May 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

May 1: Paul Merrill 4-H Memorial Fund Applications Due

May 6: 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Lamb Project at Fryeburg Fair Form due to Cumberland County Office.

May 16: CC 4-H Leaders Meeting, Vaping & Marijuana Prevention & How to Discuss With Youth for Parents & Community Leaders presented by the Be The Influence Coalition, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham.

May 31 – June 1: 4-H@UMaine. For more information, visit the 4-H@UMaine: Connecting Kids to Campus page.


 Falmouth Shaws’ “Give Back Where it Counts” Reusable Bag Program

shaws reusable bag

We have been chosen by the Falmouth Shaw’s (251 Us Highway 1, Falmouth ME) as the latest non-profit to benefit from the GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Bag Program. This means that for the entire month of May, 4-H in Cumberland County will receive a $1 donation every time the GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Bag is sold in Falmouth.


May Leaders Association Meeting

Meeting Topic: How to Talk with Teens about Vaping & Marijuana Usage

When: Thursday, May 16, at 7:00 – 8:00PM

Where: Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Rd, Gorham, Maine

Laura Morris, Director of Be The Influence Windham Raymond Coalition will be presenting about best practices and approaches for parents and community leaders to discuss substance use without stigma. Laura will also discuss Vaping & Marijuana usage in teens and will be available for questions. All 4-H parents and volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend. You do not need to register to attend. Please email Sara at sara.conant@maine.edu or call the office at 207.781.6099 with questions.

More upcoming events Sponsored by Be The Influence that may be of interest to parents and leaders:

Empowering People Through Prevention: The Dangers Of Vaping
Event sponsored by Be the Influence Coalition, Windham High School, The Opportunty Alliance, and the City of Portland. This event, The Dangers of Vaping, is the first of five presentations that make-up our new Parent/Community Educational Series; Empowering People Through Prevention. This presentation will focus on the dangers of vaping for youth and what we can do to keep young people safe – featuring a panel and discussion – light refreshments.
Community Opiate Forum and NARCAN Training to include key speakers, expert panel discussion and free NARCAN/CPR training. June 5th at 6pm at Windham Weaponary. FMI on either of these events please visit https://betheinfluencewrw.org/


June Jamboree on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Cumberland Fairgrounds

June Jamboree is once again right around the corner. It is a time for 4-H members to see what others are doing in their 4-H projects, a chance to learn new things, to see old friends and to make new ones. June Jamboree will also assist 4-H members in preparing for the Cumberland County Fair in September. 4-H club members have the opportunity to participate in many animal clinics, shows, and workshops.  There will be workshops about Beef, Dairy, Horses, Sheep, Swine, and Working Steer. Lunch is available for purchase to support the Hooves ‘N Stuff 4-H Club. The Cloverbud Pet SPIN Club will also be presenting about their pets. Information can be found on the June Jamboree page.


Animal Approvals

Anyone wishing to show animals at any 4-H shows/events at fairs this year must have a valid Animal Approval Form. All forms must be filled out, signed by the club leader (on the line directly after the last animal listed) and signed and embossed here in the county office. 4-H’ers will receive a signed and embossed copy in the mail within approximately two weeks of the form being received in our office. The sooner they arrive in, the sooner you will have them back. Please pay special attention to the second side of the form which lists the proper identification needed for each species of animal. It is very important that this information, along with a signed lease form for any animal that you lease, is sent with your animal approval form. Forms will not be signed if there are leased animals on the form and no lease form, or if there is no extra identification for species of animals that need it. Please also note that each animal may only be leased by one 4-Her and listed on only one 4-Her’s animal approval form. The only exception is that one horse may be leased by two 4-H members and listed on two 4-Her’s animal approval forms. A maximum of 20 animals per species that require an animal approval form may be leased by a member.

Please note if you would like your Animal Approvals back to you in order to participate in Ossipee Valley Fair, they must be to the office no later than June 15th to allow time for review, processing, & return mailing. Any approvals arriving after June 15 will be date stamped accordingly but cannot be guaranteed to be returned to you before Ossipee Valley Fair due to staff programming commitments & vacations. Please plan accordingly!

Forms can be found online on the General Volunteer Resources – Forms page.

If you have any questions or would like blank forms sent to you please email or call Sara at sara.conant@maine.edu or 207.781.6099.


Summer of Science Seeking Teen Teachers 

4-H Teen Teaching is a paid summer internship for teens ages 14-19 which will give you 21st Century Skills for your future. The internship is only a few hours per week during July and August so you can combine this awesome opportunity with another summer job or internship if you choose. If you take this challenge you will learn communication, leadership, perseverance, teamwork, science, teaching skills, and meet a lot of new friends.

If you are selected, you will teach a science lesson to kids in 3rd-6th grade at least once a week. We will train you (you must be available for the training June 25-27) how to teach others and the subject matter. The theme for this year is Ocean Literacy and Engineering. There will be teaching sites in Portland, Westbrook, Gray, and possibly other communities. You must find transportation to your assigned teaching sites. The place where you teach depends on where you live and what transportation you have available; 4-H will assign you the closes site possible at the training in June.

To apply to be a Teen Teacher please complete the 4-H Teen Teacher Cumberland County Application 2019. If you need a paper version contact sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099. Questions? Please contact Mitch Mason 4-H Educator, mitchell.mason@maine.edu, 207.781.6099.

Applications are due June 3, 2019.


Cowtrail Classic 5K at Pineland, Saturday, June 29th, 9:00AM

The family friendly 5K race will be held on the trails around Pineland Farm, beginning and ending at the Dairy Barn. The 5k race will begin promptly at 9 a.m. with a kids fun run beginning at 8:45am. t’s a great opportunity to meet dairy farmers and help raise money for a great cause. Proceeds will be donated to the Milk2MyPlate program. T-shirts will be guaranteed only to those who register by June 1, remainders will be first come, first serve.

Please contact Jami Badershall at jami@drinkmainemilk.org or Ashley Martin at ashleym1304@gmail.com for any additional questions or visit http://drinkmainemilk.org/cowtrail-classic-5k/


Wolfe’s Neck Farm Center Spring Festival June 1st – Seeking 4-H Involvement

Wolfe’s Neck Farm is looking for 4-H groups interested in sharing 4-H and their animals with the public. This event has food, vendors, activities for families and children, and of course, livestock. Families having the chance to interact and learn about farming is one of the most important part of the event. They would love to have a larger diversity of livestock so families could have greater learning opportunities. It can be a great chance for 4-Hers to get out, show off their animals, and just promote the 4-H program here in Cumberland County. Past events have included members who have brought sheep to block and sheer, cows to clip, games, or other table type activities.  FMI or Participate as a 4-H club/member please contact Andrew Lombardi, alombardi@wolfesneck.org.


State 4-H News May 2019


Maine 4-H Days – Registration Opens May 10th
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 19 – 21 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. Get ready for a fun-filled weekend full of exciting Enrichment & Livestock activities! From Tie-Dye to Relay Races; Fairy Gardens to Composting; Meet an Alpaca or sign up for Poultry Camp – we’ll have something for everyone. Registration opens on May 10th – go to https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/maine-4h-days/.

If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.


Register Now for 2019 4H@UMaine May 31 – June 1!
Have you ever wondered how optical illusions work? Want to find out how much you can learn from a zebrafish? Perhaps you’d like to make paper like a chemical engineer. What is it like to live on a college campus?  For answers to these questions and more, 4-H@UMaine invites you (6th-10th graders) to participate in our fun, interactive overnight on the UMaine campus with career role models and kids from across the state.

Register Online http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-events/4humaine/.  It’s open TODAY and limited space is available!! Deadline: May 3rd. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich at gregory.kranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.


4-H Dog Fun Day – May 11th
A day of fun and learning for all 4-H youth and leaders interested in a dog project. The fun dog day will be held on May 11th in the Chute Arena at the UMaine Witter Farm, 160 University Farm Road, Old Town, very close to the campus.  The event will be held from 8:00 am. to approximately 12:30 pm.

Our guest this year will be Megan Arey, who is a 4-H Leader from New Hampshire. Megan works with the New Hampshire Dog Program. Megan will review with attendees and their dogs’ showmanship, obedience, and agility, as well as provide a demonstration on the “Sporting Breed” Megan raises and works with Labrador Retrievers.

Proof of current veterinary vaccination is required for all dogs attending, as well as a kennel, leads, water and treats. A mid-morning snack will be provided for participants. If you would like to attend, please contact Wendy at wendy.robertson@maine.edu or 942-7396 to RSVP.


4-H Camp Opportunities for Children of Military Families
There are numerous wonderful programs being offered to children of military families through special grant programs. These Adventure Camps are sponsored by the Department of Defense to provide quality outdoor experiences for children of Service Members in the active, reserve, or guard components.  Specific questions about eligibility should be made to the Tanglewood office at 207.789.5868 or extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu.

Programs are designed to build self-esteem, trust, teamwork, friendships, skill building, and appreciation of nature through outdoor adventures. Staff of UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers and key outdoor education and adventure partners lead camps. Open sessions for ages 14 – 18 include: Ocean Adventure (6/25 – 6/28 and 6/30-7/5), Coastal STEM Challenge (6/23 – 6/28 and 6/30 – 7/5), and for ages 8 – 14, Make and Create STEM Challenge (7/28 – 8/2). Learn more about all sessions at: https://extension.umaine.edu/tanglewood/tanglewood-lincolnville/4-h-military-partnership-youth-programs/.

To register for these programs, go to: https://extension.umaine.edu/tanglewood/registration/.


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


UMaine Extension Cumberland County offers many different workshops throughout the year. To learn more about our workshop offerings please visit our Upcoming Events page.