July 2018 Newsletter
4-H June Jamboree
This year’s June Jamboree, the annual event held at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds featuring hands-on workshops, livestock clinics, and overnight camping, was a GREAT success! There were approximately 75 participants and over 15 adult volunteers. Youth participated in a range of hands-on workshops spanning topics in science, art, animal husbandry, horseback riding, and so much more. We were fortunate to welcome workshop presenters from Maine CDC, Explore Outdoors! Program, Maine Ham Radio Society, and Maine EPSCoR/SEANET who connected Hancock County youth to their exciting programs. Participants reported learning new things, meeting new people, and a strong sense of belonging to the Hancock County 4-H community. We can’t wait to see you there next year!
Upcoming Dates to Remember
July 4: Independence Day, Extension Office Closed
July 10: 6:30 p.m. Leaders’ Meeting, Extension Office
July 20: Photos for 4-H County Photo Contest are due in the Extension Office
July 20-22: Maine 4-H Days at the Windsor Fairgrounds, See State News #1
August 28: Exhibits are Due at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds
August 30-September 3: Blue Hill Fair at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds
September 1: Maine 4-H Foundation Photo Contest Deadline
4-H News
College Scholarship is Announced
The Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association awarded a $700 scholarship to Emma F., Union River Valley 4-H Club. Congratulations and best wishes!
Leaders’ Meeting
This month’s Leaders’ Association meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 6:30 pm. If you would like to come, but travel is too far, how about joining us by video. If you have a computer with a camera, we can get you set up! With our video technology at the Extension Office, up to 20 different folks can “beam in.” Call the office at 207.667.8212 ahead of time if you would like to participate from home. Please come and help make the discussion a lively one!
Hancock County 4-H Photo Contest
Pull out those cameras, cell phones, and devices; start snapping away! Now’s the time to show off your photography talents. The annual Hancock County 4-H Photo Contest is open to ALL Hancock County 4-H Members. There are six categories:
- Nature/Landscape
- Animals
- Architecture
- People
- 4-H Activity
- Enhanced
Deadline to submit photos to the Extension Office: July 20, 2018. Full contest details can be found online, 4-H Photo Contest Information Sheet (PDF).
Follow a Researcher
What do green crabs, ducks, and parasites have in common? How do scientists make sure the data they collect is accurate? What is an invasive species, and how can they be identified? Maine 4-H invites youth to explore the science of tracking invasive species with its Follow a Researcher® program. Follow UMaine graduate student Tyler Van Kirk and his research on green crabs, an invasive species found along the coast of Maine. Students and educators can follow his data collection trips in real-time with an online map and try an experiential learning activity that shows why data collection methods matter. Live updates will happen weekly via Twitter. You can follow along and sign up for updates/announcements on the Cooperative Extension’s Follow a Researcher page.
Incredible News! Another 4-H Camp and Learning Center is About to Join Our Awesome Family of 4-H Camps!
You can help make this happen! The Maine 4-H Foundation has been working hard to acquire funds to purchase the Greenland Point Center in Princeton (Washington County). The goal is to create a new, fourth 4-H Camp and Learning Center, and eventually create a conservation easement to protect the property. To date, $319,000 has been secured of the $350,000 needed to purchase the property. Can you help us raise the $31,000 we need your help to reach our goal to support local youth? We are due to close on August 31, 2018, so time is critical. To donate go to the 4-H Foundations’ Make a Donation page and don’t forget to mention ‘Greenland.’
Blue Hill Fair
A reminder that the Blue Hill Fair is from August 30th – September 3rd this year! Did you know that ALL 4-H’ers are encouraged to exhibit their projects in the 4-H Exhibit Hall? If you are a 4-H Club member, you can encourage your club to start planning for your Club Exhibit. We also encourage all 4-H’ers (Independents, Club, Groups) to participate in the 4-H Cake Contest! This is a great opportunity to help promote 4-H in Maine. The 4-H theme for the fair this year is “4-H: GEARED for Greatness.” How can your club exhibit or cake match the theme? Be creative!
Exhibit cards are available in the Extension Office. Read the Exhibitor’s Handbook on the Blue Hill Fair website.
Fair Forms
All Exhibit Cards and Exhibit Hall Entry Blanks are available at the Extension Office.
Volunteers Needed for 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Table, Calling all 4-H Families!
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 this year we are asking 4-H Clubs, Groups, Independents, and Parents/Guardians to volunteer their time during the Blue Hill Fair (August 30-September 3).
We need:
- Youth AND Adult Volunteers for the 4-H Food Booth: Youth are responsible for running the “front” of the booth (taking orders, distributing food), and adults run the “back” of the booth (cooking burgers, hot dogs, etc.)
- Youth AND adult volunteers for the Steer Ticket Table: Selling Steer Tickets to fairgoers.
If you haven’t volunteered at the fair before, please consider contributing to this important cause this year! Contact Joyce at the Extension Office to sign up for a shift at the Food Booth and/or the Steer Ticket Table: joyce.fortier@maine.edu or 207.667.8212
Steer Tickets have Arrived, Annual Steer Ticket Raffle Begins!
The Steer Ticket fundraiser is the premier fundraiser for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Tickets are $1 each; 15 cents go directly to the 4-H Club that sells the tickets, 85 cents 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 $500 cash. The drawing is at 5:00 p.m. on Labor Day at the Blue Hill Fair.
The 4-H Club AND the 4-H’er who sell the most tickets will receive an award at Cloverfest.
Tickets are now available for pick up by 4-H’ers at the Extension Office, or at 4-H June Jamboree. Steer ticket money must be returned to the Extension Office to Joyce Fortier by August 24 or the fifteen cent club money per ticket will be forfeited! Steer tickets are not to be brought to the Blue Hill Fair.
Steer Tickets and Cloverbuds
As long as Cloverbuds are not handling the money and are under the direct supervision of an older youth or adult, they can participate in a club or countywide fundraising activities. Also, remember that we cannot sell raffle tickets to people under 16 years old. Adults should not put youth’s names on the tickets.
State News
Register Now for Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 20-22, 2018 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you do not have online access, please contact your local county office for paper copies of the forms. Find information and registration materials on the Maine 4-H Days page.
For more information or with any questions, please contact Jessy Brainerd at 207.581.3877 or jessica.brainerd@maine.edu.
Photo Contest!
We know we make a huge difference in the lives of Maine youth through 4-H. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication our 4-H staff makes across Maine. The Maine 4-H Foundation had a great year in 2017 raising over $748,000 in donations and investment income! A great deal of this funding was restricted to your programs! Good job! Our goal for 2018 is to continue to increase our support to 4-H programs across Maine. To make this happen the Maine 4-H Foundation needs to hear about your great programs and see youth in action! Becky Mosley suggested a statewide photo contest and the Foundation Board agreed! Photos make all of the difference! The Maine 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce a new youth, volunteer and staff photo contest. To win, submit as many photos (with photo releases) as you like to Susan Jennings by September 1, 2018. Photos need to be originals, have a photo release (for people in the photo) and include the copyright release from the photographer. They need to be digitally submitted to susan.jennings@maine.edu. Please add your name, email contact, age and photo release information.
Youth and Volunteer Prize(s):
- Grand prize for the best overall photo: Something 4-H Awesome!
- Prizes given in all divisions (Youth age up to 8, 9-12, 13 and up, volunteers)
- 1st Prize: $100 gift card
- 2nd Prize: $75 gift card
- 3rd Prize: $50 gift card
- Staff Prize: $500 on account at the Maine 4-H Foundation that you can use for a special 4-H program, event, workshop, conference or donor challenge.
Questions? Call Susan Jennings at 207.615.7300
Susan Jennings, Maine 4-H Foundation
The Big E New England Center Demonstration Team
Maine 4-H is going to The Big E! Sign up now to join the New England Center Demonstration Team. Travel dates are September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. A $25.00 registration fee includes travel by coach bus to and from The Big E, meals and two nights lodging in the Moses Dormitory on the fairgrounds. There are a limited number of scholarships available.
Youth will work in teams demonstrating STEM activities and 4-H projects. Join our group now and help show fairgoers what Maine 4-H is all about!
Top finishers in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament who earned a spot on the Maine 4-H Communications Team will be traveling with us and present from the New England Center Stage. Participants will need money to purchase meals on the bus ride down and back along with any spending money you wish to bring for your stay at the fair. There is a lot to do and see at The Big E Fair that is free of cost. Visit The Big E Fair website for more information!
Open to youth ages twelve and older. Register and pay online, before August 1, on the Oxford County – 2018 Maine 4-H Big E New England Center Demonstration Team Form page.
Contact Becky at rebecca.mosley@maine.edu or 207.743.6329 for more information. For questions pertaining to the Maine Communication Team please contact sheila.norman@maine.edu. Volt trained and enrolled volunteers who are interested in chaperoning should contact Becky Mosley.
2018 American Goat Federation Youth Scholarship Program
To encourage education and development of youth involved in the goat industry, AGF will accept scholarship applications from qualifying youth who enter and complete all requirements of the program. Projects must be received at the AGF office by August 20, 2018, and the Scholarship Application accompanied by a short biography must be received at the office No Later than 30 days prior to August 20, 2018. Entries will be judged by an independent panel and winners will be announced September 2018.
Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and under the age of 21 as of September 30, 2017. Applicants must be a member of the American Goat Federation, the child, grandchild, great-grandchild or stepchild, step grandchild or step great grandchild of a member of the American Goat Federation, or of any of the following member organizations of the American Goat Federation:
- The American Boer Goat Association (including Jr Association)
- The American Dairy Goat Association
- Alabama Meat Goat and Sheep Producers Association
- Cashmere Goat Association
- Texas Sheep and Goat Breeders Association
For more information visit The American Goat Federation website.
Congratulations and Best Wishes
Congratulations and Best Wishes to John Rebar, Executive Director of Cooperative Extension, on his upcoming retirement. Thank you for all your support throughout the years. Let your dreams take flight!
Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association
June 12, 2018
Members Present: Lee Sargent, Audra Porter, Dwight Sargent, Carla Scocchi, Rosie Evans, McKenzie Evans, Liz Duke, Terry Swazey, and Gail Sargent via phone.
Secretary’s Report: Read and discussed the section about EIN reporting. A motion to accept as written in the June newsletter was made, seconded and passed.
Treasurer’s Report: $410 in donations in memory of Tyler Baez has been received. The money will be sent to youth who attended 4H@UMaine. Motion to accept the report as read was made, seconded and passed.
Club Reports
Rails N Trails: Club did lots of prep work to get ready and had lots of fun at Jamboree.
Horse of Course: Cadence attended Jamboree and really liked it.
Old Business
Style Review: A lot of Cloverbuds participated and 100% of those who submitted items came to present. 19 participants.
4H@UMaine: Not as many kids attended this year but it went really well. Hancock kids said it was the best year.
Jamboree: Carla will be sending out evaluations to get feedback. We felt that it was a very relaxing weekend and things went smoothly. A really nice banner was made with kids handprints. Discussed length of sessions. Horse project went well, the kids liked the trail ride around the fair. Carla is taking a training to learn to create forms online for registration for events. Makenzie said this was her favorite year.
New Business
Blue Hill Fair: Discussed camper spots and the new lottery for camping spots that are by the entrance. Exhibit Hall – will need to confirm that Mary Jude is willing to be in charge of judging on Wednesday. Rosie and Carla will be there for check in and check out.
Food Booth: Another vendor is going to be selling grilled cheese sandwiches. Booth and Exhibit Hall needs to be painted. Mentioned asking teens to help paint. Kasha’s husband is a plumber and offered to help. Joyce gave us a food booth sign up sheet. Carla is going to check into getting baked goods for the booth. Discussed the new law about no Styrofoam or plastic at the fair. Need to confirm that Friends and Family will able to do our hamburger and supplies. Food Booth/Fair meeting on July 10, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. Everyone welcome.
Photo Contest: Has a new category called “Enhanced” which for those who want to do photo editing. Guidelines may be found on the Hancock County 4-H Youth Development page. Deadline is July 20th. Maine 4-H Foundation is having a photo contest deadline is September 1. Details are in the June newsletter.
Eastern States horse project has a Barn Safety Poster Contest and Audra is willing to take any posters down to ESE. Youth do not have to be on the ESE Horse Team to participate.
Office News: Carla will be doing Summer of Science at Summer High School. The first activity will be an Engineering activity and also be doing Aquaponics for Disabilities. A grad student will be doing a project on Aquaculture to test different activities for 5 weeks with middle school-aged kids. Looking for a site to use. In the fall, Carla and the Blue Hill Heritage Club will be offering three Spin Clubs focusing on outdoor activities.
Meeting Adjourned 8:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Terry Swazey, Secretary Substitute
Cooking With The Kids
Homemade Marshmallows
Ingredients:
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 1¼ cup water, divided
- 2 cups white sugar
Instructions: In a small bowl, stir together gelatin and ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons water. Set aside to soften. Combine remaining ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons of water and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Do not stir once the sugar syrup begins to boil. Heat to 270º F (130º C). With an electric mixer running on low speed, carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into gelatin mixture. Beat on high speed until mixture is light and fluffy and the mixture is no longer warm to the touch, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour into a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish and let sit 8 hours or overnight. Cut into squares and serve. Fun to roast over a campfire!
dessert.allrecipes.com