August 2024 4-H Newsletter
4-H Happenings
A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members
Table of Contents
Upcoming Dates| County News | Club News | State News | Leaders Meeting Minutes
Upcoming Dates to Remember
August 1-23 – Drop off 4-H exhibits at the Extension Office anytime during office hours (M-F, 8 am-4 pm)
*please plan to arrive by 4 pm as staff will not be staying late to receive projects*
August 6 – Ignite Registration Opens
August 12 – 4-H Workshop at the Ellsworth Public Library, 1:00 pm
August 13 –Leader’s Meeting, 6:30 pm
August 26 – Last chance to drop off 4-H exhibits to the Extension Office by 4 pm
August 26 – Steer Tickets Due in Office
August 27 – Last chance to drop off exhibits to Blue Hill Fairgrounds 4-H Exhibit Hall at 12 pm
August 29 through September 2 – The Blue Hill Fair
September 18 – Lock Stock & Barrel Informational Meeting at 6 pm
County News
4-H Workshops
Last month, Leah led a sun safety workshop where youth at the library made beaded lizards with UV-reactive beads. We tested our lizards under various conditions to see where and when we should be more aware of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Leah also brought the 4-H touch tank to the library last month. Youth had a blast exploring the different sea creatures that live on Maine’s beautiful coast!
This month, Leah will lead a fun workshop at the Ellsworth Public Library on Monday, August 12, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Leah will revisit a county favorite by teaching youth the importance of seaweed aquaculture through the seaweed lava lamp activity. See you there!
Blue Hill Fair 4-H Exhibits-An Update
You asked, and we listened! No need to wait until the last minute to drop off exhibit items to the office or exhibit hall! Starting Thursday, August 1 – Friday, August 23, you can deliver exhibit items, along with their required exhibit cards and entry form, to the Cooperative Extension office in Ellsworth. Items will not be accepted unless they are complete, so please check you have everything before making the drive. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm. Please plan to arrive before 4 pm as staff will not be able to stay after hours to accept exhibits.
Monday, August 26 at 4 pm – Last chance to drop off 4-H exhibits at Extension Office in Ellsworth
Tuesday, August 27 at 12 pm – Last chance to drop off exhibits at 4-H Exhibit Hall on the Blue Hill Fairgrounds
Steer Tickets Have Arrived!
The Steer Ticket fundraiser is the premier fundraiser for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Tickets are $2 each; 30 cents go directly to the 4-H Club that sells the tickets, and $1.70 will go to the Leaders’ Association to support 4-H programming, scholarships, county events, and more. The Steer Ticket Raffle winner will receive a cut-to-order, freezer-ready Beef Steer raised by a Hancock County 4-H’er, OR $650 cash. The drawing is at 5 pm on Labor Day at the Blue Hill Fair. The 4-H Club AND the 4-H’er who sells the most tickets will receive an award at Cloverfest. Tickets are now available for pick up by 4-H’ers at the Extension Office. Steer ticket money must be returned to the Extension Office by August 26th or the thirty-cent club money per ticket will be forfeited! Steer tickets are not to be brought to the Blue Hill Fair. Also, remember that we cannot sell raffle tickets to people under 16 years old, and youth under 18 should not be handling money. Adults should not put youth’s names on the tickets.
Volunteers are needed for the 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Table: We are calling all 4-H families!
I want to start off by sharing a huge thank you to Doug Sargent and all those who have helped to rebuild our steer pen at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds! Our community is so full of folks with warm hearts and seeing this project come together has been a testament to that. Doug, we cannot begin to thank you and your family for your commitment to 4-H and volunteerism.
The 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Raffle are the two largest fundraisers for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. The funds raised are used to support the 4-H programs you love all year long – Cloverfest, June Jamboree, Public Speaking, Style Revue, Leaders Banquet, and so much more! We rely on our strong 4-H community to deliver quality youth programs in Hancock County, and we are asking 4-H Clubs, Groups, Independents, and Parents/Guardians to volunteer their time during the Blue Hill Fair (August 29 – September 2). We need:
- Youth AND Adult Volunteers for the 4-H Food Booth: “Front” of the booth (taking orders, distributing food), and “Back” of the booth (cooking burgers, hot dogs, etc)
- Youth AND Adult Volunteers for the Steer Ticket Table: selling Steer Tickets to fairgoers. Adults needed to handle the money.
- Volunteering here is a requirement to win the Razor Crosman Award.
If you haven’t volunteered at the fair before, please consider contributing to this important cause this year! Contact the Extension Office or fill out the form on the webpage to sign up for a shift at the Food Booth and/or the Steer Ticket Table.
Photo Scavenger Hunt!
Join our monthly newsletter photo scavenger hunt! We encourage all 4-Hers to be inspired by our monthly themes and snap the perfect pictures. Then, you can submit your photos on the photo contest webpage for a chance to be featured in the following month’s newsletter!
August Themes
- It’s Fair Season!
- Weather Observations
- A Cozy Space
- Like a Dream
Ignite Registration Begins
Ignite 2025 will take place at the Marriott Marquis Downtown D.C. This new location will allow us to increase capacity in a larger space. The agenda is forthcoming, but here are some highlights:
- Skill‑building workshops to prepare teens for life and career
- Renowned keynote speakers
- Offsite educational experiences
- Public Speaking tips and tricks
- Hands‑on Track & Explore workshops and activities
- Community action plans with Lead to Change
Registration opens August 6, so be sure to purchase quickly to lock in the best price. The Early Bird rate is available until October 15. Scholarship RFAs are now open. Thanks to Bayer, Charles Schwab Foundation, CHS Foundation, and Nationwide Foundation, we are able to provide a limited number of scholarships that will cover the entire registration fee. The deadline is September 13!
4-H Event Bingo
Hancock County 4-H is bringing something new to the table this year: 4-H Bingo! If you haven’t already seen them, you can check out our new bingo cards here. They’re a fun tool our youth can use to keep track of what events they can participate in throughout 4-H and win some useful prizes along the way! Congrats to our 4-H youth who have set goals and have collected prizes!
Club News
Horse Of Course: On the night of July 4th, Horse of Course was on the pier in Stonington selling hot dogs, strawberry shortcakes and bottled water to benefit the Bagaduce River Equine Rescue in Brooksville. We raised $623 that night! Special thank you to members Esther, Marina, Lumi, Macy, and their parents for all their hard work that night. We also want to extend a thank you to Pete and Tiffany for working the grill and cooking hot dogs. Lastly, thank you to all the folks to helped support the club by making a purchase or donation!
The Service Squad: On July 27, we had our 4th meeting and we finally decided on our club name – the Service Squad! Next, the Service Squad worked on the Pillars of Character: Responsibility, respect, truthfulness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. We learned that you often use them in all aspects of your life. Next, the Service Squad brainstormed and tested out crafts to teach visitors how to do during the Blue Hill Fair. We will be at the 4-H Exhibit Hall Activity Tent at the Blue Hill Fair on Saturday, August 31, so be sure to stop by!
Lock, Stock, & Barrel: The Lock Stock and Barrel 4-H club will have an ice cream social and informational meeting Wednesday, September 18 at 6:00 pm at the Blue Hill Rifle and Pistol Club on the Range Rd in Blue Hill. This is for youth 4-H age 9 to 18 (9 as of December, 31 2024). Disciplines that will be taught through the fall and winter are basic rifle safety and shooting skills, archery, wildlife and black powder. For more information call club leaders Norwood and Becky Ames, 207.567.3066
State News
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.
AI Focus Group: Maine 4-H is interested in youth thoughts about generative AI. We are looking for youth aged 12-17 to participate in a virtual focus group on August 11 or 12 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. Parent permission is required. Participants will receive a $50 gift card! For more information, please reach out to Kristy Ouellette.
Leaders Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2024
Attendees: Lisa Carney, Lisa Reilich, Terry Swazey, Elaine Gokey, Lee Sargent, Andrea Mahoney, Leah McCluskey
Secretaries and Treasurer’s Reports
- Treasurer’s report accepted as read by Terry
- We will need to go over the secretary’s report next meeting.
Old Business
- Jamboree
- Went very well!
- Participants want shorter sessions and better signage (need a functional staple gun).
- Have an introduction where we give the info and say the pledges.
- Also suggested shorter breaks between sessions.
- May need to tweak the schedule to accommodate younger kids.
- Idea: Encourage the adults to sign up and participate in the workshops. Would need to communicate this with workshop leaders or have workshops targeted for adult learners looking to get involved with 4-H
- Should we have a movie night at the office with the leftover Smores supplies? Maybe early October?
New Business
- Blue Hill Fair
- New category- Science and Data! The Summer Learning series is making a rain gauge, which could be entered in this category.
- Don’t know if the sign will be painted, Leah will ask Brenda.
- Food Booth- sign up for shifts!
- Need to fix the doors on the Exhibit Hall shed.
- Steer pen needs to be repaired, Doug had mentioned that he might be willing to do it, Terry will reach out.
- The Junior Leaders will be doing something at the Fair, and are willing to help out.
Motion to adjourn at 7:17pm
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary
June 11, 2024
Present- Terry Swazey, Lisa Carney, Lee Sargent, Lisa Reilich, and staff members Leah McCluskey and Andrea Mahoney
The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports for June were accepted as written in the newsletter.
Old Business:
- Jamboree Updates
- Food updates: Andrea and Leah are picking up supplies tomorrow
- Reminder meeting Thursday at 3:30- 5:30 for animal pen set up
- Porta-potties all set, remember to bring extra toilet paper!
- BHF
- Steer tickets are ready for pick up
- Need to fix doors on far side of the exhibit hall
New Business:
- Future Leaders – Leah and Andrea are starting a new club (name TBD), we’ve met once already and it went SO well! These kids are ready to help the county grow!
Office Business:
- Animal Approval Froms reminder… due June 30th to the office
- New Staff! Tess Hureau and Christine Dentremont have officially started! Tess’s duties will include aquaculture-related programming, and Christine will temporarily take over Eat Well Volunteer coordination duties from Leah while the touch tank events get organized
- Leah will be out of the office from June 21-July 8 for vacation, so reach out to Andrea or Carla with any questions
Adjourned 7:25
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary