August 2020 4-H Newsletter

August 10, 2020 4-H News

4-H Happenings

A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members

Download the PDF

Upcoming Dates to Remember

August 11-20 – Summer Learning Workshops – See County News
August 15-September 15 – Help ME Conquer the Maine Coastline – See County News
August 31 – Photos for Photo Contest Due!

County News

4-H Summer Learning Series
The 4-H Summer Learning Series has been in full swing these past two months. It has been exciting to see all the photos 4-H’ers are submitting! From squid dissection to making oatmeal-strawberry-banana smoothies, there have been workshops for everyone.

4-H Aquaponics Project virtual meeting. Youth are in the process of designing their own home aquaponics system for growing fish and plants together.

Our Hancock County staff have been fully engaged with summer learning projects! 4-H Youth Development Professional, Carla Scocchi, has been working with the UMaine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research to lead a 4-H At-Home Aquaponics Project. This project has been a wild success! Youth participants are learning about introductory aquaponic systems and design, fish husbandry, aquaponic gardening, and more. There is so much momentum and excitement around this project, we are excited to see how it will continue to develop even after the summer learning series is over.

Hancock County Community Education Assistant, Zabet NeuCollins, worked with fellow CEA Emily J. Mott, to create the 4-H Pond Explorers Activity Kit. These kits were sent out in the beginning of July, and youth are just now starting to share their adventures! The first activity was to create a paracord survival bracelet. (Did YOU know a bracelet could save your life?) This bracelet was made of colorful paracord and included a buckle with a compass, flint starter, and whistle. Adventurers will be able to use this navigation and emergency tool as they start exploring their pond. Other activities included in the kit were related to mapping and navigation, plants, pond sounds, bird-watching, exploring through a microscope, and basic entomology.

Next up is Landere Naisbitt’s summer workshop, Celebrating Summer Plants! Landere is a 4-H Volunteer in Hancock County and is the outreach coordinator for Blue Hill Heritage Trust. This workshop will feature common backyard plants in Maine and how we can utilize them through recipes, concoctions, crafts and more! By the time this newsletter goes out, the workshop will have passed; however, we are excited to share photos and stories with you in our September newsletter.

Still want to register for a workshop? There are still a few left! Reserve your spot today by visiting here.

Leadership Series 6: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Easy Ways to Facilitate Groups – August 11, 7:00 – 8:15 pm. Register by August 10.
Leadership Series 7: Behind the Curtain – August 18, 7:00 – 8:15 pm. Register by August 14.
Making Goat Milk Soap! – August 12, 10:00-11:00 am. Register by August 10.
Sheep 101: Sheep Showing, Fitting, and Showmanship – August 12, 4:00 – 4:30 pm. Register by August 11.
Speak Up! Building skills and confidence through public speaking – August 18 & 20, 10-noon, must attend both sessions! Register by August 11

Leaders’ Meeting – The next Leaders’ Association meeting will be by Zoom on August 11, at 4:30 pm. Email carla.scocchi@maine.edu for the private link.

Masks for Hancock County program is working on a large order for the Ellsworth School system. They are looking for any mask makers (kids or adults) who might be willing to help them out this month. They have funding and can provide supplies. They are hoping to find both people who can sew masks and people who can cut the fabric. They’re putting together kits to make twenty-five masks with everything precut, thinking that this will make it much easier for the people sewing. If you help, please Abby Morrow, Community Engagement Librarian, at the Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State Street, Ellsworth, (207) 667-6363 or email to amorrow@ellsworthlibrary.net

Our Deepest Sympathy – 4-H has lost a long time alumna – Phyllis Wardwell. She was 99 years old and a true 4-H’er all her life. She was a 4-H leader of Pinecone 4-H Riders in Bucksport. She owned a horse most all of her life, even in her late 80’s. She was also an active member of Hancock County Homemakers Extension. Her obituary can be found here.

Photo Contest – Have you taken any nice photos this year? We’re still looking for submissions for the annual Hancock County 4-H Photo Contest. If you’ve taken photos of nature, animals, architecture, people or a 4-H activity, consider entering! The deadline is August 31. We will be showcasing all of the photos on our website and Facebook, and ribbons and prizes will be mailed to the budding photographers. Photos can be submitted virtually at our website.

Help ME Conquer the Maine Coastline – University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is hosting a virtual fun run along the Maine coastline Aug. 15–Sept. 15. The event is open to the public. Help ME Conquer the Maine Coastline is a virtual run, walk, and bike along all 3,478 miles of Maine’s coastline. The event includes an interactive map to follow as the miles add up, and videos about points along the way.

The event is free; registration is required. Register on the program webpage. Participants can register at any time prior to logging total miles beginning Aug. 15. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Cathy Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu

State News

1. Coming Soon: Maine and Northeast Regional 4-H Dog Photo Contests – Enter the Maine 4-H Dog Photo Contest. Photos will be uploaded and judged. Winners in each of five categories will move on to the Northeast Regional 4-H Dog Photo Contest to compete against winners from several other states. ALL enrolled 4-Hers may enter, not just dog or photography project members. Go to this web page for more information as it becomes available.

2. Fryeburg Fair Virtual 4-H Animal Project Show (No Market Animals) – A Note from Fryeburg Fair: While we cannot be together in person this year, Fryeburg Fair would love to have you participate in our 4-H Animal Project Virtual Show. Please create a 30 to 45 second video and provide a photo of you and your animal. The video and photo should be taken as if you are in the show ring and the camera is the judge. This event is an exhibition of projects and not a judged event. One entry per person per animal type.

3. 2020 Big E Has Been Canceled – It has just been announced that the Big E has been canceled for 2020. The official statement from them “The Big E is so much more than just a fair, it is tradition, it is celebration, it is the showcase of everything we are so proud of in New England. This is why our hearts are heavy as we bring you this news. For the safety of our fairgoers, staff, vendors, entertainers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers and the broader community, the 2020 Big E has been canceled. Thank you all for your support and we’ll see you September 17-October 3, 2021, when we can all celebrate together again.”

4. Virtual Fun Run – Help ME Conquer the Maine Coastline Virtual Run/Walk/Bike – University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties would like to invite you to join us as we try to run, walk, and bike all the way along the coast of Maine!

Together our goal is to cover 3,478 miles by running, walking, and biking from August 15–September 15. It’s simple! All you have to do is register and then log your miles. Anyone can join! Current 4-H members, family, friends, teachers, cousins — anyone!
Upon registration, you will receive a tracking sheet to log your miles. You can run, walk, bike, rollerblade, or even jump rope for your miles. You can do one mile a day or more! Every mile adds up. Get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and stay active.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Cathy Gray, 207.581.8203; cathy.gray@maine.edu. To visit the Virtual Fun Run Page and to register go here.

Leaders Meeting Minutes

Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association
July 14, 2020 – Via Zoom

Present (5, no quorum)- Secretary Lisa Carney, Board Member Lee Sargent, Treasurer Terry Swazey, Vice President Heather Linnehan, Sarah Swazey and office staff Carla Scocchi and Zabet NeuCollins.

Secretary’s Report:

Treasurer’s Report: Terry read the balance.

Club reports: Clubs can’t meet yet :(. The kids actually miss cleaning stalls.

Old Business:

The virtual Jamboree went well, and did not cost much!
College scholarships- LS- how do we distribute? TS- we vary the amount based on the number of applicants and strength of applications. Will the Maine Foundation match the amount given? We have previously wanted to keep the money in Hancock county, but it may be time to revisit the issue. It is a separate application. Carla will investigate. It is more competitive than the Hancock County scholarship.

New Business:

Next meeting is August 11th at 4:30.

Office Notes:

The office is still closed, but they are going thru the opening approval process. It will be at least a couple weeks before staff can go back to work. Schedules will vary across the state. School openings will likely affect returns. The programs (4-H meetings) have not gotten any guidelines yet. Different counties may have different rules for opening based on COVID rates. They are waiting to decide what fall programs will look like until we have more info.
There is a statewide Virtual Exhibit Hall this year, but we may want one just for Hancock County. Have a cake decorating contest and eat them at Cloverfest! Maybe hold it on a weekend? We could display the photography exhibits! Have a mini style revue, have the public speaking kids give small talks. Those could be pre recorded or on FB live. Hold in the Tractor Supply parking lot? Clubs could come in shifts. We could have a raffle, or a holiday fundraiser. All dependent upon guidelines.
September 19th there will be a hometown festival throughout Hancock County, and centered in Ellsworth. Restaurants are being asked to prepare a special dish or “Fair” food. They would like a petting zoo. All dependent upon guidelines, not likely that 4-H will be able to participate.

Meeting adjourned at 5:37pm

Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary

Cooperative Extension in Hancock County