Embedded Files
Discover helpful 4-H project resources—fact sheets, tips, guidelines, and Explore Guides—just by scrolling
Click the links in this section to explore the Texas 4-H Project Pages and learn more about each opportunity.
Beef Cattle Project (click to expand)
Beef Cattle Project (click to expand)
Goat Project (click to expand)
Goat Project (click to expand)
Photography Project (Coming Soon)
Photography Project (Coming Soon)
2025-2026 Guadalupe County 4-H Photo Contest Rules
4-H Project Explore Guides
4-H Project Explore Guides
Each clickable guide has been developed to support volunteers, County Extension Agents, and even 4-H members, in leading project experiences for youth. There are six lessons in each book that follow the “do, reflect, apply” model of learning, providing guidance for hands-on exploration and learning about a specific topic. Click the topic name below to download the file to your computer or device.
Explore Guide Quick Menu (click to expand)
Explore Guide Quick Menu (click to expand)
Clothing & Textiles/Duds to Dazzle
Clothing & Textiles/Basic Sewing Skills
Foods & Nutrition/Cooking in the Kitchen
Food & Nutrition/Dollars and Sense
Foods & Nutrition/Exploring the Food Challenge
Food & Nutrition/Safety Around the Kitchen
Food & Nutrition/Keeping Food Safe
Housing & Home Environment/Interior Design
Personal Development/Character
Understanding which beef product to buy in a store can be challenging. There are a wide variety of options to choose from, so which is the best? To answer this question, it helps to know exactly what you are looking for in terms of characteristics, cost and cooking methods.
There are 8 basic (primal) cuts to a steer, the type of cow typically used for meat, because of the higher quality cut of meat. The cuts from a steer are chuck, rib, loin, round, flank, plate, brisket and shank. From these primal cuts, there are also sub-primal cuts. What one generally purchases from the local grocery is considered a portion cut of meat.
Understanding where the portion cuts originate is beneficial in helping to determine the portion cut that is most economical. Portion cuts which derive from the center of the steer, which include the rib and loin areas, are the most expensive cuts of meat. They are the most expensive because they are considered the most tender portion of the steer. Cuts which come from the chuck and brisket area are typically tougher meat due to the muscling in these areas, required added moisture, and longer cooking times.
There are 8 basic (primal) cuts to a steer, the type of cow typically used for meat, because of the higher quality cut of meat. The cuts from a steer are chuck, rib, loin, round, flank, plate, brisket and shank. From these primal cuts, there are also sub-primal cuts. What one generally purchases from the local grocery is considered a portion cut of meat.
Understanding where the portion cuts originate is beneficial in helping to determine the portion cut that is most economical. Portion cuts which derive from the center of the steer, which include the rib and loin areas, are the most expensive cuts of meat. They are the most expensive because they are considered the most tender portion of the steer. Cuts which come from the chuck and brisket area are typically tougher meat due to the muscling in these areas, required added moisture, and longer cooking times.
The U.S. honey bee industry plays a valuable and important role in the overall agricultural economy and there continues to be an increased interest in beekeeping nationwide, both in urban and rural areas. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), in 2020, there were more than 2.7 million colonies of bees producing 148 million pounds of honey in the U.S. Pollination and other income from honey bees were $254 million and $55.8 million, respectively. In 2020, Texas reported 157,000 honey producing colonies (worth $17 million), making it the 6th largest state in both number of colonies as well as value of production. According to TBA, there are approximately 300 commercial (operations with more than 300 hives) beekeeping operations in Texas that typically produce honey or transport bees to pollinate tree fruit and other crops both in Texas and California. Currently, there is an estimated 5,000 small-scale producers (operations with less than 25 hives) in Texas and the numbers are growing. Approximately 700 beekeepers are referred to as “sideliners” (operating 25 to 300 hives but do not consider beekeeping their primary income).
Duds to Dazzle
Duds to Dazzle
Creating something new out of an item or series of items is a great way to use one’s creativity and upcyle unused articles into useable and stylish products. The skills and strategies used in the Duds to Dazzle contest are applicable even if entering the contest is not your end goal. They help you generate ideas and get organized for success with whatever you plan to do with your creation.
In the Duds to Dazzle contest, youth participants are challenged to create something new out of an item or series of items that they will receive. This activity is designed to teach Duds to Dazzle teams how to create a project notebook to organize possible projects for possible startup items but is applicable in any setting.
The twist to this mock contest is that each team is given instructions for what they are to actually make during the contest.
The project instructions provided include additional skill sets that they may use in future contests (i.e., applique, rolled hem, zipper, etc.).
In the Duds to Dazzle contest, youth participants are challenged to create something new out of an item or series of items that they will receive. This activity is designed to teach Duds to Dazzle teams how to create a project notebook to organize possible projects for possible startup items but is applicable in any setting.
The twist to this mock contest is that each team is given instructions for what they are to actually make during the contest.
The project instructions provided include additional skill sets that they may use in future contests (i.e., applique, rolled hem, zipper, etc.).
Basic Sewing Skills
Basic Sewing Skills
Cooking in the Kitchen
Cooking in the Kitchen
Dollars and Sense
Dollars and Sense
Money, as defined by Webster’s dictionary, is “something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment.” Money is what we trade our physical labor for. In other words, by working, people earn paper money and then exchange that money for the material goods they need or want. Money can be more than an economic or purchasing power tool. It is also psychological currency that buys emotional satisfaction; in other words, money can make people feel emotionally satisfied. However, if money is not readily available or if people use “credit” for their purchases, this emotional satisfaction may harm one’s ability to “make ends meet.” As people grow older, money affects them in many ways. Most adults are unhappy with the money that they have and want more; however, this unhappiness that many adults feel is often due to poor to fair money management and not the amount of money they earn or have. Youth and adults should follow these basic “rules of commerce” to better understand money and money management
Exploring Food Challenge
Exploring Food Challenge
Safety Around the Kitchen
Safety Around the Kitchen
The keys to preventing kitchen accidents are directly related to knowledge, behaviors, and practices regarding kitchen safe work habits.
What is involved in kitchen safety? Kitchen safety involves having the knowledge and proper information on how to correctly use tools and appliances, how to reduce risks for potential accidents, methods to identify hazards and correct behavior when working in the kitchen.
What is involved in kitchen safety? Kitchen safety involves having the knowledge and proper information on how to correctly use tools and appliances, how to reduce risks for potential accidents, methods to identify hazards and correct behavior when working in the kitchen.
Keeping Food Safe
Keeping Food Safe
Interior Design
Interior Design
Character
Character
Personal Leadership Development
Personal Leadership Development
Leadership Within a Group
Leadership Within a Group
Livestock judging is a highly competitive experience that enhances independent decision-making abilities while challenging participants to process information quickly and be able to defend a position or decision. Livestock judging is the visual appraisal of an animal’s physical traits, including positive and negative features. The ultimate goal in judging livestock is to compare and contrast the four animals in a given class against one another, and then compare them to what is considered the “ideal” animal. Livestock judging allows personal growth and development as it requires a student to think critically. It can teach youth valuable time management skills, responsibility, and how to be competitive while demonstrating honesty, integrity, and respect. Livestock judging instills these valuable life skills, but also provides opportunities for learning about selection and obtaining general knowledge about the livestock industry, as well as interacting with current industry leaders which may prove beneficial throughout the one’s 4-H career and into adulthood.
Team Building in Outdoor Education
Team Building in Outdoor Education
Showing Broilers and Turkeys
Showing Broilers and Turkeys
Showing Rabbits
Showing Rabbits
Why the Rabbit Project? A rabbit project is a great way to get started with an animal science project. Rabbits do not require a lot of fancy or expensive housing or equipment, which makes them one of the more affordable animal projects to begin your animal science experience. Many times youth who are living in an urban area are not able to have an animal project, but since rabbits are housed in hutches, they are great for urban and rural settings.
Building Blocks of Bots
Building Blocks of Bots
Explore the Scientific Method-Lifecycles
Explore the Scientific Method-Lifecycles
Exploring Market & Breeding Sheep & Goats
Exploring Market & Breeding Sheep & Goats
Exploring Market Barrows & Breeding Gilts
Exploring Market Barrows & Breeding Gilts
Exploring Water
Exploring Water
The importance of water cannot be overstated or overvalued. Though we often take it for granted, access to abundant, clean, safe, and affordable water affects our health, drives our economy, and adds to our quality of life. Unfortunately, millions of people around the world live in places where water is so limited or in such poor quality that much of their day is spent finding water to meet bare necessities. Water in these regions is essential for survival, but ironically much of this water is contaminated and is a major source of sickness and disease.
Water is important to practically every aspect of our life, and in ways we often do not recognize or appreciate. Water is essential to food production, transportation, sanitation and health, energy production, recreation, and even politics.
The most prosperous civilizations have always enjoyed access to fresh water, and the lack of water has been the downfall of others. Throughout history, people have wanted to live near rivers, lakes, and oceans. Even today, the U.S. the population density of counties located along coastal shorelines is more than 6 times greater than inland counties. In fact, these coastal counties account for 39% of the total U.S. population.
Water is important to practically every aspect of our life, and in ways we often do not recognize or appreciate. Water is essential to food production, transportation, sanitation and health, energy production, recreation, and even politics.
The most prosperous civilizations have always enjoyed access to fresh water, and the lack of water has been the downfall of others. Throughout history, people have wanted to live near rivers, lakes, and oceans. Even today, the U.S. the population density of counties located along coastal shorelines is more than 6 times greater than inland counties. In fact, these coastal counties account for 39% of the total U.S. population.
Water Filtration & Electro-coagulation
Water Filtration & Electro-coagulation
Access to clean drinking water is essential for human health, national security, and economic prosperity. In wealthy countries such as the United States, clean water is readily available due to investment in water exploration, treatment, and sanitation. Regulation has limited industries and agricultural operations from discharging pollutants into lakes, river, and streams. Even still, water pollution in the US is a problem that threatens drinking water availability and water quality.
It is estimated that 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, groundwater, and industrial waste are discharged in the US each year resulting in 12 million to 18 million cases of water-borne diseases annually. In fact, 40% of rivers and 46% of lakes are polluted and not suitable for fishing, swimming or aquatic life. More than 73 different pesticides were found in US groundwater. If not for advanced water filtration and treatment technologies, these waters would result in widespread sickness and death.
In many developing countries people spend several hours each day to get water, and it is often polluted. Approximately 2.1 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water and 4.5 billion people lack proper sanitation which only compounds the problem. In fact, 18% of the world’s population defecate in the open where it pollutes nearby water bodies and poses health risks. In developing countries, there are few government regulations or monitoring of water bodies. Consequently, 70% of industrial waste and 80% of sewage are dumped into waters, which then pollute the drinking water supply.
Because they lack adequate filtration and treatment, these populations are more likely to contract water-borne diseases. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to spread of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. Table 1, found at the end of the lesson, lists the most common water-borne diseases and their health effects. On average 842,000 people (including 340,000 children under the age of five) die each year from diarrhea as a result of unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and poor hygiene.
It is estimated that 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, groundwater, and industrial waste are discharged in the US each year resulting in 12 million to 18 million cases of water-borne diseases annually. In fact, 40% of rivers and 46% of lakes are polluted and not suitable for fishing, swimming or aquatic life. More than 73 different pesticides were found in US groundwater. If not for advanced water filtration and treatment technologies, these waters would result in widespread sickness and death.
In many developing countries people spend several hours each day to get water, and it is often polluted. Approximately 2.1 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water and 4.5 billion people lack proper sanitation which only compounds the problem. In fact, 18% of the world’s population defecate in the open where it pollutes nearby water bodies and poses health risks. In developing countries, there are few government regulations or monitoring of water bodies. Consequently, 70% of industrial waste and 80% of sewage are dumped into waters, which then pollute the drinking water supply.
Because they lack adequate filtration and treatment, these populations are more likely to contract water-borne diseases. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to spread of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. Table 1, found at the end of the lesson, lists the most common water-borne diseases and their health effects. On average 842,000 people (including 340,000 children under the age of five) die each year from diarrhea as a result of unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and poor hygiene.
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