Two Montgomery County 4-H'ers Finished First in Texas. Joining Their Program Costs $25 Until Halloween.

Azalee Porter and J.D. Haines each finished first in their categories at the Texas 4-H State Record Book contest. Montgomery County 4-H announced it in its September newsletter, along with five more county members who placed: Connor Haines, Casey Ward and Lani Duncan in second, Bryce Maddux in fourth and Kara Whitmire in sixth.

The record book is the least glamorous contest in 4-H. There is no animal and no stage. A member writes up a year in one project: the goals, the work, what it cost, what they learned, the people they led or served. Judges read it. To place first in Texas, a kid has to have done a year of real work and then explained it better than anyone else in the category.

The price goes up November 1

We wrote in August that the new 4-H year was opening. Some of what we said then has changed, so here is the current picture from the county's own pages.

• The fee: $25 per member through October 31, then $30. Clover Kids, the 5-to-8-year-old group, are $10.
• Where to sign up: the state moved to a new system this year, at tx4h.tamu.edu. Every family creates a new profile, including returning members and adult volunteers. Last year's account does not carry over.
• Who can join: third graders who are 8 by September 1, up through age 18.
• Not only animals. Robotics, photography, food science, dog training, fashion and shooting sports are all 4-H projects.

The clubs closest to Magnolia

The county counts about 18 clubs. Four meet in Greater Magnolia:

• Magnolia 4-H meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Lyons Elementary School. This month that is October 13.
• Shining Star 4-H meets the third Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Magnolia Community Center. This month, October 18.
• Montgomery-Dobbin 4-H meets the second Monday at 6 p.m. at the Lone Star Community Center in Montgomery. This month, October 12.
• Evening Star 4-H meets the second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., also at the Lone Star Community Center in Montgomery. This month, October 13.

One rule to know before choosing. The county handbook allows a member to change clubs only once a year, between June 1 and October 1. That window just closed, so a family joining now is choosing its club through next summer. The county suggests visiting a few first. The office at 936-539-7823 has the full contact list.

On the October calendar

• October 9: the date on the county's order form for heifer, lamb and goat tags for next spring's major shows. Validations are October 26 and 27 at the county fairgrounds.
• All month: the pecan sale. Members have been taking orders since September, due at each club's October meeting. The county calls it the program's major source of income; the money pays for its educational programs, registration fees and equipment.
• October 25, 2 p.m.: a horse desensitization workshop and costume contest at the Magnolia Horse Arena, with an RSVP on the county's site.
• November 1 and 2: entry days for the spring major shows in Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Angelo and San Antonio.

Adults can sign on too. Club managers and project leaders must be approved volunteers, and the county says it always needs more. A volunteer does not have to know the project, only be willing to learn it alongside the kids.

The extension office is at 9020 Airport Road in Conroe, open weekdays 8 to noon and 1 to 5.