TCEQ Releases Information on Take Care of Texas Video Contest

Each year the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) hosts the 'Take Care of Texas Video Contest', where students sixth grade and up submit 30-second videos showing positive ways citizens can take care of the environment and natural resources. Students in 9th-12th grades can also win scholarships!

The contest opens September 3, 2019 and closes December 6, 2019.

More details about the contest, as well as past winners are located at http://takecareoftexas.org/teens/2019-take-care-of-texas-video-contest-here.

It would be fantastic if some of our water ambassadors submitted entries this year!

John Philip Jones Awarded TGWA Scholarship

Congratulations to John Philip Jones (Waller Co.) for receiving one of three Texas Ground Water Association (TGWA) scholarships! JP is very deserving of this honor, and has served a 4-H Water Ambassadors since the very beginning - 2017. JP graduated this year, and is now enrolled at Texas A&M University. He plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Good luck and best wishes to JP on his college journey!

4-H Water Ambassador Thank Sponsors at Texas Groundwater Summit

We had a great turnout for our exhibit booth at the Texas Groundwater Summit in San Antonio! Those who participated included: Sarah Wood (Bell Co.), Cole Reopelle (Wilson Co.), Max O'Brien (Montgomery Co.), Tyann Philips (Floyd Co.), Paige Perry (Hemphill Co.), Jaxon Grove (Nueces Co.), Rowdy Kunz (Colorado Co.), Gianna Aldrett (Fort Bend Co.), Matthew Franklin (Bell Co.), and Logan West (Wilson Co.).

The Summit is our best opportunity to meet with and express our thanks to many of our program sponsors. Without their support and that of their board members, the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program would not be possible. Thanks to all of you who represented us so well at this event!

Here are a few pics ...

Anderson & Cantu Discuss their Water Ambassador Experience with 4-H Club Members and Parents

Natalie Anderson and Idani Cantu (Starr Co.) talked to their 4-H club members and parents about the many opportunities and knowledge gained through the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program. They explained the differences in the Tier I and Tier II 4-H2O Leadership Academies and encouraged other eligible club members to apply next year. Thanks ladies!

Kendal Workman Shares Her Summer Experience with Leon Co. Leadership Advisory Board

Kendal Workman (Leon Co.) delivered a presentation on Texas 4-H Water Ambassador Program to the Leon County Leadership Advisory Board. Nice work Kendal!

Madeline Brown Presents to Wilbarger Co. 4-H

Madeline Brown (Wilbarger Co.) created a slideshow and gave a forty-five minute presentation as the guest speaker for her county's 4-H Award Banquet. Way to go Madeline!

Paige Perry Presents to Hemphill Co 4-Hers

Thanks to Paige Perry (Hemphill Co.) for spreading the word to area 4-H clubs about her summer 4-H2O Leadership Academy experience! Hopefully this will inspire other youth in the area to apply next year.

4-H Water Ambassadors Participate in Burleson & Milam Co. Groundwater Summit

Bailey Halbert (Brazos Co.) Kendal Workman (Leon Co.) and Gabriel Ramthun (Milam Co.) represented the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program at the Milam and Burleson Counties Groundwater Summit. The Summit is an annual event hosted by our sponsor Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District. Ambassadors set up an exhibit, talked to attendees about the Program, and were put to work handling registration and speaker needs. Pictured are Gabriel, Bailey, and Kendal with State Senator Lois Kolkhorst!

Brayden DeBorde Educates Kids at Navarro Co. 4-H Water Days

Brayden DeBorde (Ellis Co.) recently educated kids at the Navarro County 4-H Water Days at the Boys & Girls Club of Corsicana. Brayden used the enviroscape watershed model to talk about the importance of water conservation, and ways to reduce water runoff. Way to serve Brayden!

Calk, Downs, and Jackson Present to South Plains UWCD

Thanks to Riley Calk & Macy Downs (Yoakum Co.) and Kylee Jackson (Terry Co.) for presenting to the board of directors at South Plains Underground Water Conservation District. These ladies reported on what they learned during their respective summer 4-H2O Leadership Academies. Great job!

Texas Groundwater Summit, August 20-22, 2019, San Antonio

Each year, the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program is invited to have a booth and participate in the Texas Groundwater Summit, see https://texasgroundwater.org/draft-texas-groundwater-summit/ . This event is hosted by the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and is a gathering of the majority of our Program sponsors. Each year I prepare plaques for our sponsors, and this event is a chance to present many of those face-to-face. It is also an opportunity for you to meet/thank sponsors and share with patrons what the 4-H Water Ambassadors is all about. The Summit is also a great opportunity to acquire education/service hours.

The Summit this year is August 20-22, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. I created a Doodle Poll, https://doodle.com/poll/ah2fycwa9if3bfzq for those who plan to participate. There are several time slots for which you can sign up to assist with the booth and attend the sessions. I have limited each time slots to (10) participants (first come, first serve), however you can sign up for multiple time slots. If you plan to attend, please complete the poll by Wednesday August 14. The conference organizers need to get an accurate head count of attendees.

Travel will be at your own expense.

Time slots available are:

Tuesday August 20 

12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Wednesday August 21

8:00 am – 11:00 am
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Thursday August 22

8:00 am - noon

Please consider signing up to participate in this event.