July 2018 4-H Notes
This month’s edition of 4-H Notes is out! For a downloadable recap of recent 4-H events, state 4-H news, and upcoming dates to remember check out: July 2018 Notes (PDF).
Club News
Loose Shoe – A Bend in the Road
The Loose Shoe Club recently visited a facility called ‘A Bend in the Road’ in Hartford, Maine. This organization counsels adoptive, abused and neglected children through interaction with animals. It is a wonderful program that does great work. The Loose Shoe Club members were treated to a tour of the facility and experienced how the animals help with emotions.
And/Sag Teen Council
The Teen Council is currently working on visiting every county in Maine in order to meet teen leaders from all over the state and encourage teens to be active in their own Teen Leaders groups. They are also planning to share their vision of a state-wide teen council. Any teens in And/Sag are encouraged to participate in the Teen Council. Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Extension office in Lisbon.
Topsham Fair
Topsham Fair is only a month away, August 7 – 12! Are you ready? 4-Hers can enter as many items as they like to be judged in our own exhibit area. The first item must be project-related. 4-Hers are also encouraged to sell hand-made items in the 4-H barn during their shift if they like. Please let your club leader know if you are interested.
Maine 4-H Equestrian Team
Congratulations to the 2018 Maine 4-H Equestrian Team! They will be competing at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA in September!
Riders: Ashlyn B. (Oxford), Jordyn M. (Andro/Sag), Audrey S. (Penobscot), Alia P. (Hancock), Izabelle H. (Aroostook), Sophie P. (Cumberland), Gwen H. (Cumberland), Jessica F. (Cumberland), Caitlyn P. (Franklin)
Teen Leaders: Mia W. (Franklin), Bailey C. (Andro/Sag), Carrianne C. (Franklin), Shannon R. (Cumberland)
Community Central
Summer is in full swing for 4-H Community Central! Laura and Cathy are bringing Summer of Science to Lewiston Adult Education on July 12, 19, 26. These events will cover fun engineering challenges. These events are free, but registration is required: contact Lewiston Adult Education at 207.795.4141. We hope to see you there!
Leaders Association
The Leaders Association and the Teen Council are selling Wilburs of Maine chocolate candy bars to raise money for the Buckley family and for the Teen Council. They are only $2.00 each. This fundraiser ends at the Topsham Fair, so be sure to buy some chocolate bars from a 4-Her soon.
Androscoggin-Sagadahoc 4-H Dates and Deadlines!
4-H Leaders Association Meetings 2018*
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
UMaine Cooperative Extension Office
24 Main Street, Lisbon Falls 04252
July 18: 4-H Leaders Meeting
August: No August Meeting due to Topsham Fair
September 19: 4-H Leaders Meeting
October 17: 4-H Leaders Meeting/Project Record Judging
September 30: End of 4-H year, turn in project records to club leaders
November: 4-H Awards!
December: Re-enrollment Due
* Each club must have a minimum of one enrolled 4-H volunteer present.
State News
Register Now for Maine 4-H Days!
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 20-22, 2018 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you do not have online access, please contact your local county office for paper copies of the forms. Find information and registration materials at the Maine 4-H Days site. For more information or with any questions, please contact Jessy Brainerd at 207.581.3877 or brainerd@maine.edu.
Photo Contest!
We know we make a huge difference in the lives of Maine youth through 4-H. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication our 4-H staff makes across Maine. The Maine 4-H Foundation had a great year in 2017 raising over $748,000 in donations and investment income! A great deal of this funding was restricted to your programs! Good job! Our goal for 2018 is to continue to increase our support to 4-H programs across Maine. To make this happen the Maine 4-H Foundation needs to hear about your great programs and see youth in action! Becky Mosley suggested a statewide photo contest and the Foundation Board agreed! Photos make all of the difference!
From Susan Jennings, Maine 4-H Foundation
The Maine 4-H Foundation is Pleased to Announce a New Youth, Volunteer and Staff Photo Contest
To win, submit as many photos (with photo releases) as you like to Susan Jennings by September 1, 2018. Photos need to be originals, have a photo release (for people in the photo) and include the copyright release from the photographer. They need to be digitally submitted to jennings@maine.edu. Please add your name, email contact, age and photo release information.
Youth and Volunteer Prize(s):
Grand Prize for the Best Overall Photo: Something 4-H Awesome! Prizes are given in all divisions (Youth age up to 8, 9-12, 13 and up, volunteers)
- 1st Prize: $100 gift card
- 2nd Prize: $75 gift card
- 3rd Prize: $50 gift card
Staff Prize: $500 on account at the Maine 4-H Foundation that you can use for a special 4-H program, event, workshop, conference or donor challenge.
Questions? Call Susan Jennings at 207.615.7300
The Big E New England Center Demonstration Team
Maine 4-H is going to The Big E! Sign up now to join the New England Center Demonstration Team. Travel dates are September 22, 23 and 24. A $25.00 registration fee includes travel by coach bus to and from The Big E, meals and two nights lodging in the Moses Dormitory on the fairgrounds. There are a limited amount of financial assistance available. Youth will work in teams demonstrating STEM activities and 4-H projects. Join our group now and help show fairgoers what Maine 4-H is all about! Top finishers in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament who earned a spot on the Maine 4-H Communications Team will be traveling with us and presenting from the New England Center Stage. Participants will need money to purchase meals on the bus ride down and back along with any spending money you wish to bring for your stay at the fair. There is a lot to do and see at The Big E Fair, and you can visit, the website: The Big E. Open to youth ages twelve and older. Register and pay online before August 1 by visiting The Big E New England Center Demonstration Team Form. Contact Becky at rebecca.mosley@maine.edu or 207-743-6329 for more information. For questions pertaining to the Maine Communication Team please contact sheila.norman@maine.edu. Volt-trained and enrolled volunteers who are interested in chaperoning should contact Becky Mosley.
2018 American Goat Federation Youth Scholarship Program
To encourage education and development of youth involved in the goat industry, AGF will accept scholarship applications from qualifying youth who enter and complete all requirements of the program. Projects must be received at the AGF office by August 20, 2018, and the Scholarship Application accompanied by a short biography must be received at the office No Later than 30 days prior to August 20, 2018. Entries will be judged by an independent panel and winners will be announced September 2018. Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and under the age of 21 as of September 30, 2017. Applicants must be a member of the American Goat Federation, the child, grandchild, great-grandchild or stepchild, step grandchild or step great grandchild of a member of the American Goat Federation, or of any of the following member organizations of the American Goat Federation.
- The American Boer Goat Association (including Jr. Association)
- The American Dairy Goat Association
- Alabama Meat Goat and Sheep Producers Association
- Cashmere Goat Association
- Texas Sheep and Goat Breeders Association
For more information visit The American Goat Federation’s website.
Maine 4-H Project Records, Reflection Tools, and Digital Badges!
Maine 4-H is excited to roll out new 4-H project records, reflection tools and opportunities for digital badges. A team has been working to design the new records aligned with research and connections to Maine’s commitment to proficiency-based education in mind. We know that these won’t be perfect and are anxious to have YOU help us try them out and be part of the process. The new records are now posted online and can be found on the state 4-H website. We are also planning a few ways for you to be part of the team to ask questions and give feedback. Join our Google classroom community. This will be a place where volunteers and youth members are able to share real-time feedback about these tools.
To join:
- Sign in to Classroom at google.com.
- On the homepage, click Add Join class.
- Enter the code d9jmty and click Join.
- Participate in our live feedback sessions. Please save the date for a feedback session on September 11, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. These will be conducted using Zoom.
Register for these sessions with KymNoelle Hopson at 207.353.5550 or kymnoelle.hopson@maine.edu. We are looking forward to having YOU as part of our team. If you have any questions please contact Kristy Ouellette, kristy.ouellette@maine.edu or 207.353.5550, extension 12.
Attention Meat Production 4-H’ers!
The University of Nebraska recently created a dynamic meat production resource. There are virtual models that can be used for judging meat, and virtual exhibits modeling cuts of meat, that you can click and observe from many angles, with an optional quiz at the end. Visit Sketchfab UNLMeat Collections website for the meat models, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Virtual Meat Lab website for the virtual meat lab.