Franklin County 4-H Newsletter, April
Table of Contents
Franklin County 4-H Calendar
- April 6: State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, Orono
- April 8: Solar Eclipse
- April 9: 4-H Volunteer Connections – Animal Science: Strong Relationships and Sportsmanship
- April 9-May 11: Tidepool Immersion Discovery + Ecology Workshop Series
- April 13: 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
- April 18-19: Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine
- April 22: 4-H Solar Eclipse Wrap-Up Extravaganza
- April 24-May 5: Farm Animal Care SPIN Club – FUNdamentals
- April 26: 4-H Science Friday
- May 1: Equine ESE Intent forms Due
- May 16: Franklin County Extension Association Annual Meeting 5pm – 7pm
- May 20: Franklin County 4-H auction slips are due
- May 24: 4-H Science Friday-Vernal Pools
- June 5: Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent to Participate Deadline
- June 20-27: Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), Washington D.C.
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 7:00 p.m. on April 15.
Zoom information will be included in the Agenda for the 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.
County 4-H News
Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Contest Congratulations!
Congratulations to the 11 youth contestants in the Western/ Central Region Public Speaking contest. This event was a qualifier for the upcoming State contest. It was held at UMA on March 9th with a fantastic audience turnout. The participants all did an impressive job and many scored enough to compete at the state. Even our youngest Cloverbuds had a great time! The topics ranged from Dinosaurs to Horse Arena installation, with both illustrated talks and demonstrations. Thank you to all who helped to put on the event, and a special thanks to our volunteers who made it possible- Cathy G, Nathan D, Martha N, Maddie G, and Scott C.
We plan on having this event again next year and hope even more members come to try it out!
Ag Ambassadors Visit Pineland Farms
On March 30th 10 new Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors braved the chilly winds in New Gloucester Maine to visit Pineland Farms. They got a behind-the-scenes view of the farm and their agritourism operations. The farm is home to a Holstein milking cow herd, but also boasts a robust educational farm and maple production center. The youth got to talk about the in’s and out’s of dairy management, and other animal operations. Pineland Farm has grown so much in the past decade and attributes much of the growth to interest in the public learning about agriculture. Their agritourism branch supplements a large portion of farm income. Ambassadors are currently learning about different sectors within agriculture as they consider careers in the industry. If you are a youth or know a youth who has an interest in becoming an Ag Ambassador please check out the website: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/ag-leadership/
Save The Date Franklin County Extension Annual Meeting Thursday, May 16 5pm – 7pm at the Extension office.
This year, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension of Franklin County and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce will host the 2024 Annual Meeting. Guests of all ages are invited to learn about the community-focused work of the UMaine Extension and Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. This meeting is Free and open to the public- no registration is required. Light refreshments will be served.
Are you ready?! How to prepare for the Maine Solar Eclipse
First, it is good to know some background information about what you will see on Monday, April 8th. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the earth and sun. At the right angle, the moon blocks the sun’s light from reaching earth and causes a solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in a direct line. It is visible from only certain locations on earth when the center of the Moon’s shadow hits the earth, the sky goes dark and we can experience changes in temperature and sounds.Watch this solar eclipse animation from NASA for a visual.
Second, in order to watch the solar eclipse, you will need to wear eclipse glasses or use a pinhole camera. This means at all times except for totality when the moon completely covers the Sun’s face (yes, even if it’s cloudy or raining).
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- The only safe way to view partial phases of the eclipse is with viewing (eclipse) glasses or through a handheld solar viewing (i.e. a pinhole camera)
- Do not view partial eclipse phases with sunglasses, through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope.
- If your viewing glasses are damaged in any way, discard them and do not use them.
- You can view the eclipse directly without eye protection only when the moon completely blocks the Sun’s face (totality)
Third, plan ahead for viewing the eclipse. If you are traveling, be aware that Maine is expecting an influx of travelers, so plan for traffic, packed gas stations and restaurants. Here are a few suggested items to bring with you to experience the solar eclipse:
- Eclipse viewing glasses and/or pinhole camera
- Appropriate clothing for the weather
- Snacks, water
- First Aid kit
- A comfortable spot for viewing (ex: folding chairs, blankets for warmth)
4-H Market Lamb Intent for Fryeburg Fair
Youth planning to participate in the Market Lamb program at Fryeburg Fair need to submit the
2024 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent form by June 5 th . An online form is available, otherwise
youth can print and mail a copy downloaded from the website.
4-H Dairy Judging Contest
The 2024 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on April 13th at Quimby Farm in Albion,
ME and Springdale Farm in Waldo, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and
will serve as the official tryouts for the 2024 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team.
For a complete schedule for the day please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/animal-science-
resources/dairy/judging/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren
at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
4-H Volunteer Workshops for the 2023-2024 4-H Year
We invite you to participate in our 4-H Volunteer Connections virtual workshops! Join other 4-H
volunteers from the North East region to learn, share and engage with one another on a variety of
topics related to 4-H. All workshops are free and offered via Zoom in the evenings from 6:30 – 8:00
pm.
Topics include:
April 9 – Animal Science: Strong Relationships and Sportsmanship
Click here to register now! Come to one or come to all! We look forward to connecting with YOU!
4-H Tick Project
The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K-12 youth and educators, made
possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension
Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems
Northeast partnership. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne
diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.
All educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the
project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups,
and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.
Equine ESE Intent forms Due May 1, 2024
The 2024 Eastern States (ESE) Horse Intent Form is now live and online. The form indicates your
interest in participating in the Eastern States Team Tryout event this summer. The event this year
will offer a weekend opportunity for youth to qualify and to learn and grow while getting to know
other youth who are also interested in trying out. Youth can try out to be a Teen Leader (4-H age
12 and up) or to be a Rider or Driver (4-H age 13 and up).
More details will go out to those who fill out the intent forms in the registration packets. The intent
form does not bind you to the tryout event. Applications will be used to determine the event roster.
Here is the ESE intent form to be filled out by May 1st. Approval forms must also be filled out
and sent to your county office by May 1st as well.
If you have any questions, please reach out to: Tara Marble, tara.marble@maine.edu, or
207.778.4650.
New SPIN Club: Farm Animal Care – FUNdamentals
Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats or sheep)? How to
care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks
and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions
focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on
experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care.
Participants do not need to have any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to
participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.
Virtual sessions will be on Wednesdays, April 24, May 1, and May 8, 2024. An Optional in-person
field day will take place Saturday, May 4.
This club is open to youth ages 9 – 18, space is limited to 15 participants.
More information and registration are available online. Registration closes April 8, 2024.
Save the Date: Maine 4-H Days is Happening in 2024!
Where: Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
When: Friday evening, July 19 – Saturday, July 20. Animal Science tracks are being scheduled
from Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21.
Workshop sessions for Saturday are still needed. If you know anyone who might want to run a
workshop on Saturday, please reach out to Karen Giles via email or phone: 207.474.9622.
All workshop forms are due by May 1, 2024.
Registration for the event for 4-H’ers and their families will be opening in mid-May. More
information is coming soon. We can’t wait to see you there!