March 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

March 1: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships due to County office

March 11: Last Day to register for Mini-Forum

March 19: CC 4-H Leaders meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham, Educational Program: Leaders Association Mission Statement Development

March 20: 4-H Congress and Conference Applications due to County Office

March 21: Mini-Forum, Volunteer Training, and Day of Service – USM Gorham, Open to 4-H and non-4-H members

Leaders Association Meeting – March 19, 2020
Goals & Highlights for this meeting include:

  • Develop a Mission Statement for the Leaders Association
  • Vote on Association Bylaws
  • Opportunity to tune in and participate live from your own home

The March Leaders Association meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19th, at 7:00 – 9:00 PM at the Gorham Public Works Building (80 Huston Road, Gorham) or try our NEW option to join us online via Zoom! To join please visit https://maine.zoom.us/j/511424126. This is our very first time trying this blended online and in-person format so we’re hopeful more volunteers and parents will be able to join us!

Changes to the Association bylaws were discussed at the last meeting in November and will be voted on at this March meeting. We will also use our educational meeting time to work to develop a clear, succinct, and inviting Mission, Vision, & Values statement for the Association.

Register for Mini-Forum – Saturday, March 21st at USM Gorham

Mini-Forum is a fun-filled day for all ages with a variety of workshops from Makers Crafts to Biosecurity, Animal Crafts to Fudge Making, and more.

The schedule for the day is:

  • Check-In: 9:00 – 9:30 am
  • Welcome: 9:30 – 9:55 am
  • Session 1/Track Program: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 am
  • Lunch: 11:35 – 12:00
  • True Leaders in Service & CWF Raffle: 12:00 – 1:30pm
  • Session 2: 1:40 – 2:40 pm
  • Clean-Up and Fill-out Surveys: 2:45 – 3:00 pm

For more information about Mini-Forum and a list of workshops and their descriptions please visit the 4-H Mini Forum page.

Register online using the Cumberland County 4-H 2020 Mini-Forum Registration Form by Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

True Leaders in Service 2020 – Donation Drive & Service Event – March 21, 2020

In an effort to expose our members to more service, and opportunities around leadership in service, we are offering our first annual True Leaders in Service Event, planned by the 4-H Teen Council! There will be two opportunities for 4-Her’s to participate. The first is a Donation Drive for items for the Ronald McDonald House, organized by the Humanitarian Assistors Portland High Club. The second is a fleece blanket making event to be held during the general session at Mini-Forum 12:00 – 1:30. Blankets will be donated to Lucky Pup Rescue and a local nursing home.

The PHS 4-H Club wants to collect 100 items for Ronald McDonald House in Portland by Mini-Forum on March 21st! The items are to help families who have sick children at Maine Medical Center. To donate, each club should bring their items to the March Leaders Association Meeting (03/19 in Gorham), or to Mini-Forum where a PHS 4-H teen will collect them.

Please make sure to identify in some way which club(s) are donating the item so we can recognize everyone!  Please only include new, un-used, non-expired items. The items that Ronald McDonald House needs include:

  • Individually-packaged snacks
  • Sugar
  • Ketchup
  • Non-dairy creamer
  • Tissues
  • Paper Towels
  • Trash bags – 4 gallon and 13 gallon
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  •  Spatulas
  • Dishwasher detergent
  • Laundry detergent
  • Shaving cream
  • Travel size shampoo & conditioner
  • Pledge
  • Lysol Spray & Wipes

Additional needs are on the Ronald McDonald House Wishlist:https://rmhcmaine.org/wish-list/
For more information about Ronald McDonald House go here: https://rmhcmaine.org/about-us/mission-vision-history/

Upcoming 4-H Volunteer Training at Mini-Forum, March 21

If you know anyone in your club or community who would like to become a 4-H Volunteer, in-person training will be held at Mini-Forum on Saturday, March 21, 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 2020 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.

Citizenship Washington Focus Raffle at Mini-Forum

A raffle to support the CWF trip will be held at Mini-Forum, so please bring some extra money to support the cause. We are also looking for about ten donated items to put in the raffle. Items should have a value of at least $10.00 and can be anything from gift certificates to homemade items or any new item you think someone else would want. Variety is great! If you are willing to donate something, please call Connie at 207.625.4644, or email her at cfelchwood@gmail.com and then bring the item to Mini Forum for the raffle.  Thanks for your support.

UMaine 4-H Unconference – not your average volunteer forum – March 14th!
UMaine 4-H Unconference – a volunteer forum led by 4-H volunteers for 4-H volunteers.  It will be an organized forum for 4-H volunteers, club leaders, afterschool providers, teachers, parents and teens leaders to gather.  UMaine 4-H Unconference is intentionally designed to have YOU teach and learn from each other. There is no agenda – you come with 4-H ideas and topics you want to talk about or learn more about, and we’ll guide the process to get folks into groups where YOU are the experts.  All experience levels are welcome and no one person has all the answers.  Door prizes will be given at the end of the day. Register online at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/unconference/.

Registration begins at 8:30 and door prizes will be drawn by 3:00:

Lewiston (USM Lewiston Auburn Campus – 51 Westminster St. Lewiston, ME) Saturday, March 14, 2020

Maine 4-H Statewide Public Speaking Tournament – Register with Sara by March 20th!

The Maine 4-H Statewide Public Speaking Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 4th, at the 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: umaine.edu/4h/youth/public-speaking/tournament/

2020 4-H Member Cards Must Be Requested Annually

4-H Member Cards will only be printed by request. Please note that while the Cumberland Fair does not accept Member Cards, some fairs do still use member cards for entrance passes, 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 Thursday, April 09, 2020 at 4:30 PM. 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 or email to sara.conant@maine.edu.

The Maine 4-H Foundation has camp scholarships ranging from $100-$200 available for 4-H members. 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.

4-H Scholarship Applications Now Available

Cumberland County 4-H Scholarship applications are due Thursday, April 9, 2020, at 4:30 PM. 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 but the requirements for each are different. 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. For more information and applications, please visit the 4-H Scholarships page.

The Maine 4-H Foundation provides a number of scholarships for graduating seniors. The applications are found online and are due in the county office by March 1. Please see the rubric and application requirements online at the Maine 4-H Foundation.

Paul Merrill Memorial Fund 

Paul E. Merrill 4-H Memorial Fund was established as a memorial to Paul E. Merrill died in April 1982. Mr. Merrill firmly believed in the merits of the 4-H program and in the character-building qualities of learning to care for and raise livestock. This fund is a splendid way to carry on the beliefs of Mr. Merrill and in doing so, encourage youth to grow in character and ability as Mr. Merrill had done. It is designed to provide financial aid for projects from the interest of the account to 4-H livestock clubs or 4-H members with livestock projects. The application deadline is May 1, 2020.

For more information and an application, please visit the Paul Merrill Memorial Fund page.

Master Gardener Plant Sale – Educational Opportunity for 4-H Clubs

This year the Plant Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th at the Barron Center in Portland. In the past, they have focused on environmentally-focused agencies to fill out their educational offerings, but this year Master Gardeners would like to feature UMaine Extension Programs. They are looking for volunteers (youth and/or adults) to offer interactive demos and educational information on the 4-H programs. If any clubs or individuals are interested in staffing a booth for 4-H to share information and maybe some demonstrations with sale attendees please email sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099.

Farm Credit East Scholarship Opportunity

To apply, any individual pursuing a full-time, post-high school education (this includes colleges and technical schools) during the upcoming fall semester who demonstrates, through their career plans, experience, program of study and extracurricular activities, significant progress toward and a clear intention for a career in agriculture, forestry or commercial fishing. An associate, bachelor’s or graduate degree, as well as technical school attendance, qualifies as post-high school education.

Candidates for the scholarship must have a permanent home address within the area served by Farm Credit East and plan to attend post-high school education in the upcoming fall semester. Applicants are eligible to win this scholarship only once.

Applications are due Thursday, April 02, 2020.

FMI or to Apply: farmcrediteast.com/Scholarship

Growing to Give Nonprofit Food Bank Program seeks Volunteers for Group Project

Growing to Give, a nonprofit food bank program at Scatter Good Farm in Brunswick, Maine is looking for groups of youth to participate in our Growing and Cooking with Kids Project.

Our mission is to grow organic vegetables using climate-friendly practices and donate them to local people struggling with food insecurity. We are a mostly volunteer-run farm and welcome all ages to help us out in the fields.  The project will involve groups of youth (school groups, 4-H groups, scout groups, etc.,) coming to the farm during the spring, summer or fall season to learn about sustainable agriculture, food insecurity and to help in the gardens as well as learn to cook simple dishes straight from the field produce in our outdoor field kitchen.  A group can come once or multiple times, that is up to you. If you are interested or would like more information please contact Patty Carton at pattyjcarton@gmail.com or 207-837-4670.

State 4-H News March 2020

Come to Orono for 2020 4H@UMaine May 29 – 30, 2020
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 at kranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.

4-H@UMaine 2020 Teen Leader Team
Teen Leaders support 4-H@UMaine by helping to plan the weekend, creating the event’s theme, supporting younger participants, and helping to create an engaging and welcoming environment for all attendees. All this while building leadership skills and having FUN!

NEW! This year the required in-person training will be offered in two locations simultaneously. Teens will be able to attend at the Androscoggin/Sagadahoc (Lisbon Falls) or Penobscot/Piscataquis (Bangor) Cooperative Extension office. The two groups will video conference for portions of the training to help build a cohesive group while hopefully eliminating some transportation barriers.

For more information and for this year’s application please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/4humaine/teen-leaders/. Applications will be available on March 2nd and must be submitted by April 3rd.

Save the Date for Maine 4-H Days 2020
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 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 brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.

What is Aquaculture Science Saturday
Save the date for the first 4-H Science Saturday of 2020! On April 25, 2020, youth will have a chance to learn about Aquaculture at the Aquaculture Research Center at UMaine in Orono.  This event will run from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, the cost is $10.00, and lunch will be provided.  Online registration will be available in early March at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/science-saturday/.

#EmpoweringMEandYou – Stress Less Online Workshop for Teens – 04/16/20, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

The National 4-H Healthy Living Summit Team from Maine will be presenting their Stress Less lesson plan developed at the 2019 Summit and presented at the 2020 Summit. Any youth ages 13 – 18 are welcome and encouraged to attend. 4-H participation is not required!

This hour-long lesson was designed by and for teens to educate others on the effects of stress and how they can combat and cope with stress in their daily lives, and the lives of others. Youth will start by identifying what the effects of stress are and then have the opportunity to practice a variety of coping strategies that can help to reduce these effects on the body. Youth will also learn and practice how to re-frame their own negative self-talk and redirect that of others as it relates to stress.

If you are interested in attending this workshop please RSVP here by Monday, April 13, 2020, to receive a reminder email and the Zoom link. For questions or information on offering this to your county or club, please email or call Sara Conant, sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099.

Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Contest Results
On February 15th the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl contest was held in Augusta, Maine. 4-H members from all corners of Maine came to the state’s capital to test their dairy knowledge. The youth began the contest by taking a written dairy knowledge exam which was followed by a series of questions on the buzzers. Eleven youth competed in the Sr. division with the high score going to Ali L. of Cumberland County.

The 2020 Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl team will be comprised of the top four individuals in the Sr. division: Ali L., Owen B., Mariah J., and Jillian S. with Hannah M. serving as an alternate. The team that will compete at Eastern States Exposition in September. In the Jr. division, the high score went to Kat L. of Cumberland County.  Congratulations to all who participated!

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 the 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 4-H Trained 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.

4-H Dairy Team Dates
The summer show season is fast approaching and it is time to start preparing for the 2020 Eastern States Exposition. Please save the dates below for Eastern States 4-H Dairy team tryouts and events. More information on the Eastern States Exposition 4-H dairy team and how to get involved in a 4-H dairy project can be found at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/animal-science-resources/dairy/. Please contact Tara Marble at marble@maine.edu or Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu with any questions.

Note: In order to be eligible for participation on the 2020 ESE 4-H Dairy Team youth must:

  • Be enrolled in a 4-H dairy project for at least one year
  • Be 12 years old or older by December 31st of the current 4-H year
  • Submit an ESE dairy team intent to participate form by Feb. 1, 2020
  • Participate in at least one state tryout event
  • Submit their animal approval form to their county office by May 1st (if they intend to bring an animal)
  • Participate in the Maine State 4-H Dairy show in July

Animal Approval and Lease Form Due Date (for ESE participants): 5/1/2020, in your local County Extension Office

4-H Dairy Judging Team Tryouts: 5/02/2020, time and location TBD

Animal Approval and Lease Form Due Date (for non-ESE participants): 6/30/2020, in your local County Extension Office

Maine 4-H Dairy Show (including 4-H Grilled Cheese Contest and 4-H Dairy Fitting Contest): 7/18/2020 – 7/19/2020 at the Windsor Fairgrounds

Maine Junior Solar Sprint: Season 26
What’s it about?  Engineering, photovoltaics & collaborative learning.  Working in teams, middle school students design, build and race model vehicles that run (20 meters) with the sun.

Cost? There is a free mentor workshop and (thanks to the Maine 4-H Foundation) a $150 materials stipend for mentors.  (There is a cost if you would like an organized qualifying race at your school.  Top teams go on to the State Finals on Saturday, June 6, site TBD.)

I’m interested—what now? Contact the dude below.  He’ll start the wheels turning! Peter Zack, Sacopee Energy & Climate Activities, peter@secanews.org, 207.625.7833.

First-Ever Maine 4-H Teen Dance
April 4, 2020, from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Old Town YMCA – join us for the first-ever Maine 4-H Teen Dance (organized by teen 4-Hers for YOU!). More information and online registration will be posted at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/2020/02/28/first-ever-maine-4-h-teen-dance/.  

National 4-H Trips (Conference and Congress)
National 4-H Trip Applications are due March 20th, 2020 (Conference and Congress). National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options, and learn through 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

Club Happenings

All-Star Dairy
Kat L.

The All-Star Dairy Club has been busy the last couple of months. On January 18th, we hosted our Jr Quiz Bowl Day. We had stations on the buzzers, dairy walk, cheese, and milk tasting, diseases, dairy breeds, and a jeopardy game. We had some guests come from other counties that we invited, and it was a great time.

On February 9th, we had our regular monthly meeting. Sarah L came in to talk to us about Agvocacy.

On February 15th, the State Dairy Quiz Bowl took place at the University of Maine in Augusta. We had four members of our club go, Ali L, Jillian S, Kat L, and Isabelle G. Ali L was the top senior individual, and Kat L was the top junior individual of the contest. Ali L and Jillian S both made the quiz bowl team for the Eastern States.

On February 19th, our Jr club went to ACTS in Fryeburg to see how they train service dogs. After we went to Connie S’s house for our Jr meeting and her grandfather Mike S gave us a demonstration about forages.young kids with buzzers at a table Kids & adults with four service dogs

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.