(Left to Right) UMaine Extension Educator Ellie Libby, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and 4-H youth Colleen and Charlene.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s delegation to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. has returned home from a week in which 200 youth and adults gathered to share ideas and recommendations to guide future national 4-H youth development programs across the country and at home.

Maine’s delegates who attended the conference from March 24-29, 2012, include: Charlene, Cumberland County and Colleen, Waldo County.

“For almost 100 years, USDA and 4-H have partnered to produce some of our nation’s best and brightest, including farmers and ranchers who have supported the American economy and put food on our tables,” Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, which oversees 4-H programs through its National Institute of Food and Agriculture, told the conference. “You all are tomorrow’s leaders. We need you to think big, innovate and help tackle the important challenges standing between us, a stronger middle class and a stronger nation.”

Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States and a longtime educator, spoke to conference participants about Joining Forces, the initiative she started with First Lady Michelle Obama to encourage all Americans to support military families. Biden encouraged 4-H members to not only continue their longtime support of military families, but to continue to act as role models and mentors in their communities.

“These 4-H members are extraordinary role models and mentors in their communities,” Biden announced recently. “Just as our military men and women serve our country on the battlefield, these young people lead in our communities. Over the next few decades, one of the tasks that will define their generation will be their support for our returning veterans and our military families.”

Participants at this year’s conference took part in personal development experiences to increase their knowledge, resources and skills on issues, such as Veteran Affairs and Health Eating & Living, that matter most to them. As in previous years, delegates participated in roundtable discussions with partnering federal agencies about topics specific to issues affecting youth and communities nationwide and the role 4-H can play in addressing those issues. Topics for this year’s conference included alcohol and drug use prevention, youth suicide prevention, healthy eating and living, equal education for under-represented groups, integration of veteran and military families into local communities, and using science and technology to improve local communities.

Delegates also learned about a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security focused on cyber security. The Stop.Think.Connect Campaign will provide 4-H with tools and resources to help raise awareness among teens and young adults about emerging online threats and the importance of cyber security. That partnership builds on the campaign’s efforts to highlight curriculum resources available to schools and communities, as well as to promote cyber awareness and educate America’s youth about safe online practices.

Since the first conference in 1927, the National 4-H Conference — known as the “Secretary’s Conference” — continues to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity for engaging youth in creating recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program.

4-H National Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage young people in the efforts of USDA and land grant universities to enhance quality of life. Nearly 6 million young people, ages 5-19, participate in 4-H programs in all 50 states, territories and military installations worldwide. More information is available at www.national4-hheadquarters.gov.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

The Maine 4-H Foundation along with area businesses is inviting your participation in the Maine Clover Promotion October 1-31 as part of its 4-H Month fundraising campaign. The project raises money for 25,000 youths involved in Maine 4-H.

How you can help >>

Recent findings from Tufts University’s “4-H Study of Positive Youth Development” indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Annually 25,000 youth participate in Maine 4-H, which is the youth development program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Also during National 4-H Week, hundreds of thousands of youth from all around the nation will complete a single, innovative experiment on 4-H National Youth Science Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The 2011 National Science Experiment, Wired for Wind, will introduce young people to the possibilities of using wind as a clean, widely available, and low-cost source of renewable energy.

The project raises money for 25,000 youths involved in Maine 4-H. 4-H is the youth development program of University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The foundation calls the campaign a great way for all to contribute to the youth in our state and to identify local businesses as a youth supporter in their communities.

The Maine Clover Promotion enables business customers to buy a “clover” for $1. Some businesses have hung the clovers in their stores and some have chosen to give them to customers making the donation. Seventy percent of the contributions go directly to local county 4-H programs and thirty percent goes to statewide programs such as summer camps and trips.

Last year, more than 50 businesses participated and more than 6,000 people purchased clovers. The Maine 4-H Foundation invites all businesses to help make the 2011 campaign successful one. Contact the Maine 4-H Foundation directly at (207) 356-5904 or e-mail audrey.chapman@maine.edu for more information.

–Audrey Chapman, Executive Director, Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation

“4-H Making the Best Better”

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They were Ashlie Hardy of Farmington in Franklin County, Cody Coutts of Chelsea in Kennebec County and Jessyca Rankin of Cornish and Aryn Martin of Gorham in Cumberland County.

They were selected by a panel of 4-H educators, volunteers or youth who have been on the trip in the past to represent Maine 4-H at the annual conference learned about challenges and trends in agriculture, cultural diversity, group dynamics and community service. The conference is intended to address the needs and issues of young people while helping to develop capable, competent and caring citizens with the knowledge and leadership skills to positively effect change in the world through hands-on and community-based experiences.

Maine 4-H youth are supported by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation and local county programs. 4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.

4-Hers with Senator Olympia Snowe

Students in the meeting included: Amanda Barrows of Union, Brent Barrows of Union, Eben Benson of Gorham, Catherine Berry of Phillips, Sara Conant of Windham, Victoria Corson of Farmington, Jordan Davis of Sabattus, Grace Gonnella of Old Town, Kayla Marie Hanson of Stetson, Steven Hanson of Stetson, Sadie James of Avon, Justin Lipkvich of Mariaville, Aryn Martin of Gorham, Brittany Moon of Freeport, Alex Nelson of Thorndike, Kate Pontbriand of Gouldsboro, Ben Pride of Limington, Brianna Springer Ellsworth, and Ben Yeaton of Acton.

Chaperones in the meeting included:  Kristy Ouellette, Extension Educator for the UMaine Cooperative Extension; Audrey Chapman, Executive Director of the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation; and Lisa Davis.

4-H is the youth development program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.  More than 20,000 Maine students participate in 4-H activities.

The Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation has awarded postsecondary scholarships of $1,000 each to seven 2010 graduating high school seniors.

Students were selected by the foundation’s scholarship committee made up of a panel of 4-H foundation trustees. The scholarships were established by private donations and benefit each student after successful completion of his or her first semester of undergraduate study.

Scholarships were made possible by the following individuals or their families: Theda Parker, K.C. Lovejoy, Evelyn L. Trotsky, Verna Church Witter, Doris Roberts, H. Lawrence, George Lawrence Humphrey, Azure Dillon and Gladys Conant.

The 2010 winners were Sara Conant of Windham (Cumberland County 4-H), Dana Tripp of Saco (York County 4-H), Anne F. Witick of Abbot (Piscataquis County 4-H), Kellene O’Hara of Caribou (Aroostook County 4-H), Dana Hayward of North Yarmouth (Cumberland County 4-H), Grace Gonnella of Old Town and Caleb Guerin of Glenburn (both Penobscot County 4-H).

In addition to postsecondary scholarships, the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation supports 4-H programming statewide. For more information or to discuss charitable giving options please contact Audrey Chapman at (207) 581-1162 or (207) 356-5904, or audrey.chapman@maine.edu. Her physical mailing address is: 5741 Libby Hall, Room 103, Orono, ME 04469.