February 2019
Cumberland County 4-H News
4-H Calendar
State 4-H News
4-H Club Happenings
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
Cumberland County 4-H News
Important Dates
February 1: Dairy, Dog, Goat, Horse, and Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Forms due
February 2: 4-H Presentation Day, The Inn at Village Square on Route 114 in Gorham at 2:00 p.m., Registration, and Set-Up at 1:30 p.m.
February 21:
- Fashion Revue: Project Drop-Off at UMaine Extension in Falmouth by 4:00 p.m.
- CC 4-H Board of Directors meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham
February 23: Fashion Revue: Judging and Fashion Show at the Little Falls Recreation Building, Gorham
4-H Public Speaking Opportunities
Public speaking is an important skill for 4-H youth to learn. There are some great opportunities for 4-H youth to develop their skills in 2019:
- Cumberland County 4-H Public Speaking/Demonstration Day, February 2nd, set up at 1:30 PM, presentations start at 2:00 PM at the Inn at Village Square, Gorham. This fun, non-judged event is a great way for 4-H’ers to practice their public speaking skills in front of a welcoming audience. For more information please visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/4h/events/demonstration-public-speaking/
- Maine 4-H Statewide Public Speaking Tournament, April 6th, University of Maine, Orono. In order to be eligible to represent Cumberland County at this tournament you must participate in 4-H Public Speaking/Demonstration Day and be approved to attend by Mitch or Sara. If you cannot attend 4-H Public Speaking Day but would like to attend the Statewide tournament please contact Sara for options. For more information please visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/public-speaking/tournament/
Mini-Forum March 16: Call for Presenters
Mini-Forum will be held Saturday, March 16, at USM Gorham Bailey Hall. Do you have ideas for a Mini-Forum workshop? Do you know someone who would make a fun and interesting presenter? We have changed our format a little this year. We are offering 1.5 hour “tracks” in the morning and one-hour “sampler” programs in the afternoon. If you would like a morning slot but only have an idea that can take 45 minutes, please let us know and we will try to pair you with another similar activity. If you or someone you know would like to be a presenter at Mini-Forum please sign up using the Cumberland County 4-H Mini-Forum Workshop Presenter Form (Google Form) by Wednesday, February 13th.
If you have any questions please contact Sara Conant at 207.781.6099 or email sara.conant@maine.edu.
Upcoming New 4-H Volunteer Training at Mini-Forum, March 16
If you know anyone in your club or community who would like to become a 4-H Volunteer, an in-person training will be held at Mini-Forum on Saturday, March 16, during Session 1, 10:00-11:30 AM at Bailey Hall, USM Gorham Campus. All adults who will work directly with 4-H youth for 8 hours or more in 2019 should become trained. This is a great opportunity for 17 and 18 year old club members to complete training so that they can be ready to volunteer upon aging out of 4-H. In order to register please email sara.conant@maine.edu or call 207.781.6099.
2019 4-H Member Cards Must Be Requested Annually
Due to the Cumberland Fair’s policy change in 2017 regarding fair entrance passes, we will not be printing 4-H member cards for everyone. In the past 4-H Member Cards have been primarily used to enter the Cumberland Fair but with fair passes from the fair being the new way to enter, 4-H Member Cards are no longer needed by everyone. Some fairs do still use member cards for entrance so please check with any fairs you will be planning to attend this year to see what their entrance requirements are. If you or your club would like member and leader cards please email or call Sara, sara.conant@maine.edu, 207.781.6099 by April 1 to be on the list for a printed 4-H Member Card. If you do not signup you will not receive a member card but will still receive a Cumberland Fair pass if you plan to exhibit.
Campership Applications Now Available
Campership applications will be due on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 4:30PM. Camperships are scholarships for youth to attend a summer camp of their choice. Applications are now available on the 4-H Camperships page. Please mail completed application to UMaine Extension, Attn: 4-H Camperships, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine 04105.
4-H Scholarship Applications Now Available
Cumberland County 4-H Scholarship applications are due Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 4:30PM. If you need help applying for any of these scholarships or have questions please call or email Sara at 781.6099, sara.conant@maine.edu. Please note that the application for the 4-H Leaders Association, Linda Clark/Margy Justice Memorial, and Susan P. Grover Memorial Scholarships are all the same. The Extension Homemaker’s Scholarship has a different application form. Applications should be mailed to UMaine Extension, Cumberland County, Attn: 4-H Scholarships, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine 04105. Past 4-H members who are applying please note last year’s change in requirements for past member applications. For more information and applications please visit the 4-H Scholarships page.
A packet with scholarship applications and information will be mailed in mid-late February to all seniors currently enrolled in Cumberland County 4-H. Don’t forget to check out information about the Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships on their Receive Funding page, as well.
The 4-H Kitchen has three cases of frozen beef patties left to sell. Each case is $80.15 and has 60, 4oz patties. Please contact Nicole Foster, nicolefoster@myfairpoint.net to purchase.
First Aid Kits for New Club
Many years ago 4-Her’s in Cumberland County received funds to make First Aid kits for 4-H clubs. Three more unused kits were just returned to the office and are available for any 4-H clubs that would like them. These are available on a first come, first served basis and can be picked up at our office in Falmouth or brought to any upcoming 4-H events. Please let Sara know via email sara.conant@maine.edu or phone 207-781-6099 if your club would like one.
State 4-H News February 2019
Save the Date for 2019 Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 19 – 21 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.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 jessica.brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.
Come to Orono for the 2019 4H@UMaine May 31 – June 1! NEW DATES
Planning has started and the wheels are in motion thanks to the efforts of a tremendous team! We are always looking for individuals interested in helping with pre-event planning or attending the event itself! Stay tuned for details. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich atkranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.
National Trips – Congress & Conference
National 4-H Trip Applications are due March 8th, 2019. National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options and educational workshops at Congress, or become a part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference. To learn more about these trips, visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/national-trips/. For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.
2019 Engineers’ Week Expo
Every year, near George Washington’s Birthday, engineers across the country celebrate National Engineers Week, as George was a civil engineer who founded our nation. Here in Maine, our custom is to hold a huge “Expo” for all those young engineers (people who explore ingenuity) to visit and get to know us better. Our next Expo will be in southern Maine at USM in Gorham, with a banquet event the night before in Portland. Those of you who’ve come, already know how intense and fun it can be! We hosted over 3,000 last time it was at USM!
Our Expo will be from 9:00-2:00 Saturday, March 2, 2019 in the Field House at USM’s Costello Sports Center. Snacks will be available, with souvenir tee shirts. Campus tours will be available. See http://www.engineeringme.com for general information. Depending on our sponsors, some busing costs will be available.
Winter Tracking Workshop
Please join us for a Winter Tracking Workshop hosted by Maine Wildlife Habitat Education Program. February 9, 2019 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at Lake St. George Park in Liberty, Maine. Everyone is welcome to this free event, but pre-registration is required. More information available at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/event/winter-tracking-workshop/
2019 Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
The 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament will be held Saturday, April 6, 2019 at the University of Maine at Orono. 4-H Youth ages 9 to 18 who have participated in their county 4-H public speaking tournament and received the required score are invited to participate. For youth in counties which do not hold public speaking tournaments, arrangements may be made through their county’s Extension office to present their presentation to their county’s 4-H staff in order to be eligible. More information is available at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/event/2019-maine-4-h-state-public-speaking-tournament/
Please provide feedback on Project Records!
Click the following link to take the survey. https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bP1iUM659wuRVrL
You are invited to participate in a statewide research project being conducted by Kristy Ouellette and Jennifer Lobley, Extension Educators at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 4-H volunteers and staff from all over Maine will participate in this study.
Purpose of this research project: We recognize the value of our 4-H volunteers. As a state we have rolled out new 4-H Project Records. We want to have a better understanding of your beliefs and understandings of the function of these records. What will you be asked to do? If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete an on-line survey with questions pertaining to your attitudes and beliefs regarding 4-H project records in Maine. The survey will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. Risks: Except for your time and inconvenience, there are no foreseeable risks to you in participating in this study. Benefits: You will be eligible to enter into a raffle for a $25.00 gift card to Hannaford. Confidentiality: As a participant you will be anonymous. Investigators or a student will enter data into a computer. Data will be kept on a secured computer with only the investigators or a student having access. Data will be kept for a period of 5 years. Voluntary: Participation is voluntary. If you choose to take part in this study, you may stop at any time during the study. You may skip any questions you do not wish to answer. Participation in the on-line survey implies consent to participate.
Contact Information: If you have any questions about this study, please contact Kristy Ouellette at 207.353.5550 or kristy.ouellette@maine.edu If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact Gayle Jones, Assistant to the University of Maine’s Protection of Human Subjects Review Board, at 581.1498 (or e-mail gayle.jones@maine.edu).
Club Happenings
White Pine Caprines
Reporter Bridge F.
On 1/8/2019 we held our joint meeting for the White Pine Equines and Caprines. We discussed some upcoming events, like Sleigh Day and Skijoring both held on Feb 9th. Sleigh Day is a fun event held at Skyline Farm, its from 12:00-3:00. We talked about bringing food to sell at the bake sale there. We would love to help support the farm because they let us practice and ride in their outdoor arena. Skijoring is skiing behind a horse, and some of us are planning to go to Skowhegan to watch.
In other news, Natalie, Don, Marina and Rachel all went to the National 4H Center and Washington D.C. Natalie said it was a great learning experience, and she can’t wait to share what she learned with our clubs.
Finally we moved on to education and we played Jeopardy! Natalie made the awesome game board. She, her mom, Donny and his mom put together the questions. We all had so much fun!
All Star Dairy
Calli L.
The All-Star Dairy club has been very busy for the last few months. In October, we elected new senior officers. The president is Calli L, the vice president is Emma H, the secretary is Alyvia C and the treasurer is Keltan T. On November 10th we had our annual potluck supper. A lot of members got awards, great speeches were given, and we had a lot of guests attend. It was a great night. On December 9th we had our Christmas party and charity activity. This is where each member gathered and donated items to different local charities in the area. Many kids participated. We even had a fake auction with “cow pedigrees” for members to bid on. Each member got fake money for every item that was donated to a charity. This is a fun Christmas activity that the club does and looks forward to every year. On January 19th, the club hosted Jr Quiz Bowl Day. We had stations on milk tasting, the buzzers, dairy breeds, dairy products and the dairy walk. A lot of our junior members came and participated, and we even had a good number of guests come that were invited. We also played a get to know each other game, Pictionary, did a round of pairs on the buzzers and took the exam. Everyone seemed to have fun and learned a lot in preparation for State Dairy Quiz Bowl which is coming right up in February.
Over the past few months the club has also been to the Inn at Village Square twice to visit the residents. The first time we went was to just visit and everyone gave a small talk introducing themselves and what they have done in 4-H. The second time the club went we built ginger bread houses with the residents after Christmas. It is always a good time going to the inn and we enjoy it as much as the residents do.
4-H Rabbiteers of Maine
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
UMaine Extension in Cumberland County is Hiring!
Administrative Specialist CL1: This employee is the first point of contact for the office and performs difficult and complex administrative work in support of the University of Maine Regional Learning Center in Falmouth. Tasks are normally accomplished within well-defined procedures with frequent non-routine administrative work or program monitoring required. Full-time, regular position, 40 hours per week. Work schedule is Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. This position pays $12.94/hour plus a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. For a full job description and to apply, please visit the Job Details page.
UMaine Extension Cumberland County offers many different workshops throughout the year. To learn more about our workshop offerings please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/upcoming-events/