January 2020

Cumberland County 4-H News

4-H Calendar
State 4-H News
4-H Club Happenings
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News

Important Dates

January 10: Beef ESE Intent to Participate Forms due

January 16:

• CC 4-H Leaders Meeting, 7:00-9:00PM, Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham, Educational Program: Team Building in 4-H Clubs
•  Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Scholarship applications due to the UMaine Cooperative Extension Cumberland office (or drop off at Leaders Meeting), 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine 04105, (Directions), any weekday from 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

January 24: Fashion Revue, Intent to Participate Form is due

January 25: 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.

4-H Leaders Association Meeting

Join us on Thursday, January 16, 7:00 – 7:45PM at the Gorham Public Works Building (80 Huston Road, Gorham) to learn about team building games to help members of your clubs meet and interact better. Leaders Association meetings are a chance to meet volunteers, new and old, and to offer input on 4-H programming in Cumberland County! A regular business meeting of the association will begin at 7:45PM following the educational topic, and all are encouraged to attend.

Re-Enrollment 2019-2020 4-H Year

If you were a 4-H member last year and have not yet turned in your enrollment form, health form, and photo release form, the due date was December 31st. Please mail or drop off a copy of your forms to UMaine Extension, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine 04105 as soon as possible.

Questions? Email sara.conant@maine.edu or call 207-781-6099.

Winterfest Awards Correction

We would like to publicly correct an awards error from Winterfest. Natalie D. of the Cumberland County Sheep Club and Tails and Trails has earned both the Sheep Award and the Lamp of Knowledge Award for her outstanding work in 4-H.

Are you New(ish) to 4-H in Cumberland County?

We understand how complex 4-H can be for first time members and families, so wanted to share this guide, to get you up to speed on all the opportunities available to 4-Her’s in our county. Check out our “So You’re New to 4-H in Cumberland County Guide” for more information!

Citizenship Washington Focus Scholarship Application Deadline January 16th, 2020

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:

• Public Speaking Workshop – A 4-H Public Speaking Workshop has not been scheduled for 2019 but if you or your club would like to have Mitch attend a club meeting, or work one on one with you please let us know!
• Cumberland County 4-H Public Speaking/Demonstration Day, January 25th, 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/programs/cumberland-county-4-h/4-h-forms-and-registrations/demonstration-public-speaking/
• Maine 4-H Statewide Public Speaking Tournament, TBD, 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. For more information please visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/public-speaking/tournament/

Fashion Revue 2020

If you enjoy designing and making your own sewn, crocheted, or knitted projects, join us in this year’s Fashion Revue. We are encouraging all participants to get their creative juices flowing with great materials, yarns, and patterns, resulting in some great projects. The theme will be Surge into 2020. New this year is a new category – Refashioned.

Fashion Revue is open to all ages, with categories for Cloverbuds (ages 5-8), beginner, intermediate, and advanced sewers, knitters, and crocheters. Items crafted could include garments, accessories, stuffed animals, livestock blankets, or any other item your creative mind can imagine and your talented hands can produce. Fill out the online 4-H Fashion Revue Intent to Participate form (Google Form) by Friday, January 24. Your completed project must be turned in at the UMaine Extension Cumberland Office by 4:00PM on Thursday, February 20, 7:00PM at the Leaders Meeting (80 Huston Road, Gorham), or make other arrangements with Jenn Grant, 207.318.9166 or findviewfarm@juno.com. Deadline of project drop off is non-negotiable!

Judging and the Fashion Show for Fashion Revue will take place on Saturday, February 22, at the Little Falls Activity Center, 40 Acorn Street, Gorham at 1:00 p.m. Your creation will first be judged off-person, then you will either wear or bring your entry before the judges.

For more information and to register, please visit the Fashion Revue page.

Curtains for 4-H Hall Creation

In an effort to spruce up the 4-H Exhibit Hall a bit, new 4-H Fabric has been purchased to make curtains for all the windows in the hall. We are in need of a few 4-Her’s or volunteers to sew some of the curtains for us by August. Fabric will arrive in the 4-H office by mid-January and would make a great Fashion Revue and/or community service project! Please let Sara know if you’d like to make a set of curtains or two by emailing sara.conant@maine.edu, or calling 207-781-6099.

Save the Date – Mini-Forum March 21st, 2020

Mini-Forum will be held Saturday, March 21st 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? Are you a teen interested in helping to plan Mini-Forum this year? Email Sara at sara.conant@maine.edu or call 207-781-6099 with your ideas and for more information on how to help. Mini-Forum is open to any youth ages 5-18 regardless of 4-H membership, so tell your friends!

Young People’s Caucus – It would be great to have some 4-Her’s attend!

Who: Youth from across Maine
What: Youth share their perspectives and experiences on issues they experience in rural areas. Decision-makers listen and learn alongside young adults.
When: January 14th from 9am – 2:30
Where:Room 103, Cross Building, Augusta, across from the Maine State House
Why: You Matter! Youth Voice Matters!

Decision makers want to make sure that they are informed and educated about issues facing young people here in Maine.

• 9:00 -11:00: youth will meet with other youth from across the state.
• 11:30 – 12:30: youth will share experiences and ideas with decision makers.
• Lunch will be at 11 and will include an assortment of sandwiches.
• 1:00 – 2:00: youth will share their perspective with the Maine Children’s Cabinet.
• 2:00 – 2:30: Debrief

All young people at the caucus will be paid $25 for the day. Please fill out a W9 form (we’ll have these for you) in the morning. They will also issue the reimbursement for mileage. If you work closely with MYAN you do not need to fill out W9 forms.

State 4-H News January 2020

Save the Date for 2020 Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 16 – 19, 2020 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.

4-H Science Saturdays are Returning in 2020!
Thanks to the generous support of the Maine 4-H Foundation, we will be offering opportunities for middle/early high school aged youth to visit the UMaine campus for targeted science or engineering experiences!

Science Saturday programs run from 10 AM – 1:30 PM, and include time for youth to engage in hands-on activities with professors and current UMaine students, as well as time for lunch in a UMaine dining hall!

We need your input!  What topics should we offer?  Please let us know by filling out the survey here:  https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9pN1is3NtSzne4J

4-H Statewide Teen Dance Seeks Planning Committee Members
There is a small group of 4-H members who would like to plan a statewide formal dance for teen 4-H members across the state. We are looking for teen volunteers who would like to be a part of the planning committee for this Winter event. FMI please contact Maddie Gray maddicus83@gmail.com.

Winter Becoming an Outdoor Woman Program
The 2019 Winter Becoming an Outdoor Woman program will be held on February 21 – 23, 2020 at Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center, 17 Conservation Lane, Bryant Pond ME 04219 in Oxford County. This fun weekend is geared towards women seeking new ways to get outdoors, meet new friends, and challenge themselves. All meals and lodging are provided and space is limited to 36 participants. FMI: https://extension.umaine.edu/bryantpond/adult-programs/becoming-an-outdoors-woman/becoming-an-outdoorswoman-winter-skills-weekend/ or call 207.665.2068.

Save the Date! 4-H Animal Science Bonanza
January 11, 2020 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, at the Walpole Elementary School, 8 Bemis Rd, Walpole, NH.  This 4-H program will have beef, sheep, goat, dairy, and horse workshops with guest speakers. To register – go online to https://extension.unh.edu/events/4-h-animal-science-bonanza-registration-information by January 6, 2020. For more information contact Andrea, Extension Field Specialist, 603.352.4550 or andrea.sawyer@unh.edu.

Maine 4-H Project Records Survey
The final survey regarding the Maine 4-H Project Records is available. 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. This is the third of three surveys. 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. You will be entered in for a drawing of a Hannaford Gift Card. The survey is available here: https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_78SczkYK7t5bMIl

4-H Page Day in Augusta – February 6, 2020
UMaine Day at the Legislature, Thursday, February 6, is approaching.  It’s a day where Cooperative Extension gets to highlight our awesome programs, and 4-H is one of the best! Since legislators like to see 4-H members from their districts, 4-Hers (age 13 or older) are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages. The Maine 4-H program has up to 30 slots for Honorary Pages.

What does a page do? Legislators are constantly communicating and making decisions while in session and pages make that communication possible. Pages hand out information packets or place the paper information on their desks. Pages will also run communication and documents directly from legislator to legislator. It’s fast paced and pages will be moving around the chambers quite a bit, taking direction from the Clerks. We will meet at 8:30 for 4-H pictures and an orientation. Then at 9:00am we will divide our group with one going to the House and the other to the Senate where each group will receive their instructions. Session will begin by 10:00am and will likely conclude around 12:30pm, but the timing is never certain.

NEW: Bicentennial Exploration with the Maine State Museum! The Museum will host our group from 1:30-3:00pm with a free interactive learning series they have developed around documents and artifacts from 200 years ago- giving everyone a new understanding of the process Maine underwent to achieve statehood. The voting might surprise you! What were the moral implications of Maine achieving statehood? Statehood is a messy process and we’re diving into it! Their Bicentennial exhibit will not yet be open, so they are offering us a sneak peak!

If you are interested in serving as a page, lease email Alisha Targonski at alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu with the subject line “Page Day.”

We would love to pages from all over the state represented. Slots, representing different state senators and representatives, will be filled in the order they are received, but the final deadline is January 31.  If the slot for your legislative district has been filled, your name will be added to a wait list in the order it is received.   Your slot will only be reserved if you send this complete information:
– Full Name
– Current Age
– Mailing Address, Town, Zip Code
– County (find it here: type town name into www.google.com)
– Phone Number
– Email Address (this is how we will confirm you)
– Name of your School/Homeschool
– Name of your 4-H Club
– Name of your Maine State Representative (find it here:  http://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/ListAlphaTown)
– Name of your Maine State Senator (find it here:  http://legislature.maine.gov/senate/find-your-state-senator/9392)
– Name of your Adult Chaperone
– Adult Chaperone’s cell phone number

4-H Honorary Pages will be in the Capitol from 8:30am– 3:00pm.  A parent or 4-H volunteer must provide transportation and chaperoning.  If you have questions, please let Alisha know at alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu.

Higher Education Scholarships
The Maine 4-H Foundation provides a number of scholarships for graduating seniors. The applications are found on line and are due in the county office by March 1 and to the Maine 4-H Foundation by March 8th. Please see the rubric and application requirements on line at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.

Camp Scholarships Available
The Maine 4-H Foundation has camp scholarships ranging from $100-$200 available for 4-H members to any one week of 4-H camp. Try one of our University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, Greenland Point and Tanglewood. Call the camps to ask for a scholarship. Scholarships are based on need and first come, first serve.  https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/camps/

2020 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate
The 2020 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate Form is now available online. Forms must be submitted to your county office by January 10, 2020 and will be forwarded to the Aroostook County Extension Office, Attn: Mari Glatter, 18 Military St, Houlton, ME 04730. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September 2020.

2020 Maine 4-H ESE Horse Team
February 1st the deadline to submit the intent to participate in the Maine 4-H Horse Team.  You will find the intent form here https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/animal-science-resources/horse/ FMI please contact Kristy Ouellette, kristy.ouellette@maine.edu.

National 4-H Dairy Conference
The 66th National 4-H Dairy Conference will be held September 27 to September 30, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. It will be held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo and attendees will have the chance to visit Expo as part of the conference agenda. Additionally, the conference will offer opportunities to learn more about careers in agriculture, seminars on dairy topics, and a wealth of chances to interact with dairy 4-H members from across the country.

More info about the conference can be found here (check back for updates as they happen): https://national4hdairyconference.org/2018/11/07/join-us-in-2019/

The Maine 4H Animal Science Dairy Committee would love to try and send/support a team of motivated kiddos who are involved with the Dairy Goat, or Dairy Cattle Project Areas for this very unique and meaningful opportunity.

The National 4H Dairy Conference requires that 4H team members: Have spent at least 3 years in those project areas, and be at least 15 years old but not yet older than 18 (4H age).

We are also looking for potential VOLT Chaperones who might like to help organize and facilitate this trip.  If we have an idea of how many kids are interested we can plan our fundraising efforts accordingly.  Interested parties can contact Tara marble at tara.marble@maine.edu, or 207-778-4650 at the Franklin County Office.

Congratulations to the Agri-Science & Healthy Living Summit Delegates for 2020
In early December, delegates were chosen to attend the National Youth Agri-Science and Healthy Living Summit Trips to be held in Washington, D.C. this Winter. Summits provide an opportunity for youth to learn more about their own sparks and create an action plan to bring back to Maine to teach or provide resources for area youth. These ten scholarship spots are generously funded by the Maine 4-H Foundation. Congratulations to Agri-Science delegates Noah B. (Cumberland), Owen B. (Penobscot), Natalie D. (Cumberland), Susannah H. (Piscataquis), and Rachel W. (Cumberland)! Congratulations to Healthy Living Summit delegates Kalayaan C. (York), Nathan D. ( Knox/Lincoln), Maddie G. (Androscoggin/Sagadahoc), Jordyn M. (Androscoggin/Sagadahoc), Samuel P. (Washington), with Grace T. (York) as an alternate! If you have any questions about these Summit Trips or would like more information about applications for next year, please contact Sara Conant, sara.conant@maine.edu or Alisha Targonski, alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu about Healthy Living, and Tara Marble, tara.marble@maine.edu about Agri-Science.

Club Happenings

All Star Dairy
Emma H.

The Cumberland County All Star Dairy Club is off to a busy start this year. In October we had our first meeting of the 4H year. We elected new officers, recapped the last few shows, and began plans for our annual  recognition and dinner. New officers are, president Alyvia C, VP Emma H, secretary Fiona L and Treasurer, Ali L. We had a bake sale at Martin Place Farm’s Fall Fest. In November we had two members, Jaymee R and Calli L,  go to Louisville as part of a team for Judging at the North American International Livestock Exposition. We had our recognition and dinner at the beginning of November. Blue Ribbon Member ribbons were handed out, as well as many other awards and we had a wonderful meal. December has had Winterfest with awards given to Camryn C, Alyvia C, Isabelle G, Ali L. We also held our annual Christmas Meeting with charity auction. Many items were donated for the needy to earn “money” for the auction.

Robotica
Kendall S.

The first meeting of the Robotica 4-H Club was called to order by Nicole Foster at 11:00 on January 5, 2020 at Windham Fire Department. Four members, one leader, and two visitors were present. Visitors included Arianna and Lori M.

Two members from last year received an award from a robotics competition we went to as a club last year. We discussed our competition this year and what challenges we wanted to do as a club. In our meeting we built a robot and started to work on programming it. We made the robot do a few basic things (ex: move forward, turn, and speak). For our meeting we had a pizza party with a few other snacks. Our pizza party was supposed to happen last year but couldn’t, so we had it this year in recognition of completing the year and the competition that we went to.

Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News

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/