July 2024: Androscoggin-Sagadahoc Counties 4-H Newsletter

Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County 4-H News

 

Dates to Remember

  • July 20, 2024: Registration for Maine 4-H State Dairy Show due
  • July 28, 2024: Last day to register for Public Speaking at Topsham Fair
  • July 31, 2024: All individual projects and exhibits with completed fair cards due
  • August 11, 2024, 3:30 P.M.: Public Speaking at Topsham Fair

Topsham Fair Updates

Public Speaking

Sunday, August 11th, 3:30 pm
Open to all Androscoggin/Sagadahoc 4-H members.
Please fill out this Google Form to register by the end of day Sunday, July 28.
These sites can be helpful as you plan your presentation:
Questions? Email laura.personette@maine.edu

Exhibit Hall

Interested in submitting an exhibit for the Topsham Fair? Connect with your Club Leader and let them know! Independent members, contact Laura: laura.personette@maine.edu. Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Contact Laura for the 2024 4-H Topsham Fair Rules and Regulations document.
Important Dates:
All individual projects and exhibits with completed fair cards must be turned into group leaders by July 31, or dropped off at the Topsham Fair Exhibit Hall during drop off hours. Exact dates/times will be shared soon.

G.L.E.E. of Maine

Members of GLEE of Maine shared an evening with their groups clover-buds, and played lots of different lawn games and shared snacks!


Midcoast Mainers

The Midcoast Mainers are getting ready to walk in the Moxie Day Parade for the 2nd year on July 13th! We spent our June meeting preparing the float and enjoying some time with friends and family for a BBQ. This years float and t-shirt design was 100% designed by the 4H club members and will bringing a little farm to the parade.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to 4H Alumni Ashley Z. who reached out to our club to make a directed donation of horse supplies from when Ashley and her brother showed horses in 4H all their youth. The donation include 3 saddles, and multiple totes of riding & pasture gear (some new!). Her donation directly benefited members of our club who have animals and we are so grateful!

Summer of Science

Summer of Science 2024 has begun! Please join us in welcoming our intern team: Bailey, Marissa, and Emma! Bailey and Marissa are And/Sag 4-H alum and returning SOS Interns. Emma is new to the world of 4-H and we are very exited to welcome her to the team. During the last week of June SOS Interns and staff hosted 12 teen teachers for training at USM in Lewiston. This year we have 8 returning teen teachers and 4 new members. We can’t wait to share their adventures as they bring activities exploring DNA and Environmental DNA to youth in 3rd-6th grade at 10 sites across Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties.


State News

4-H Summer Learning Series

Registration for the 4-H Summer Learning Series is in full swing!  There are still several workshops available for youth to sign up for: Virtual Touch Tank, Fun in the Forest, and our Summertime Send-Off are still available. This year, workshops will run from July 5 – August 10, and there is something for everyone. Registration is currently open for all youth, visit our website to register.

Maine 4-H State Dairy Show Registration is Open!

Maine 4-H invites you to participate in the 2024 Maine 4-H State Dairy Show! This year’s event will take place from July 19th-21st at the Windsor Fairgrounds in conjunction with Maine 4-H Days. The contests are open to all 4-H dairy project members ages 9 and above and include a grilled cheese and milkshake cookoff, a dairy cattle fitting contest, and a dairy cattle show. For a complete schedule and registration information visit our website.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or Allison Pollock at 207.781.6099.

Summer at 4-H Camps at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove

The UMaine 4-H Camps at Blueberry Cove and Tanglewood have summer camp openings and scholarships to support Maine youth to attend. We are excited to connect 4-Hers to our programs.

Overnight camps and Discovery Trips, ages 8-15: Week-long programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove or adventures along the Appalachian Trail or Downeast Farm Camp with Painted Pepper Farm.

Teen Leadership programs, ages 14-17: Two and three-week immersion trips to build leadership skills while exploring Maine’s beautiful natural areas via canoeing and backpacking.

We have scholarships available to cover up to 75% of the tuition for these programs. Funding is also available for first-time campers from National 4-H via CAMP III funds!

Check out programs online at umaine.edu/tanglewood, email emma.beaudry@maine.edu, or call 207.789.5868.

4-H Tick Project

The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K-12 youth and educators, made possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems Northeast partnership. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.

All educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.