Cooperative Extension in Aroostook County

Aroostook County 4-H Newsletter: April 2018

Aroostook County 4-H Dates to Remember

• April 11-22: Tractor Supply Clover Event
• April 22: Everyone Cares Community Dinner
• April 25: 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting
• May 18-19: 4-H at UMaine
• May 23: 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting
• June 1: Livestock Approval Forms due
• June 29-July 1: 4-H Horse Clinic and Show
• July 4: Parade in Houlton
• July 18: NMF Food Booth clean-up day, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
• July 20-22: Maine 4-H Days  Windsor Fairground
• July 27-August 4: Northern Maine Fair
• August 5: Clean up and take down after NMF, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Happy Birthday to all 4-Hers born in April

Kylee P
Leanne R
Macie B
Mallory W
Molly S
Alyssa P-M
Brooklynne M
Grace M

Club News

‘Paca Pals

On March 3, our club had a regular meeting, and then reconvened at the UMaine Extension Aroostook County — Houlton office. We came to support our members at the public speaking competition in town. The speakers and their speeches were all wonderful and we enjoyed all the different age groups and topics.

The club looks forward to participating in the April 14 Paper Clover Days at Tractor Supply. We are planning on a bake sale and bringing some of our new kids.

Aroostook Valley Baby Beef

The Aroostook Valley 4-H Baby Beef Club is selling Country Meat Sticks for $1 each. There are a variety of flavors to choose from.  See one of the members or leaders if you are interested in purchasing.

4-H Market Hogs

The 4-H Market Hogs are a multi-purpose club this year. The club had a meeting on Sunday, March 25 and took a field trip to Maple Moose in Easton. The group learned how maple syrup was made and was able to try maple candy on snow and corn fritters with homemade maple syrup.

Saturday, April 7, two club members, Bethany D. and Shannel B., attended the 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament in Orono. Both young ladies were timer/tabulators for the JR. demonstration room.

This year’s Fair theme is “4-H Lights the way to a Brighter Future”!

Cook Books for Sale

The 4-H Leader’s Association is selling cookbooks. It was voted on at a meeting to purchase 200 cookbooks and only about 40 have been sold. Leaders please stop by the Cooperative Extension in either Presque Isle or Houlton and pick up some cookbooks to sell. Those of you who have already taken books please send your money in to either Pam or Emily. This is a fundraiser for the Leaders Association so every dollar counts. Thank you for helping with this fundraiser.

Public Speaking

4-H County Public Speaking Tournament

On Saturday, March 10, 4-H had their county tournament in Houlton. Seven youth presented and all seven received blue ribbons and the chance to go on to the State Public Speaking Tournament. Two youth chose not to go onto States but five were excited to present in Orono on April 7.

Attendees were: Patrick B., Grace K., Jacklyn R., Sam K., Leanne R., Daniel R., and Andrea R.

4-H State Public Speaking Tournament

On Saturday, April 7, the 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament took place. There were 5 youth from Aroostook County who attended.  All five participants received a blue ribbon for their presentations.

The staff in Aroostook County is very proud of these 4-Her’s accomplishments.

4-H Events

Everyone Cares Community Dinner

The last Everyone Cares Community dinner for the season will be Sunday, April 22 from 3:00-4:00 PM at the Houlton Rec Center. If you would like to donate non-perishable items, or your time for this community dinner, please contact Kate at katemurphynewman@gmail.com.

TSC Paper Clover Event

The Tractor Supply Spring Paper Clover Days runs from April 11- 22. Clubs are always welcome and encouraged to participate in selling Paper Clovers. If you would like to do a fundraiser during this promotion please contact your locate TSC store.

Mapleton Parade

Leisa would love to do a float for the Mapleton Days Parade on Saturday, June 23 if anyone is interested in participating. Please let Leisa know.

July 4th Parade

4-H has taken part in the 4^th of July parade in Houlton for five years. Leisa would love to take part again this year. Please be thinking about what you want the float to look like.  Our theme is “4-H Lights the way to a Brighter Future.” Leaders please discuss this with your clubs and bring all suggestions to the June Leaders meeting.

Fair Information

Horse members, please check your vaccinations!

All horses are required to have the following:

• Proof of current annual vaccination for rabies — administered by a veterinarian (yearly)
• Current Coggins test done by a veterinarian (every 3 years)
• EVH-1 — can be done by handler but must show proof of receipt from store (every 6 months)
• Equine Influenza — can be done by handler but must show proof of receipt from store (every 6 months)
• EEE is recommended but not required — administered by a veterinarian

Please turn in a copy of all of these items as soon as you get them. This will make check in a lot quicker.

Scrapie Tags

All sheep that are planning to attend and be shown at the fair this year must have a scrapie tag. We were allowed to get by last year without having them but Steve Smith said that is not the case this year. If you want to order them call 1.508.363.2290 and ask for Gail. Metal tags are available in lots of 100 and are free. You will be asked some basic information about your farm and will be assigned a farm number.

Farm/MALE Insurance

All participants must have some type of livestock insurance to cover their animal while it is at the fair. The fair has requested that all 4-H participants give a photocopy of their livestock insurance to 4-H staff before entering the fair grounds. Please send in a copy of your proof of insurance by June 18.

If you are using your farm insurance you can include a copy with your animal approval forms that are due by June 1, 2018.

If you need to get MALE insurance please go to Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors.

**MALE’ s membership year is from July 1 of current year to June 30 of next year. Membership is non-refundable.

While filling out the membership form PLEASE keep the following items in mind:

• Anyone 18 years or older needs to have own individual membership.
• Any one under 18 years old can not have individual membership; must have family membership.
• If mailing your membership form, please print clearly to expedite your membership and ensure delivery.
• Fill application out completely — missing information may delay membership benefits.
• If you are renewing, please use application with mailing label: DUES AFTER JUNE 1:
• FAMILY: $40.00
• INDIVIDUAL: $25.00
• Please allow 7 working days after we receive your payment for processing time.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Only names listed under family section of the application are considered members. Livestock herdsman, handlers and groomsmen should obtain and maintain membership for benefits as well.

Highlander Cows

The fair committee has decided to allow highlander cows this year. These animals will show in an open show run by 4-H staff. Due to at least one child being under the age of 9 the committee felt it would be best run as an open show for ages 5-12. The participants will earn the same premiums as all other 4-Hers.

Fair Upgrades

4-H Horse Clinic and Show

The Mane Eventers 4-H club will be hosting a 4-H, possibly open, horse show at the Northern Maine Fair Grounds the weekend of June 29 -July 1. Horses will be brought in Friday, June 29 with a possible quiz bowl that night. A 4-H Horse Clinic will be Saturday, June 30 as well as the horse gaming show, and the 4-H show will be Sunday, July 1. If you are interested in participating please contact Laura Bagley at laurak.moreau@gmail.com.

4-H Membership Cards

Any members who are showing or attending the Northern Maine Fairs needs to please send in a head shot of themselves for their ID cards. Those members staying on the grounds will get a laminated photo ID card. This makes it easier for the booth staff. 4-H cards will be sent out as soon as all photos are in. Hold on to them — they are your passes to get into the NMF. Each member’s card will allow the accompaniment of one parent. This is the policy of the Northern Maine Fair.

Always have your cards present to show the gate attendant. All members must enter through the livestock entrance on State Street. You will be redirected if you attempt to enter through another entrance.

New Rule this year

If you are a 4-H member or a 4-H volunteer you will not get a fair pass from the fair to get into the grounds if you are staying overnight. Your 4-H member and volunteer cards are your entry into the fair. NMF staff will be given a list of all 4-H members and volunteers.

Northern Maine Agricultural Fair July 27 -August 4

It is time to start planning for your 4-H Exhibit Hall and animal projects. The fair is in 15 weeks. Everyone with livestock should be working with their animal(s). We are hoping of having two new show classes this year; working steer and highlanders. Those in these projects need to start working with your animals so you are ready for the fair.

4-H Food Booth at NMF

The 4-H Food Booth is a fabulous way for all Aroostook County Clubs to make a LOT of money in just one day! If you have younger members maybe you could consider joining forces with another club or only taking ½ a day.

• Ages 16 and up can work on the fryer and grill
• Ages 12 and up can make sandwiches and wait on tables.
• Ages 11 and under can roll silverware, set and clear tables, serve bottles soda, etc.

So, you see there is something for everyone! Parents of young children please check with the leaders before dropping off your children.  Leaders may want you to supervise them.

Clubs that take a day are welcome to create a Daily Special of their choosing. Any food served at the Food Booth must be made there, so if you let food booth manager Pam Hickey (764.3361) know what you will need for ingredients; she can pick them up for you before your scheduled day and you can prepare them first thing.

It’s important to remember the Dress Code when working in the Food Booth. You are serving people food — they do NOT want to see tight clothing, spaghetti straps, low pants, etc. It is illegal to wear open-toed shoes, sandals or flip-flops when serving or working with food. If you think what you are planning to wear is questionable, it could be, and you should bring an extra outfit in case you are asked to change.

Also remember to wear your Club 4-H t-shirts or any other 4-H clothing you have while working in the 4-H Food Booth!

2018 Food Booth Schedule – 6:30 AM to approximately 9:00 PM

• Wednesday, July 18: Clean up day from 3:00-7:00 PM — “To be Confirmed”
• Friday, July 27: Baby Beef Club — confirmed on 02/2018
• Saturday, July 28: AV Dairy Club — confirmed on 02/2018
• Sunday, July 29: Market Hogs — confirmed on 02/2018
• Monday, July 30:  ___________________
• Tuesday, July 31: The Mane Eventers — onfirmed on 02/2018
• Wednesday, August 1: __________________
• Thursday, August 2: The Mane Eventers — confirmed on 02/2018
• Friday, August 3: Paca Pals — confirmed on 02/2018
• Saturday, August 4: ___________________
• Sunday, August 5: Clean up and take down, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Club Leaders, please remember to come to clean up and take down day so you will not lose money.

Project Records

Project Records are new this year. There will be hard copies available in both offices and at some point online. All 4-H members will start with the beginner project records so everyone starts at the same point. You will be expected to keep track of your club meetings and how much time you spend at each meeting and 4-H event. The guideline sheet is also available in both offices. If you would like, Mari or I to come to your club and go over the new forms please let us know.  Please remember that project records are required to show livestock at the Northern Maine Fair and the 4-H Horse Show end of June first of July.

International 4-H Team

4-H is looking for teens to be part of an international 4-H Team. This group of teens will plan a 4-H Leadership Workshop for this spring.  If you are interested in helping plan this event please let Leisa know.

Upcoming Leader Trainings & Meetings

April Leaders Meeting

The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 25 at 6:00 PM in person. Houlton area will join via Tandberg from the Houlton Cooperative Extension office and Presque Isle area will join via Tandberg from the Presque Isle Cooperative Extension office. Please send agenda items to Joseph Boyce at joseph.boyce1977@gmail.com.

VOLT Training

Leisa is waiting for paperwork back from three interested adults. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for 4-H please contact Leisa or Mari and they can give you the information you need. Leisa would like to hold a VOLT training in April.

State 4-H News

April, 2018

Register now for 2018 4-H@UMaine May 18 – 19!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a nurse? Or to Mod your Minecraft? Or to learn a hip-hop dance with the UMaine Dance Team? For answers to these questions and more, 4-H@UMaine invites you (6th-10th graders) to participate in our fun interactive overnight on UMaine campus with career role models and kids from across the state onMay 18-19!  For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich at kranich@maine.edu or 207.949.3878. Register online ^— it’s open until April 16 and space is limited.

Save the Date for 2018 Maine 4-H Days

Maine 4-H Days will take place July 20 – 22 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.

Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee

July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events! If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee, or have general questions/comments/recommendations about the event, please email brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.

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 step child, 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.

4-H Market Lamb Intent for Fryeburg Fair

Please submit your Intent to Participate Forms for the 4-H Market Lamb classes at Fryeburg Fair by May 2. You can find the form on the 4-H Sheep Project web page.

4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Wildlife Education Training Event April 19-20. Please hold the date!

Maine will host the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program this July at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia. In preparation, Maine 4-H will have a training event to prepare and select a team to compete in the national event. On April 19 and 20 the Maine 4-H program will host an overnight educational training program and team selection. Plans include an ongoing WHEP event and participation in the national program each year. More information will follow. Cost will be $25 per member all meals and materials included. The training will be held at the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Training is open to all youth ages 8-19. Studying a science-based manual, participants:

• Learn wildlife terms and concepts
• Learn about wildlife habitat
• Learn how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
• Learn about wildlife habitat management practices
• Learn about wildlife damage management

To learn more, go to Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) or www.facebook.com/mainewhep or contact Sally Farrell, sarah.s.farrell@maine.edu or 207.324.2814.

Registration Now Open for 2018 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge

UMaine-led STEM Competition for Maine Middle School and High School Youth Focused on Renewable Energy, Innovation, and Economic Development Slated for May 18, 2018.

The Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge, hosted by the University of Maine, asks teams of students to design and construct a floating platform for a scale model wind turbine, and then delivers a presentation to a panel of expert judges. The event is designed for student teams with a diverse range of experience. We encourage all middle and high school students to participate.

UMaine staff work with teachers or advisors throughout the design and build process. Teams are presented with a guidebook and a simulated test turbine to test their platform prior to competition day.

Participation is free, and a limited number of travel stipends are available to schools with demonstrated need.

We recently published this ~2-minute video highlighting the design, build, and test process with youth from King Middle School in Portland.

High School Teams are teams of 4 or less high school students. Members of the top qualifying team will be offered an internship at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, contingent upon their enrollment at UMaine, valued more than $20,000.

Middle School Teams are teams of up to 10 middle school students. These groups will test their platform and provide a presentation, just like high school teams, but they will not be considered for the internship award. An alternative award will be granted to the members of a winning middle school team.

For more information, contact Marcy Smith at marcys@maine.edu, or 207.581.2125

Agricultural Labor Field Day

In collaboration, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Labor (DOL) and Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) invites you to participate in the Agricultural Labor Field Day, Thursday, May 3^rd, 2018, from 9:30 AM until 12:30 PMat KVCC’s Alfond Recreational Center located on KVCC’s Hinckley Campus in Hinckley, Maine. The Agricultural Labor Field Day aims to connect young adults interested in professional and academic agricultural careers with local jobs in a variety of agriculture fields and/or undergraduate programming in Sustainable Agriculture, Culinary Arts, and Business Administration at KVCC.  This is also an opportunity to meet with workforce training and professional development staff from KVCC and DOL to review your resumes and get job search advice.  In addition, KVCC will also provide tours of their farm during the event.

Schedule of events:

• 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Doors open to the public. Open fair format for participants to visit exhibits and for exhibitors to host interviews
• 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: First KVCC Farm Tour leaving the Alfond Rec Center
• 12:00 PM –  12:30 PM: Last KVCC Farm Tour leaving the Alfond Rec Center

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about this event and other agricultural opportunities please visit the Farm Labor Link Network page. We look forward to seeing you at our Agricultural Labor Field Day 2018. If you have any questions, please contact Yvette Meunier at 207.592.0640 or yvette.meunier@maine.gov.

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.  Direct links are available here.

• Project Record – Advanced (Word| PDF)
• Project Record – Beginner (Word| PDF)
• Project Record – Cloverbud (Word| PDF)
• Project Record – Intermediate (Word| PDF)
• Portfolio (Word | PDF)

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 classroom.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 feedback sessions.  These will be conducted using Zoom.  Register for these sessions with KymNoelle Hopson at 207.353.5550 or kymnoelle.hopson@maine.edu.
• 9/11/18 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

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.