June 2022 4-H Newsletter

Cumberland County 4-H News

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

June 4: Summer of Science Teen Teacher Application due

June 16: CC 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m

June 30: Animal Approval Forms due

4-H Participation in Portland LGBTQ+ Pride Parade

In 4-H, we are a program that is for all youth. We are participating in this community event to celebrate the inclusion of current, former and future 4-H members who found a program that celebrates them and helps them grow into amazing adults. 4-H has always done this. If this one 4-H program is not up your alley, that’s OK. We invite you to check out any of the dozens/hundreds of other offerings that help young people develop the skills to thrive in the world. Participation in this event was borne from youth-driven interest, who wanted to show the rest of the world that 4-H is a place where all can find a place to belong. We think that’s pretty cool! This is a family friendly event and we are inviting our current 4-Hers, their families, staff, volunteers and alumni to participate.
When: Saturday, June 18
Meeting time: TBD (This event goes from late morning to early afternoon, with a meet up in the morning for pre-event)
Where: Downtown Portland, Maine
Register by: June 3
If you are in the first 50 or so people to register, you will get a free t shirt!
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/4hpride
Have questions or need an accommodation: 4-hpride@maine.edu
Unable to attend, but interested in donating $25 and receiving a pride t-shirt? Use the registration link above for details. Priority will be given to event attendees.

Scholarship and Campership Winners Announced

Congratulations to all recipients of this year’s 4-H Scholarship and Campership Awards!

Cumberland County Leaders Association Scholarship Recipients: Noah Brown, Kate Holmquist, Alyvia Caruso

Susan P. Grover Memorial Scholarship Recipients: Noah Brown, Kate Holmquist

Cumberland County Leader’s Association Campership Recipients: Camryn Caruso, Arianna Morse, TJ Peters, Jude Paul, Gretchen Paul, Kendall Sparks, Delia Tomkus

Barbara and Bob Tibbetts Campership: Delia Tomkus

Kids Can Can

An in-person, special interest club best for ages 9–14 or those entering 4th–8th grades but open to those up to age 18.  Ages 5-8 are welcome to participate with adult or older sibling assistance. Current 4-H enrollment is not necessary for participation.

  • Date & Time: Wednesdays, July 20 – August 17, 2022, 9:00– 11:30AM
  • Location: UMaine Extension Regional Learning Center 75 Clearwater Dr. Falmouth, Maine 04105 and at UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm
  • Cost: $5.00 for all 5 weeks – payable by cash or check by mail, or day of programming
  • Registration: FMI and to register click the registration link.

Join UMaine Extension staff and volunteers in this hands-on, interactive program that will teach participants how to grow and preserve the garden’s harvest. Each session will begin in the Tidewater Gardens as we harvest the fruits and vegetables needed to make jam, pickles, salsa, and more. Then we’ll move to the kitchen and prepare a batch of delicious preserved foods. Each participant will take home a jar of what we make.

If you are an adult 4-H Volunteer interested in helping with this program, please contact Eavan, eavan.sibolelittle@maine.edu.

Fridays on the Farm In-Person Event – July 15th, Rustic Roots Farm, Farmington

Best for youth ages 12-18. Current 4-H enrollment is not necessary for participation.

Date & Time: July 15, 9:00AM – 12:00PM

Location: In-Person at Rustic Roots Farm, Farmington

Cost: Free

The goal of 4-H Fridays on the Farm is to expose teens ages 12-18 to Maine agriculture and create workforce development skills through a variety of different hands-on, farm visits throughout the state on July 15th, 22nd, and August 5th, 12th, 19th. Teens may join for one week or multiple to experience what different farms across the state have to offer. Each session will include an opportunity for teens to take a tour of operations, gain hands-on experience, and consider their role in the Maine Food System.

July 15th. Rustic Roots Farm is a small-scale farm in Farmington, Maine producing sustainably-grown mixed vegetables. They offer weekly farm shares and sell locally to restaurants and the public at farmers’ markets.

Register Here for July 15th or any of the other Fridays on the Farm Locations & Dates

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 by 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 (potentially longer due to Covid-19). 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 Monmouth Fair they must be in to the office by June 1st. If you are participating in Ossipee Valley Fair, they must be to the office no later than June 16th. These early dates allow time for review, processing, & return mailing. Any approvals arriving after the recommended dates will be date stamped accordingly, but cannot be guaranteed to be returned to you before Monmouth or Ossipee Valley Fair. Please plan accordingly!

Forms can be found online here.

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

4-H Project Records

It is time to start thinking about Project Awards in the fall… are you keeping up your 4-H project records? You should do one project record for each project you will complete. Why do 4-H Project Records and Portfolios?

  1. Opens doors to the wider 4-H program.
  2. Your project isn’t done until the records are in.
  3. The feeling you get when you are finally done!
  4. You should document all of your hard work this year.
  5. Your 4-H Leader will smile ?
  6. The nagging will go away!
  7. You will get your premiums for the fair.
  8. It is a start towards 4-H Scholarships and National Trips in high school.
  9. Chris Clover says so!

To access a copy of the records and portfolio, visit the 4-H Project Records Page. A reminder that everyone should be using the NEW 4-H Project Records/Reflection Tools. If this is your first time using these particular records we strongly encourage you to start with the Beginner Record regardless of your age or 4-H experience.

 

State 4-H News March 2022

4-H Summer Learning Series

After an incredibly successful 4-H Summer Learning Series over the past two years, Maine 4-H will once again offer virtual experiential learning workshops and clubs to youth ages 5-18 from July 5 – August 5, 2022. Planning is still taking place, but topics in previous years have ranged from engineering, art, science, animals & agriculture, food & nutrition, teen leadership, and more. 

Early registration will be available to enrolled 4-H’ers on Friday, June 3, 2022 and will open to the public the following Friday, June 10. Help us spread the word to your friends and communities – enrollment in 4-H is not required to participate, this event is open to all! For more information, visit the 4-H Summer Learning Series webpage.

Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent Forms – June 10 Deadline

Youth planning to participate in the market lamb program at Fryeburg Fair need to submit a 2022 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent to Sell form by June 10th. An online form, as well as a pdf form, can be found at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/sheep/. The lamb’s tag number and bill of sale must accompany the intent form. Market lambs must be owned and in the possession of the 4-H member by June 1, 2022. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension office with any questions or to obtain a printed copy of the form.

Looking for 4-H Alumni & Members Attending UMaine!

If you are a current or former 4-H member planning to attend UMaine this fall, know of a 4-H member currently attending UMaine, or know of a recent 4-H alumni attending UMaine, read this! Collegiate 4-H is an opportunity for 4-H alumni and college students interested in supporting the mission of 4-H to be involved in 4-H after high school. We are currently exploring starting a Collegiate 4-H Club at UMaine with an anticipated start date for the 2022 fall semester. Simply fill out this short form to let us know if you think you might be interested!

Save the Date for the Maine 4-H State Dairy Show

The Maine 4-H State Dairy show will be July 22nd-24th at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The event is open to all Maine 4-H dairy project members 4-H ages 9 and above. In addition to the 4-H dairy show, the event includes a 4-H dairy fitting contest, grilled cheese contest, and educational workshops.  For additional information and a schedule of events please visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/maine-4-h-state-dairy-show/.

Upcoming 4-H Working Steer Events:

Save the date for upcoming 4-H working steer shows! In order to qualify and be a part of the Maine ESE Working Steer Team, you must attend two of the three tryouts. The tryout events are:

  • Saturday, July 9th at Ossipee Valley Fair
  • Saturday, July 23rd at Windsor Fairgrounds
  • Thursday, August 11th at Skowhegan Fair

For more information on upcoming 4-H working steer events and the Maine ESE Working Steer Team, please visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/ or contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

Adulting 101: 4-H Virtual Club

Are you a teen worried about impending adulthood? Do you want to know how to find answers to your questions about money, jobs, and roommates? Consider joining the Adulting 101 SPIN Club! Over the course of six meetings, we will learn some basic adult skills, including how to manage stress, interview for a job, and take advantage of existing resources in your community. Each week will cover a different topic: life/work balance and stress management; saving, spending, and credit; nutrition on a budget; resumes and interviews; rent and roommates; and a topic chosen by the participants! Access to a computer is required for participants, a smartphone won’t be sufficient.

Youth ages 13 – 18 need to register by June 6, 2022 for this club which will meet via Zoom on Wednesdays June 22 – July 27 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm.

Animal Science Health, Nutrition, and Parasite Prevention Panel

Join us at the Magic Lantern Innovation Lab, 9 Depot Street Bridgton, on July 9th, at 10:00 am for a free workshop. Learn from a panel of veterinarians and nutrition experts on the health and wellness of animals. From your dog and backyard goats to poultry and large livestock. Don McLean, DVM and Paul G. Rudenberg, DVM will provide information followed by a question and answer session to help you keep your animals safe and well. Contact susan.jennings@maine.edu for more information.

Maine 4-H Foundation Summer Camp Scholarships

The Maine 4-H Foundation has a limited number of scholarships for 4-H members for Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, Greenland Point, and Tanglewood. These scholarships are applied by the camp when you register and pay the deposit for camp. Scholarships are available from $50 to $200 depending on the camp expenses and needs.

Summer Camp Opportunities

Visit the Summer University Youth Programs’ Youth Summer Camps page to learn about a huge variety of camp experiences available to youth. From our traditional 4-H Camp and Learning Centers, to camps that focus on Academics, Art, Music, or Sports – there is something for everyone.

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning is a hands-on, virtual learning program for youth ages 5-18. Workshops will be organized by age and topic. Topics include engineering, science, animals and agriculture, teen leadership, and more.

Workshops will range from single-time events to short-term programs (typically four to six sessions). Participants will engage in hands-on activities, interact with other 4-Hers, and be positive adult role models.

No prior experience with 4-H is required to participate. This is a great way for those who are interested to learn more about 4-H.

EFNEP Recipe of the Month: Massaged Kale Salad!
Summer is finally here! School is out, and it’s time to gear up for picnics, barbecues, and cookouts. For this month’s EFNEP Recipe of the Month we have a delicious Massaged Kale Salad recipe that is the perfect side dish for any occasion. When you massage the kale, it becomes tender and aromatic. You can even change up the fruit with whatever is in season. Even the youngest family members can help with this recipe by massaging the kale! For more delicious recipes, check out our UMaine EFNEP Mainely Dish Video Series.  By Debbie Barnett (EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties – deborah.barnett@maine.edu).

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.

Club Happenings

Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email eavan.sibolelittle@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 https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/events/list/