January 2021

Cumberland County 4-H News

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

January

January 19 – February 23rd: 4-H Passport Around the World SPIN Club

January 21: CC 4-H Leaders Meeting, 7:00-9:00 PM, Online

January: Fashion Revue, Intent to Participate Form is due

January 26: Statewide Public Speaking Workshop 6:00pm – 7:00pm | Online Presentations

4-H Leaders Association Meeting – January 21, 7:00PM

Join us on Thursday, January 21, 7:00PM online via Zoom for a Leaders Association meetings are a chance to meet volunteers, new and old, and to offer input on 4-H programming in Cumberland County! All volunteers are welcome and 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 scan and email or mail 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.

Fashion Revue 2021

Fashion Revue 2021 will be in the form of a service project. Participants will have the option to choose between four different projects to either sew, knit, or crochet, and the finished product will be donated to Maine families.  Projects will include: blankets, hats, pillow ports, face masks, or another service project that uses your sewing/knitting/crocheting talents. Make one item or multiple – participants will have flexibility to choose and do as much or as little as they are able. Projects will not be judged, but participants will have the option to share what they have made with others. More information and intent to participate will be available in mid-late January.  

Citizenship Washington Focus Scholarship Applications Save the Date

CWF will be virtual in 2021. We do not yet have details of what that will look like but know it will include a high level of interactive activities to learn about citizenship and civic engagement! CWF is open to youth ages 14-18 and scholarships will again be awarded by the Cumberland County 4-H Leaders Association for attendance. Keep an eye out in the February newsletter for application details!
If you would like assistance with your Portfolio or would like to participate in a mock interview to prepare for the CWF scholarship application process, please email or call Sara, sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099. Sara is available for video chat sessions whenever is convenient for youth, including some evenings by appointment. If you are interested in this assistance for your CWF application please make sure to schedule a time soon.

State 4-H News January 2021

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
Graduating seniors can apply for a 4-H scholarship from the Maine 4-H Foundation. Applications are due on March 1, 2021 to the local county office and on March 8, 2021 to the Maine 4-H Foundation. For more information please go to: https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.

4-H Passport Around the World SPIN Club
Join Maine 4-H and Greenheart Exchange as we travel around the world virtually and meet other teens from across the globe! Meetings will include a brief presentation from a Greenheart Exchange Student, an activity, and Q & A. This SPIN Club is best for ages 12-18 and open to all youth. A minimal supply list will be provided for each activity. Dates are Tuesdays, January 19th, February 2nd & 16th, 4:00-5:00PM and Saturdays, January 30th, February, 13th & 27th, 9:30 – 10:30AM. Register at: edu/4h/4-h-passport-around-the-world-spin-club/.

Important Information for 4-H Market Steer Project Members
Any youth who have submitted an Intent to Sell a Market Steer at the Fryeburg Fair need to follow the updated guidelines sent out:

Email a photo and the following information to jessica.brainerd@maine.edu (if you don’t have access to email, you can print the photo and put the required information on the back – regular paper is fine – mail to: State 4-H Office, 491 College Ave, Orono, ME 04473).  Show any distinct marks (i.e. white feet, white spots on head/body). Include a picture of the RFID tag in the animal’s ear.

  1. Your name on the page
  2. The USDA approved RFID ear tag # (it starts with the first three digits of “840”) and it is 15 digits long.  Confirm that you have written down the number correctly!  No changes will be made.
  3. The name of your steer.
  4. The birth date (month/year or exact date if known)
  5. Beginning weight – use a weight tape if necessary (either the date you first tape it or the weight you purchased/obtained your steer) – we can figure the ADG (Average Daily Gain) at the final weigh-in
  6. The breed of your steer
  7. Who you purchased/obtained your steer from and the price paid.  If Bred and Owned, please state this.
  8. Address where is the steer being housed – a complete address.
  9. Any other farm tags or tattoo that your animal has.NEW THIS YEAR – Your approval form will be handled at the county level. Your steer should be entered on your regular animal approval form. In the column titled “Show Class” enter Fryeburg Sale. If you do not complete this correctly the animal will not be eligible for Fryeburg’s Sale as there are other sales throughout the state.

Save the Date for the 2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament!
The 2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will take place virtually over the weekend of April 16 – 18, 2021. In the absence of local club and county tournaments this year, there will be ample support for youth preceding the tournament in the form of workshops and focused practice opportunities. These workshops are open to all youth who wish to practice their public speaking skills and those who wish to qualify for the state tournament. If you are interested in participating in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program and need assistance in any way, please contact us to discuss your needs. We are committed to making 4-H programs accessible to all youth, regardless of internet or technology access.

Details for the workshops and tournaments are still being organized – regularly updated information can be found on the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Website. Stay tuned for more announcements!

Save the dates for the 4-H Public Speaking Workshops:
– January 26, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Online Presentations
– February 9, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Career & College Readiness
– February 16, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m | Introduction to 4-H Public Speaking for Cloverbuds
– February 23, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | All About Judging & Scoring
– Practice Sessions by appointment in February and March

*Youth are expected to attend two workshops and one practice session to qualify for the State Public Speaking Tournament.
Save the date for the 2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament:
– April 16-18, 2021
Questions about the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program? Contact Sheila Norman, 207.942.7396 or sheila.norman@maine.edu.

Livestock GPS
Do you have an animal, an acre of pasture, and an interest in GPS? Learn real world uses for GPS in modern livestock operations.

Youth 14 – 18 year will learn:

    • How GPS works
    • History of GPS livestock tracking
    • Current GPS uses in livestock research
    • Developing your own GPS Research Project with your livestock
    • How to download and analyze data
    • How to present your GPS research results—Best presentation receives a Custom Silver Buckle

Want to know more? Contact either Debra Kantor – debra.kantor@maine.edu or 207.474.9622, or Colt Knight – colt.knight@maine.edu or 207.581.2593.

Club Happenings

Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email sara.conant@maine.edu by the 25th of each month with information about your club meetings, events, or fundraisers. Pictures are always a plus!

Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News

Livestock Nutrition & Processing Seminar

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Windham Butcher Shop are pleased to announce a series of livestock nutrition talks that cover basic nutrition and feeding needs of Small Ruminants, Beef Cattle, Pigs, and Poultry. Join Dr. Colt W. Knight as he discusses the nutritional demands for livestock, differences among feeds, and why a properly balanced ration is crucial to profitability, reproduction, and animal health. The final lecture in this series will discuss what you should expect from processors and what processors expect from you.

January 13th  Noon-1:30 PM – Beef Cattle

January 22nd  Noon-1:30 PM – Small Ruminants (Sheep and Goats)

January 27th  Noon-1:30 PM – Swine

February 3rd  Noon-1:30 PM – Poultry

February 10th  Noon-1:30 PM – Processing Expectations

Register here!

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/