4-H June News 2023
Greetings Aroostook 4-H’ers and Families!
Warm weather is here and planning for 4-H Summer events and activities is in full swing. Please take a look at the exciting things we have planned, and mark your calendars for these great opportunities
Upcoming Dates and Events
Animal Health Clinic – June 28th, 1:00
Animal Approval Form Due (required if you are bringing an animal to fair) – June 30
Animal Lease Form Due (riding & showing) – June 30
Northern Maine Fair – August 3-6
NM Fair Exhibit Hall Submissions – Due no later than noon, August 2nd at the Fairground, or to Presque Isle or Houlton Extension offices by July 31st.
Extension Open House, August 26
Aroostook County News
Animal Health Clinic – Open to All Aroostook 4-H Members
Join us June 28th at Treystar Farm (219 Easton Rd. Presque Isle) to learn about livestock and farm animal health and care. Sadee Mahuren, our State 4-H Animal Science Committee Liaison will guide youth through different health indicators to look for in animals as well as how to take a temperature and other useful care practices. Registration is required for planning purposes. Please contact our office if you have questions or would like to register. 532-6548 or email emily.dow@maine.edu or megan.cook@maine.edu
Huge thank you to the Putnam Family for opening their farm to us!
4-H Ag Explorers
Bridgewater Rec Department will be hosting our Ag Explorer program every Monday June 26 – July 17th. Youth will explore their way through the wonderful world of agriculture to learn more about why it’s important, and how it impacts their everyday lives by participating in a variety of hands-on activities. They will explore four Ag Paths and earn badges for that can be added to a program certificate. The four Paths are designed to give youth a taste of different areas of agriculture and expand their knowledge. Participants will explore and earn badges for…
- Seed, Sprout, Soil
- Ag & ME
- Tillable Tech
- Cultivating Culture
We also work on record keeping and tracking progress as well as 4-H basics. Great for new members or Cloverbuds.
Open to members age 5 – 12, please contact Megan at the office ASAP if you are interested as registration is required. 532-6548 megan.cook@maine.edu
Extension Open House – YOUTH & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Aroostook County Cooperative Extension will be holding an open house on August 26th. We would love to showcase our members and leaders and the wonderful things you do. Please consider coming to do a demonstration, showcasing your project, or bringing your animal.
This is a great opportunity for clubs to do a fundraiser. Are you raising funds for new shirts, a field trip, or maybe a fun event? Consider setting up a food sale, bake sale, silent auction, etc. at the open house.
High school age members in need of volunteer hours, this is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and experience while earning those hours.
Please reach out for more information on how to participate. 532-6548 megan.cook@maine.edu
Northern Maine Fair – August 3-6
Fair is a great opportunity to come together with other Aroostook 4-H’ers to learn, participate, and compete together. 4-H members will receive free admission for all fair dates by presenting their 4-H membership card. Please enter at the Livestock Gate entrance on State Street. Be on the lookout for your membership card arriving in the mail in July. We encourage all members to attend and participate in various activities throughout the fair and on Saturday, 4-H Day. Fair is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the projects and skills you have worked on over the past year. Please consider submitting something for the exhibition hall, joining us for 4-H clinics and shows, and participating in 4-H Day events. Many activities and events award ribbons, prizes and cash!
Clubs – Don’t forget your club display. This year’s theme is Maine Agriculture – Then & Now. Check out the Exhibit Hall Guidelines and Contests, and the livestock exhibitor handbook for more information.
Reach out to your club leaders or 4-H staff for ideas about how to be involved this year.
See you at the fair!
Club News
The Evergreens
On May 7th the Evergreens Club learned about the difference in gardening in a greenhouse vs. a high tunnel. The kids learned about raised bed gardening, watering, soil/air temperatures, rodent control, planted sunflower seeds, and got to play with goats, baby pigs, and cows.
Aroostook Valley Baby Beef
The AV Baby Beef Club held a meat stick fundraiser recently to raise money for club expenses. Aroostook Milling hosted the club on Mother’s Day weekend and members were able to raise money for future activities. Thank you to all who purchased.
State 4-H News
June, 2023
Maine 4-H Days: Save the Date! July 21 – 22, 2023
We’re back for fun times, workshops, overnight camping and more at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Kennebec County! More information to come, so save the dates!
4-H Adulting 101 SPIN Club
The “4-H Adulting 101 Series” will introduce basic adult life skills by exploring a different topic each week including personal values; building healthy relationships; buying and caring for a car; youth entrepreneurship; mindfulness and stress management; and a topic chosen by the participants. UMaine Extension 4-H staff and guest speakers will lead the discussions. The club is free; limited to 20 participants. Register by June 10 on the event webpage to receive the Zoom link and introductory email. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.324.2814; erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu. Additional information also is available on the Extension 4-H Virtual Learning webpage.
Register Now for the 2023 4-H Summer Learning Series
2023 marks the FOURTH year Maine 4-H is offering a Summer Learning Series! This year, workshops will run from July 5 – August 10, and there is something for everyone. Registration is
now open for all enrolled Maine 4-H members, and opens to all others on Monday, June 5. Would you like to learn more about the different birds in your backyard and beyond? How about a chance to bake along with a real chef – they will send you the ingredients in the mail! You can learn to paint different creatures in the ocean, or discover how ANY person can become a real scientist at home! Dive into the different workshop options! To register or learn more, head to our website!
New Project Records are HERE!
Co-designed with Maine 4-H volunteers, youth and staff; these project records have been designed to best serve the needs of Maine youth. Please visit our newly designed project record website https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/project-records/. Project records are required for all Maine 4-H Youth. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings. Please contact your county 4-H staff with questions.
Did you know you can complete your project record through ZSuite? There are simple instructions for getting started on the ZSuite User Help page. You can work on your project record through the year – and even upload photos directly from your phone!
4-H Tick Project
Registration is now open for the 4-H Tick Project, a community science project where youth collect, identify, and learn about ticks – while also contributing to real research about ticks in Maine! Sign up to receive tick collection materials, access to youth activities, educational resources, and UMaine Extension Tick Lab testing services. 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.
Save the Date for 4-H Dairy State Show!
The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will take place on July 22nd and 23rd at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, ME in conjunction with Maine 4-H Days. The contest is open to all 4-H members who want to participate and will include educational workshops, a fitting contest, a grilled cheese contest, and more! For more information on upcoming 4-H dairy events visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy or contact sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971
Registration Opening June 21st for New 4-H Teen Leadership Program: YOUth Have a Voice!
YOUth have a Voice!: Youth in Governance and Civic Engagement is a nine-month program open to teens and recent high school graduates who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Youth will learn leadership skills and ways to participate in civic action by completing a service project in a topic of their interest. Youth projects will be in one of three categories:
1.) Youth Board Member: Join a board or advisory council as a youth representative
2.) Policy Leader: Provide input to a policy or rule being developed
3.) Public Service Leader: Carry out a community service project.
Teens will be mentored by adults to assist their learning of civic processes and ways to meet their project goals. The program will be from late August 2023 to May 2024 and the total time commitment may vary from 30 to 80 hours depending on the type of project. The program will be open for teens ages 14+ years old or entering high school in the fall of 2023. Interested teens will need the following items to register for the program: Fill out the application form found on this link. Two letters of recommendation from adults who are not related to the applicant Briefly describing (100 to 500 words) why you are interested in this program A signed Program Requirement Summary Form Registration will be open from June 21 through July 31, 2023. The program will be limited to 16 youth. To learn more about the program, you can attend one of the following 45 minute information sessions on June 7th :
June 7, 3:30pm – 4:15pm, Zoom link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/85968212242?pwd=dDJTRGtmVVVpb0JNZ1duQ0cwS0pUdz09
June 7, 5:30pm – 6:15pm: Zoom link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/83422511923?pwd=VTlwUDg2NDI3V3F0RnRST1hwUWZCUT09
For questions, please contact Andrew Hudacs, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, (207) 581-8204
UMaine 4-H Invites You to be a Part of Pride 2023
4-H will be participating in Pride festivities in Portland on June 17, 2023. A pride event is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, the rights won, and recognition of these individuals as existing and loved members of our communities. 4-H will participate in the parade portion by walking with a banner. Participants should plan on being at the event from 10:30am – 2:30pm. This event is open to any 4-H member or 4-H volunteer. Friends, family, and 4-H alumni are welcome but must have a 4-H member/volunteer hosting them. To register or for more information, go to this webpage. If you have questions you can email 4-hpride@maine.edu.
Maine Harvest of the Month
Leafy Greens is June Harvest of the Month, check out the link for some great information.
Savor Strawberry Season with Low-Sugar Jam
The fresh strawberry season will soon be upon us and all wonderful recipe ideas to try. Here is a Low-Sugar Jam that is worth checking out. Enjoy.