robertson counties. To RSVP, please call the McLennan County Office at (254) 757-5180.

 

Fall Gardening Program

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The Bosque County Extension Office will be hosting a Lunch & Learn Fall Gardening Program on September 13, 2023, from noon to 1pm. The program will focus on fall vegetable gardening and fruit trees, taught by Williamson County Horticulture Agent Kate Hajda.

 

Cost is $10/person and it’s bring your own lunch. Location is the Bosque Extension Office, located at 104 S Fuller in Meridian, Texas. For more information or to RSVP, call 254-435-2331.

 

 

Bosque County Hay Show Collection Event set for 9-14-2023 at Extension Office

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office – Bosque County will be collecting hay samples for the 45th Annual Bosque County Hay Show & Scholarship Fundraiser. If you are interested in submitting hay samples into this year’s contest, entries may be dropped off at the Bosque County Extension Office (located at 104 S Fuller in Meridian) between 8:30AM and 11AM on Thursday, September 14, 2023.  Sampling will close on September 14, but you may also drop samples off early at the Extension Office or to your local Bosque County FFA Advisors. Samples will be taken from the conventional bales and/or round bales on the 14th so that the protein analysis can be made. Cost is $10 for first bale, $5 for each additional bale per participant.

 

For a full list of contest rules, please visit the Bosque Extension Office website at https://bosque.agrilife.org/. This year’s Scholarship Auction and Educational Program will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at the Meridian Civic Center starting at 5:30PM.  The Hay Show Committee is also collecting donations for their annual Bosque County Hay Show and Scholarship fundraiser. If you are interested in contributing towards this, please contact Chelsea Dorward at 254-435-2331 or chelsea.dorward@ag.tamu.edu.

Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop – North Bosque River Watershed – September 12, 2023

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This workshop is being co-hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Water Resources Institute. The training will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones and the benefits and direct impacts from healthy riparian zones. The riparian education programs will cover an introduction to riparian principles, watershed processes, basic hydrology, erosion/deposition principles and riparian vegetation, as well as potential causes of degradation and possible resulting impairment(s) and available local resources including technical assistance and tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation.

These one-day trainings in watersheds across the state include both indoor classroom presentations and outdoor stream walks. Instructors are experts from the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The goal is for participants to better understand and relate to riparian and watershed processes, the benefits that healthy riparian areas provide and the tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation and improve water quality. At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Continuing Education Units Available

  • Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators License – 3 CEUs
  • Texas Nutrient Management Planning Specialists – 6 hours
  • International Society of Arboriculture – 8.25 CEUs (Certified Arborist: 2.75, Municipal Specialist: 2.75, BCMA – Science: 0.75, BCMA – Practice: 2)
  • Texas Forestry Association – 6 hours
  • Society of American Foresters – 6.5 CFEs (6 Cat. 2 and 0.5 Cat. 1)
  • Certified Crop Advisor- 7 CEUs (Nutrient Mgmt.: 1, Soil & Water: 1.5, IPM: 1.5, Crop Mgmt.: 2.5, Manure Mgmt.: 0.5)
  • Texas Board of Architectural Examiners “Acceptable for HSW credit”
  • Texas Floodplain Management Association – 7 CECs
  • The program may also be used for CEUs for Professional Engineers.
  • Check with your Chapter for Master Naturalist and Master Gardener to see if it is approved for your area. This course is approved for the Texas Waters Specialist certification program

 

Registration is required by September 5, 2023. A catered lunch will be available to participants for $15. Lunch can be paid for in advance by credit card or via cash on-site the day of the event. Participants may also choose to bring their own lunch. Dress is casual and comfortable for the weather as we will be outside along the river during the afternoon.
For more information or questions please contact Alexander Neal at Alexander.Neal@ag.tamu.edu 979-314-2351. This workshop is free because the program is funded through a Clean Water Act grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Private Applicators Trainings

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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bosque County will be hosting a Private Applicators Pesticide training on Friday, July 14, 2023, located at 104 S Fuller in Meridian. Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. with the training starting at 8:30 a.m. and continue until noon.

 

The training is open to the public. The cost of the class is $75.00. A Laws and Regulation Manual and a Private Applicator Study guide is mandatory and included in the class cost.

To register or if you need more information, please call the Bosque County Extension Office at (254) 435-2331 or http://bosque.agrilife.org/.

Last Chance Recertification Videos

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The Bosque County AgriLife Extension Office will be offering a Last Chance CEU Video Event for private applicators that are in need of continuing educational hours for their current private pesticide license. This program will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Bosque County Extension Office, located at 104 S Fuller in Meridian.

This program will give 5 hours of credit, – 2 hours of Laws and Regulation, 2 hours of Integrated Pest Management and 1 hour of Drift.  To comply with the TDA you need a total of 15 hours in 5 years with 2 hours of L&R and 2 hours of IMP.  This program does offer an excellent number of hours for the price. The cost is $40 and includes lunch. Please RSVP by calling the Extension Office at 254-435-2331 or emailing Chelsea.dorward@ag.tamu.edu.

Hay Show Scholarship Recipients

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The first Bosque County Hay Show was held in Clifton in 1979 with the purpose to provide producers information as to the quality of the hay they are producing. By knowing the quality, producers know if their hay has adequate protein or if they need additional supplements to meet the requirements of their livestock.

Along with the hay from this contest the committee has fundraised to provide scholarship opportunities to FFA & 4-H members from Bosque County. A total of 310 scholarships in the amount of $254,100 have been provided to graduating seniors in Bosque County. To the senior class of 2023, ten $1,250 scholarships have been awarded.

 

This year’s recipients include:

From Bosque 4-H:  Peyton Sorenson, J. B. Wood Memorial Hay Show Scholarship.

From Clifton FFA: Gracie Kessler, the C. Pernell & Rosalie Aars Memorial Hay Show Scholarship and

Jerry Smith Memorial Hay Show Scholarship

From Cranfills Gap FFA: Halie Johnson, the Marc Johnson Memorial Hay Show Scholarship; Case

Koehler, the Bill Williams Memorial Hay Show Scholarship.

From Iredell FFA: Stormi Heutzenroder, the John D. & Murlene Smith Memorial Hay Show Scholarship;

Siera Potter, the Homer and Vera Erickson Memorial Hay Show Scholarship; Paisley Chandler, the

Kenneth & Sandra S. Shrank Memorial Hay Show Scholarship; Preston Robinson, the Charley Aars

Memorial Hay Show Scholarship; Chase Wilkerson, the Wade Lee Memorial Hay Show Scholarship.

From Walnut Springs FFA: Emmalee Pullin, the Carroll M. Olson Memorial Hay Show Scholarship and

Jon F. Henderson Memorial Hay Show Scholarship.

 

13th Annual Central Texas Stocker Cattle Program & Beef Quality Assurance Certification Program

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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, McLennan County along with multiple county extension committees will host the 13th Annual Central Texas Stocker Cattle Program on Wednesday, June 21st at the West Auction Barn in West, Texas.

 

Kaleb McLaurin, Texas Beef Council will provide an “Texas Beef Council Update.” Tyler Schuster, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will provide an “Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Update.”  Marvin Wills, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will provide an “Theft Awareness (Live Cattle Branding Demonstration).” Dr. Jeff Sarchet, DVM at Zoetis Animal Health will perform a necropsy and demonstrate “Improving Profit and Beef Carcass Integrity.”  Dr. Ron Gill, Extension Agent and Animal Science Program Leader will provide a live cattle demonstration on “BQA and Low Stress Handling of Livestock.”  Jason Swain, Livestock Production Specialist with Zoetis Animal Health will speak on the “Proper Vaccination Protocol.”  Dr. Davey Griffin, Meat Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will present on “Beef Carcass 101,” and Dr. Ron Gill will end the day with the “Beef Quality Assurance Wrap Up”.

 

A breakfast and a steak lunch will be provided during the program. The registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and consist of a $10 registration fee payable by Check or Cash Only. Lone Star Ag Credit will be providing breakfast and the steak lunch is courtesy of the Texas Beef Council.  A BQA Certification will be provided for those satisfactory completing the requirements of this program. Please RSVP before June 20th by contacting the Bosque County Extension Office at 254-435-2331

6th Annual Central Texas Vines and Wines

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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Bosque County along with multiple county extension committees will host the 6th Annual Central Texas Vines and Wines program on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:35 p.m. at the Valley Mills Vineyards located at 1686 FM 1637 in Valley Mills, Texas.

 

The Bagnasco family will be hosting and focusing on vineyard management. Many topics will be discussed such as Obligations, Money, Time & Labor by Fran Pontasch, Viticulture Specialist; Challenges & Obstacles to Seasonal Vineyard Management by Michael Cook, Viticulture Specialist; Petiole Sample Testing/Results, Interpreting and Addressing Nutrient Deficiencies by Justin Scheiner, Viticulture Specialist. Host and owners of Valley Mills Vineyards will present Welcome, Our Story by Joey Bagnasco; Site Selection, Design, & Vineyard Tour by Joey Bagnasco; Vertical Tasting of VMV Tempranilllo by Dr. John Bagnasco; and What a Winemaker Looks for in a Vineyard by Charlie Walter, Winemaker at Valley Mills Vineyards. A breakfast and a steak lunch will be provided during the program. The registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and consists of a $35 registration fee. 2 TDA CEUs will be provided (1 IPM & 1 General). Please RSVP before May 19th by contacting the office at (254)435-2331 or emailing Chelsea Dorward at Chelsea.dorward@ag.tamu.edu