April 4-H Newsletter
Upcoming Dates:
Tractor Safety Course: April 16-18, Test day April 27th
Maine 4-H Teen Ag Symposium: April 18th & 19th
Spring Tractor Supply Co. Paper Clover Campaign: April 24th – May 4th
Registration Deadline for Ag Explorer Mini Club: April 25th
Aroostook Leaders Assoc. Meeting: April 29th
Eastern States Participants Animal Approval Forms due: May 1
Ag Explorer Mini Club: Every Thursday in May, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Aroostook 4-H Spring Fling: May 11th
Animal Approval Forms Due: June 30th Must be completed for ANY animal being shown in a 4-H show.
Northern Maine Fair: July 31-August 4
Check the Aroostook 4-H Calendar for the most up to date event information.
County News!
Spring Fling! – SAVE THE DATE
We are very excited to be hosting our first ever Aroostook 4-H Spring Fling on May 11th. All Aroostook 4-H members, clubs & volunteers are invited to join us for a day filled with fun and learning. Details have not been finalized but we expect to offer lots of fun activities and workshops. More information will follow shortly.
4-H Ag Explorer Mini Club
Join Miss Megan every Thursday in May and become an Ag Explorer! Open to youth ages 5-8. 4-H membership is not required. Register HERE, by April 25th.
Limit to 12 participants, first come first serve.
If any Junior or Senior members are interested in volunteering to help with the program please reach out to megan.cook@maine.edu. This is a great opportunity for older members to complete volunteer hours.
Statewide Program Highlight
Farm Animal Care – FUNdamentals
Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats or sheep)? How to care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need to have any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.
Virtual sessions will be on Wednesdays, April 24, May 1, and May 8, 2024. An Optional in-person field day will take place Saturday, May 4.
This club is open to youth ages 9 – 18, space is limited to 15 participants.
More information and registration are available online. Registration needed ASAP
Maine 4-H Teen Ag Symposium 2024
Sign Up Here!
Dates: April 18-19, 2024
Location: University of Maine Orono
Ages: 14-18
The 3rd annual 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on the UMaine Orono campus, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state.
Youth will participate in hands-on learning experiences at the Food Innovations Lab, Terrell House, UMaine Diagnostic Lab, and much more!
4-H Ag Ambassadors are highly encouraged to attend.
Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation can be provided upon request.
LENE Spring Science Snapshot Contest!
Flowers blooming? Eggs hatching? Creatures making their way to their spring time habitats? You betcha! As Earth keeps spinning around the sun, its tilt causes our seasons, which means it’s time for another photo contest!
Use your camera or smartphone to take a panorama of your favorite spring phenology! Capture the sights and sounds of spring time science in your environment.
- This season, there will be two levels of contest submissions, a short (single photo) and a long (main photo with 3-5 supporting media).
- Both levels will have separate adult and youth divisions.
- Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize in each division.
DEADLINE: MAY 15th, 2024
For details or to submit an entry, click here.
Cooperative Extension Farm Tractor Safety Course
Participants will learn how to handle tractors and equipment safely, how to identify hazards, and how to minimize the chances of accidents. The course is open to all adults and youth aged 14 and older. A Federal Certificate of Training will be issued at the end of the course after successful completion of the written test and driving course and with attendance requirements met. This certificate is required for 14- and 15-year-olds who plan to operate farm equipment for hire on farms other than their own.
Aroostook Course Information
Limited to 14 participants, first come first serve basis.
Location: MSAD #1 School Farm,
Class Dates and Times:
Tuesday, April 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00
Wednesday, April 17 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00
Thursday, April 18 from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00
Saturday, April 27 Exam Day – 9:00 am. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration Fee:
$40: Full price: Suggested for those who can afford the full course fee.
$20: 50% discount: Suggested for youth 14 – 17 and those who can afford 50% of the full course fee.
Registration fees are non-refundable; this may be considered on a case by case basis.
Registration Link:
To learn more and register go to https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/tractor-safety/
Questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact: extension.tractorsafety@maine.edu or by phone: Megan Cook at 207.532.6548. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 10 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however, all requests will be considered.
Members & Clubs
Congratulations Public Speakers
The Aroostook County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament was held on March 16th at the Houlton extension office. Eight members shared presentations to a room of family and friends covering a wide range of topics. Members delivered wonderful presentations that were both entertaining and informative. All members age 8 and older received blue ribbons for their presentations and qualified to move on to the state tournament on April 6th. Cloverbud members received participation ribbons and gifts.
County Members Shine at 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament
Congratulations to our two Aroostook County members who participated in the State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament on April 6th. Both are bringing back BLUE RIBBONS for their hard work. Peyton H. from Easton 4-H presented an illustrated talk titled “My Best Friend,” focusing on the Cane Corso dog breed. Ainsley P. of Treystar Pathfinders & AV Baby Beef presented a demonstration titled “How to Paint a Lupin” that earned her high score for the Junior class.
Both members also participated in the Impromptu division. This requires members to “think on their feet” and formulate a presentation from a random topic with three minutes of preparation time. Ainsley was recognised for receiving the highest score for Junior Impromptu presentations.
4-H members and volunteers from four Aroostook clubs along with independent members and 4-H program participants from Easton Rec Department filled a bus (plus additional vehicles) to visit two local Maple Sugar Houses on March 22nd. Youth and adults were able to see how Bradbury Maple Farms & Maple Moose operate their businesses and ask questions.
After fueling up on a pancake lunch, the first stop was Bradbury Maple Farms in Bridgewater where participants learned about the use of reverse osmosis, tapping and line systems, and the process of boiling and bottling. Youth were able to make maple taffy on the snow and visit the store before piling back on the bus and heading north to Maple Moose in Easton.
At Maple Moose, C.J. King presented on the business and marketing aspects of the maple industry as well and shared some of the processes and development that went into their large line of products. Again the youth enjoyed more maple taffy on the snow and made a visit to the store. Each youth also received a package of maple cotton candy from Bradbury Farms as they exited the bus at the end of the trip. It was a SWEET day indeed!
We extend a huge thank you to the volunteers and businesses who made this trip possible.
Aroostook 4-H had 9 members participate in the statewide Maple Sugaring 101 course held this February. The above Maple Sugar House Field trip served as a wrap up to their program. Members who participated in the program received all the tools necessary to produce their own maple syrup and met virtually to learn about the process.
Independent member Otto N., recently presented to his class about maple sugaring using the material and knowledge he gained from the program.
Lyla & Ruby K. have been hard at work boiling the sap they have collected from maple trees in their yard.
State 4-H News
April, 2024
4-H Market Lamb Intent for Fryeburg Fair
Youth planning to participate in the Market Lamb program at Fryeburg Fair need to submit the 2024 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent form by June 5th. An online form is available, otherwise youth can print and mail a copy downloaded from the website.
4-H Dairy Judging Contest
The 2024 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on April 13th at Quimby Farm in Albion, ME and Springdale Farm in Waldo, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2024 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team.
For a complete schedule for the day please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/animal-science-resources/dairy/judging/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
4-H Volunteer Workshops for the 2023-2024 4-H Year
We invite you to participate in our 4-H Volunteer Connections virtual workshops! Join other 4-H volunteers from the North East region to learn, share and engage with one another on a variety of topics related to 4-H. All workshops are free and offered via Zoom in the evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Topics include:
April 9 – Animal Science: Strong Relationships and Sportsmanship
Click here to register now! Come to one or come to all! We look forward to connecting with YOU!
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.
Equine ESE Intent forms Due May 1, 2024
The 2024 Eastern States (ESE) Horse Intent Form is now live and online. The form indicates your interest in participating in the Eastern States Team Tryout event this summer. The event this year will offer a weekend opportunity for youth to qualify and to learn and grow while getting to know other youth who are also interested in trying out. Youth can try out to be a Teen Leader (4-H age 12 and up) or to be a Rider or Driver (4-H age 13 and up).
More details will go out to those who fill out the intent forms in the registration packets. The intent form does not bind you to the tryout event. Applications will be used to determine the event roster.
Here is the ESE intent form to be filled out by May 1st. Approval forms must also be filled out and sent to your county office by May 1st as well.
If you have any questions, please reach out to: Tara Marble, tara.marble@maine.edu, or 207.778.4650.
New SPIN Club: Farm Animal Care – FUNdamentals
Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats or sheep)? How to care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need to have any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.
Virtual sessions will be on Wednesdays, April 24, May 1, and May 8, 2024. An Optional in-person field day will take place Saturday, May 4.
This club is open to youth ages 9 – 18, space is limited to 15 participants.
More information and registration are available online. Registration closes April 8, 2024.
Save the Date: Maine 4-H Days is Happening in 2024!
Where: Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
When: Friday evening, July 19 – Saturday, July 20. Animal Science tracks are being scheduled from Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21.
Workshop sessions for Saturday are still needed. If you know anyone who might want to run a workshop on Saturday, please reach out to Karen Giles via email or phone: 207.474.9622.
All workshop forms are due by May 1, 2024.
Registration for the event for 4-H’ers and their families will be opening in mid-May. More information is coming soon. We can’t wait to see you there!
Dairy is the April Harvest of the Month
Check out all the great resources offered by Maine Ag in the Classroom
Mainely Dish: Spinach-Rice Casserole
Casserole recipes are great because usually, all you have to do is add all the ingredients in a casserole dish or baking pan and then get it in the oven to bake. This Spinach-Rice Casserole is filling and easy to make. Writing this blog inspired me to make this recipe again, so I decided to add it to my lunch meal plan this week. I used the leftover fresh kale I had frozen last fall and was able to quickly make this dish on Sunday night for lunch on Monday. I will admit, I didn’t plan ahead and had to wait for the rice to cook, but while the rice was cooking I prepped the rest of the ingredients and had it ready to go when the rice was done cooking. This recipe is composed of simple ingredients and it’s quick to prepare. I had all the items on hand for this casserole so I didn’t need to go shopping for anything. The casserole takes on the flavor of the leafy greens you choose. I prefer the taste of spinach over kale so I will plan to use spinach next time or try a new leafy green like bok choy or Swiss chard because I haven’t tried those greens yet. My daughter and husband smelled the butter, onion, and garlic cooking and were immediately interested in what I was making, it did smell great!