Franklin County 4-H Newsletter, April 2022

March 25, 2022 Franklin County 4-H Newsletter, News

Table of Contents

Franklin County 4-H Calendar

  • April 9: Public Speaking Tournament
  • April 13: Franklin County Extension Association Annual Virtual Meeting
  • April 17: 4-H Leaders Association Meeting 7PM
  • April 18 & 19: 4-H Agricultural Symposium for Maine teens
  • April 22 to May 8: Paper Clover Campaign
  • May 1:  Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Tryouts intent to participate form
  • May 1: Animal Approval Form if you plan on showing your horse at the Big E
  • June 30: Animal Approval Form

Franklin County 4-H Leaders’ Association

The April Leaders’ Association meeting will be held in person or via zoom. Please bring your questions and ideas! We all look forward to seeing you all at 7:00pm on April 17th.

Zoom information will be included in the Agenda for the March meeting.

All enrolled 4-H Volunteers are members of their county Leaders’ Association. Your leadership support is encouraged and vital in deciding the focus of our county 4-H programs.

All volunteers, please keep up to date with the newest COVID information and UMaine guidance on this site.

Mariah J attends the National 4-H Agri-Science Summit in the Washington DC area.

Mariah J was accepted to the 2022 team from Maine that attended the 4-H Argi-Science Summit.  To be a member of the team, she summited an application and was accepted.  Mariah attended the Summit with 5 other teens from all over Maine.  She was able to attend workshops that honed her career skills, experience the in’s and out-s of dairy (milk) quality and management techniques, and SO much more.  There were over 300 teens from 33 different states that were in attendance at the Summit which was held at the Bethesda Hyatt regency Hotel this year.  Youth were able to network and meet many professionals from a wide variety of industries within Agriculture. Teen participants were also taken to the National Mall and Smithsonian Museums to be able to see the exhibits including the American Enterprise Exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.  This trip is made possible through the generous support of the Maine 4-H Foundation.  If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, or the Healthy Living Summit please contact the office and speak with Tara.  Each year Maine sends a team to represent at each of those Summits, maybe next year it will be you!?

Group of teens attending Agri-Science Summitt
Team Maine 2022 back row Susannah H, Marina L, Sadie O, and Tara Marble front row: Mia F, Noah B, Mariah J.
4-Her riding big wheel bike
Mariah having some fun at the Smithsonian Museum of American History trying. out a Penny Farthing Bicycle!
4-Hers being interviewed at Agri science summit
Emily Buck from RFD-TV Interviews Mariah J. and Mia F. from Maine about the actions plan the team created- you can check out the interview on their Facebook post here: https://fb.watch/cduiwqAcom/

Goats looking for a new home. 

Local wether (neutered) goats are available that are leash trained and looking for a home with a 4-Her contact- the office for more information. 207.778.4650

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Franklin County Virtual Annual Meeting

Business Meeting, UMaine Extension Slideshow, and Shirley Hager shares her book “The Gatherings: Reimagining Indigenous-Settler Relations”

Save the Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
4:00-5:00 p.m., Via Zoom

This meeting is free and open to the public however registration is required.

Register online by using:
2022 Franklin County Annual Meeting (Google Form)

Join us for the Virtual Franklin County Extension Association Annual Meeting, an opportunity to learn all about the University of Maine Cooperative Extension programs in Franklin County. The meeting will consist of a business meeting, a slide show, and a presentation from Shirley Hager on her book, “The Gatherings: Reimaging Indigenous-Settler Relations.”

4-H For All: Spring 2022


The purpose of this virtual club is to provide new and potential members and their families a place to learn about 4-H; and to connect youth across the state. Youth will choose a project to complete and learn more about 4-H and how to become involved. We want you to join and engage in our 4-H program! There is no cost, and meetings will help challenge you to create new goals and discover new passions. Open to youth 5-13, dates will be March 24, April 28, May 26 at 10am. Register at: umaine.edu/4h/4-h-for-all-club.

The Maine App Challenge


Love technology? Here is a chance to put your passion to a purpose and win a scholarship along the way! The Maine App Challenge is an incredible opportunity for Maine middle school and high school students who are 13 years of age and older to create a mobile application with a chance to win a scholarship and other valuable rewards. A series of innovation workshops from the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation will help you get started! There are three scholarships available for the top mobile apps: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.

Other awards include: $500 to the high school with the highest participation, Tablets to the first 50 completed submissions, a guaranteed internship interview for the top 10 submissions following his/her college sophomore year.  Visit the Tyler Technology Maine App Challenge website for more information; the deadline for submissions is May 15th.

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub


Maine 4-H VirtualLearning 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.

Read what 4-H Parents, Youth, and Teachers have to say about these 4-H Virtual Learning offerings: Visit the 4-H Parents, Youth, Teachers: Stories and Testimonials page.

ESE Approval Form Reminder


All 4-H members intending to exhibit a horse or dairy animal at Eastern States Exposition this fall must submit their 4-H animal approval form, as well as their accompanying lease forms and health documents, to their county Cooperative Extension office by May 1st. Copies of 4-H approval and lease forms can be found online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/forms. Please contact your county office with any questions.

EFNEP Recipe of the Month: Egg Bites!


The sound of songbirds, crocuses poking their heads out of the snow, vacation week, new calves, and lambs in the fields were all signs for me as a child to celebrate the beginning of Spring. It got me thinking of celebrating the beginning of the day and an EGGcellent recipe for breakfast, or anytime! Eggs are a great affordable source of protein. In this Egg Bites Recipe, you can easily change up the optional add-in ingredients to fit your taste or mood!  Check out this and many other great recipes in our Maine Dish Recipe 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.

2022 Intent Form for Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Now Available


The 2022 Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Tryouts intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/horse/. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must submit their intent forms by May 1st. Forms can be completed online or a hard copy of the form can be mailed to the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office. For more information or for questions, please contact Tara Marble at tara.marble@maine.eduor 207.778.4650.

Maine 4-H Offers Agriculture Symposium for Teens


You are invited to join Maine 4-H staff for the 4-H Agriculture Symposium, an immersive agriculture experience for Maine teens. The 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on UMaine Orono and UMaine Augusta-Bangor campuses, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state. Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation can be provided upon request.

The program is free and registration is required. Register on the program webpage. Current CDC and University of Maine health guidelines will be followed for all in-person events.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski at 207.622.7546; 4hagleadership@maine.edu.  This program is made possible with generous support from the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.

Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Tryouts Scheduled for April


The 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on April 23rd at Juniper Farms in Gray, ME, and Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2022 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. Visit  https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/judging/ for a complete schedule, contest rules, and directions to the farms. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.

Wildlife Workshop with WHEP and 4-H

Come for a full day of activities dedicated to learning about Maine wildlife and habitat management. Are you interested in learning about wild animals and the places they call home? Do you want to feel and examine an otter’s pelt or hold a bear skull in your hands? Then you should sign up for the Junior (9-12 year old) Workshop! Do you want to delve deeper into ecology and food webs? Are you interested in exploring wildlife and habitat management as a career? Then sign up for our Teen (13+) Workshop! Both age groups will have the chance to participate in hands-on activities and learn from wildlife experts with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

There are two opportunities to participate:

    • April 19th 9am-4pm at the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood, in Lincolnville
    • April 22nd 9am-4pm at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine in Augusta

The workshops will be identical, so you only need to sign up for one! More information about the day will be emailed to you as the day of the event approaches.

Spaces are limited. Please be sure you can commit to attending before signing up. Visit the Wildlife Workshop Registration page to register today.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Erin McDonald at erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu or 207-324-2814.