July 2020

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All 4-H In-person Club Meetings and Events Canceled Until Further Notice

Given the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation in Maine, UMaine Extension is canceling all 4-H club meetings and in-person events until further notice (no matter what size group).

All county offices are closed until sometime in July, but most staff are working our regular hours from home. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more information. Please contact the county office via email if you have specific questions. You can leave a voice mail message on the main office phone, but it may not be heard for several days.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

ASAP Register for the Maine 4-H Summer Learning Series

July 9 KLLA Meeting, Zoom only, 6 pm

July 15-August 1 Submit your projects in the Virtual 4-H Exhibit Hall

July 16 Northeast Regional 4-H Volunteer Share Fair, 7-8 pm

August 13 KLLA Meeting, 6 pm

July Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Caris E., Ellana B., Ellis G., Liberty L., Sabrinnah D., and Amariah G.!

4-H Volunteer Share Fair!

Social distancing is hard! We know you are missing your 4-H members and fellow 4-H volunteers! Join us on Thursday, July 16th from 7:00-8:00 pm for virtual share fair! This event is open to 4-H volunteers across the northeast region from West Virginia to Maine! This interactive Zoom session will give you a chance to share ideas, hear what is going on in other states, and get ideas on how to stay connected to your 4-H groups. The event is free, but you must register. We hope to see you there.

4-H Summer Learning Series

Have you signed up for YOUR picks from the 2020 4-H Summer Programming offerings? There really is something for every interest area! Check out some awesome cooking demos, or one of the multitudes of livestock workshops; are you interested in science? We’ve got you covered! From learning how fostering kittens works to building a solar oven to make s’mores in your yard without a fire, there are over fifty different online and offline options running during the months of July and August. Register now, as workshops are filling up! Share this with your friends, as participation in 4-H is not required for many workshops!

2020 Virtual 4-H Exhibit Hall

Have you been working hard on a 4-H project that you’re ready to show off? The 2020 Virtual Exhibit Hall is here! There will be ribbons! There will be prizes! We will be accepting submissions between July 15^th and August 1^st. We can’t wait to see what our talented Maine 4-Hers have created! More information about exhibit categories and submission guidelines can be found on our website.

Online Support for Club Leaders

During this time of social distancing, it is hard to not be meeting in person with our 4-H club members. The idea of setting up and hosting a virtual 4-H club meeting might feel a bit overwhelming. But virtual meetings can allow you to still meet as a group and help 4-H members in your club continue to feel a sense of belonging. This series of tip sheets is designed to help our volunteers explore and learn how to have virtual 4-H club meetings. Each tip sheet provides tangible ideas to help you navigate virtual meetings. Short how-to video clips are embedded to provide additional information. If you have additional questions about virtual 4-H club meetings, reach out to your local 4-H staff for support. We are happy to help!

Welcome New 4-H Leader!

Knox-Lincoln 4-H gained a new 4-H Volunteer in June! Joelle Albury is known to many of you as the Outreach and Office Manager at Aldermere Farm in Rockport. She has completed her volunteer training and is now an enrolled Knox-Lincoln 4-H volunteer. She hopes to better support youth programs at the farm, including the Alderemere Achievers 4-H Club, and work with youth more often. She has already started participating in KLLA meetings and committee work. Welcome, Joelle!

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.”