Knox-Lincoln 4-H Newsletter–March 2023
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
March 3 Deadline to sign up for 4-H Page Day, Maine State Capitol, Augusta (3/23)
March 11 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, 1-4pm, Extension office, Waldoboro
March 14 KLLA Meeting, 6pm, KL Extension office, Waldoboro and Zoom
March 23 UMaine Day—Serve as Honorary Page, Maine State Capitol, Augusta (register by 3/3)
March 25 4-H Chef Series-Session 3: Family Luncheon, KL Extension office, Waldoboro
April 1 ESE Sheep Intent to Participate forms due
April 11 KLLA Meeting, 6pm, Extension office, Waldoboro & Zoom
April 8 Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, UMaine Orono
April 26-May 7 4-H Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Co.
April 30 4-H Farm-to-Fair Youth Helper applications due
May 6 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, Hardy Farm, Farmington
March Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Aiden B. and Leah H.!
New 4-H Leader in Knox-Lincoln!
Welcome Heather Soule, who just completed her training as a 4-H Leader in Knox and Lincoln Counties! Heather showed rabbits as a 4-H member for many years and is eager to help grow the 4-H Rabbit program in our counties. Look forward to developments in the coming months!
New Project Records are HERE!
Co-designed with Maine 4-H volunteers, youth and staff; these project records have been designed to best serve the needs of Maine youth. Please visit our newly designed Maine 4-H Project Records website. Project records are required for all Maine 4-H Youth. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings. Please contact your county 4-H staff with questions.
Attend the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament!
The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will be held on March 11 from 1-4pm at the Knox-Lincoln Extension office (snow date March 18). Information and resources for helping you prepare a talk can be found on the Maine 4-H Public Speaking website. Even if you are not participating, come and support your fellow 4-H members and find out what this event is all about!
State Public Speaking Tournament—Save the Date
The Maine 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament will be held on April 8 at DP Corbett Hall on the University of Maine campus. Youth must qualify for this event by achieving a score of 78 or higher at their county or regional tournament. Check with your county 4-H staff to find out when your county tournament will be held. Go to the Maine 4-H Public Speaking page for information.
Public Speaking Online Workshop
The Maine 4-H Communication Science Team invites all enrolled 4-H members to an open-to-all workshop on March 15 from 6-7 pm. Participants will learn about using posters and slide decks to enhance their presentations, as well as have an opportunity to practice different parts of their own presentation for informal feedback. Please contact cathy.gray@maine.edu for more information. Register for the 4-H Public Speaking Workshop.
Regional Public Speaking Contest—Another Chance to Qualify
The Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Contest is now open for youth from all counties to register. The event will be on March 25, with a snow date of March 26 at the Jewett Hall Auditorium on the University of Maine Augusta Campus (UMA). The event will begin with registration at 10 am and last until about 3 pm.
Cloverbuds are welcome to join in! This event will also be a qualifying event for the State Public Speaking Contest in April. Lunch will be on your own and you can bring a bag lunch to enjoy during our break. Register for the Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Contest. Reach out to Tara Marble with any questions at tara.marble@maine.edu.
4-H Camp and Program Scholarships Offered
The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association offers scholarships to Knox-Lincoln 4-H members to be used to attend educational camps and programs. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, as they are submitted, through the summer of 2021, or until available funds run out. Be sure to indicate in your application what date scholarship funds are required by the program.
Applications will be reviewed by the Knox-Lincoln Scholarship Committee. The amount of the scholarships will be determined by the funds available in a given year and the number of qualified applicants. Download the KL 4-H Camp Scholarships application or request a paper copy by contacting Pamela Doherty at 207.832.0343 (in Maine 800.244.2104) or pamela.doherty@maine.edu.
4-H Farm-to-Fair Youth Helper Program Open to 4-H and Alumni!
The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association is seeking two young people, plus one alternate, to assist 4-H staff at the 4-H Farm-to-Fair interactive exhibit at Union Fair (July 26-30, 2023). The program is open to 4-H members or 4-H alumni pursuing post-secondary education age 13-22. Scholarship funds will be awarded to the assistants based on number of hours contributed. These funds may be used by currently enrolled youth to attend Citizenship Washington Focus, 4-H National Congress, 4-H National Conference, Leadership Development Programs at Tanglewood, Blueberry Cove, Greenland Point or Bryant Pond 4-H Camps, or another Extension staff-approved leadership program. For 4-H alumni, scholarship funds may be used for tuition or book/materials expenses incurred at a post-secondary educational program.
The Youth Helper position carries more commitment and responsibility than simply volunteering to help. Those chosen for this position will assist staff and adult volunteers in overseeing the operation of the exhibit. This includes (but not limited to) getting the exhibit ready to open or close for the day (depending on shift), making sure barns are stocked with “products” while the exhibit is open, supporting volunteers and filling in when they need a break. Successful candidates will be comfortable speaking to the public, answering questions, and assisting staff in training and leading volunteers.
Each person chosen must commit to one shift (2 ½ hours) each day that they are scheduled to help during Union Fair. The number of shifts and days required will be worked out with members and families as helpers are chosen, but at least 5 shifts are expected during the run of the fair. Successful candidates must be 13-22 years of age A mature 12-year-old may be considered if they are recommended by a 4-H leader or 4-H staff member. 4-H Farm-to-Fair Youth Helper applications due April 30, 2023. For more information, contact Cindy at cynthia.rogers@maine.edu.
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capitol during the week of June 24-30, 2023. Citizenship Washington Focus is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 14 to 18. Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will travel down on June 24 and travel home June 30. Youth will be staying in a hotel just outside of the DC limits. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington, DC will be a part of the trip. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 29, 2023. Contact your county 4-H office for details about how to be a part of this. All county offices have different criteria/dates to apply.
Apply Now for National 4-H Trips
National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options, and learn through educational workshops at Congress or become a part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference.
New for 2023: Complete and submit your National 4-H Trips application and supplemental materials online!
Any Maine 4-H Youth, ages 14 to 18, is eligible to apply. Applicants must be current Maine 4-H members both at the time of application and the time of the actual trip. Application packets must be submitted online, or sent to your county office and postmarked by April 25, 2023. Interview dates will be the second week of May, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Heidi Palmer at 207.310.4235 or heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.
2023 National 4-H Congress is November 24-30, 2023 in Atlanta, GA, with an orientation for the trip on October 21, 2023. 2024 National 4-H Conference dates have not yet been announced, but will likely take place in April of 2024 in Washington, DC., orientation for that trip will be announced to those selected. Leaders and office staff, if you have senior members in your clubs, please encourage them to participate. They are amazing trips!
4-H Page Day in Augusta March 23, 2023—Sign Up Now!
UMaine Day at the Legislature, Thursday, March 23, is approaching. It’s a day where Cooperative Extension gets to highlight our awesome programs, and 4-H is one of the best! It’s also a time for youth to get actively involved in their democracy, to see how and who makes decisions that impact our state, and to be involved in that process themselves. 4-Hers age 13 or older are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages. The Maine 4-H program has up to 22 slots for Honorary Pages and registration is first come, first serve with a deadline of March 3.
Legislators are constantly communicating and making decisions while in session and pages make that communication possible. Pages hand out information packets or place the paper information on their desks. Pages will also run communication and documents directly from legislator to legislator. It’s fast-paced and pages will be moving around the chambers quite a bit, taking direction from the Clerks. We will meet at 8:30 am for pictures and an orientation. Then at 9:00 am we will divide our group with one going to the House and the other to the Senate where each group will receive their instructions. Session will begin by 10:00 am and will likely conclude around 12:30 pm, but the timing is never certain. Lunch will be on your own.
NEW: First Amendment Museum—Supreme Court in Action! The Museum will host our group from 1:30-3:30 pm with a free interactive learning series that places each of us into different roles within the U.S. Supreme Court. You will get real life court cases to argue for or against, to make a ruling, and to report on, to get an in-depth look at what happens when free speech, the courts, and citizens come together. Democracy can be messy, so let’s dig in!
Register to serve as an Honorary Page. If you have questions or would like to request an accommodation, do so by March 3 to Alisha Targonski at alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu.
Androscoggin-Sagadahoc 4-H Monthly Workshops Open to All Maine 4-Hers!
Come join the Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties 4-H program at their monthly workshops—the Third Friday of every month (unless otherwise noted) from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Lisbon Extension Office at 24 Main Street. Anyone interested can contact cathy.gray@maine.edu to find out more information.
Currently Scheduled Topics:
– March 10, 2023 – Spa & Relaxation Science
– April 21, 2023 – Movie Premier Night
– May 19, 2023 – Wool Spinning Workshop
2022/2023 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities
As we get ready for the new 4-H year, we are looking forward to offering a variety of learning experiences (both in person and virtual) for our 4-H volunteers. Sessions are free of charge but require registration. Some sessions have limited space. Visit the 4-H Volunteer Calendar of Training Opportunities to learn more and register!
Maine 4-H Days—Save the Date! July 21-22, 2023
We’re back for fun times, workshops, overnight camping, and more at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Kennebec County! More information to come, so save the dates!
Maine 4-H Ag Ambassador and Ag Symposium—Teens sign up now!
For teens that age 13-18, we invite you to join us for our Ag Ambassador Program this spring! This will be an opportunity to connect with other teens from around the state to explore and share your interests in the Maine food system, agriculture, climate change, environmental justice, and where all these interests collide. The spring 2023 cohort will meet from 3:30-5:00 pm on Tuesday afternoons March 7 to April 18 on zoom with an in-person celebratory luncheon in Orono for families on April 20. The luncheon will kick off our overnight Teen Ag Symposium at the UMaine Orono campus on April 20 and April 21. This will be a hands-on exploration of many aspects of the Maine food system and the research and education happening at the University.
Register for the Maine 4-H Ag Ambassador Program. For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Sadee Mehuren; 207.342.5971; extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.
ESE Sheep Team Intent Form
T
he 2023 Maine 4-H ESE Sheep Team intent to participate form is now available online. If you are interested in participating in the team at the Eastern States Exposition, the form must be submitted to Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or mailed to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office by April 1, 2023. At ESE the team, along with teams from other New England states, show their sheep and participate in a sheep blocking contest. Together the team prepares an educational display and participates and competes in knowledge contests against teams from other states. To be eligible you must have participated in a 4-H sheep project for at least one year and be at least 12 years old as of December 31, 2022.
Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 for more information.
Save the Date for 4-H Dairy Judging and State Show!
The Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will take place on May 6 at Hardy Farm in Farmington, ME and Silver Valley Farm in New Sharon, ME. The contest is open to all enrolled dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Team. The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will take place on July 22 and 23 at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, ME. The contest is open to all 4-H members who want to participate and will include educational workshops, a fitting contest, a grilled cheese contest, and more!
For more information on upcoming 4-H dairy events visit the Maine 4-H Dairy page or contact sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971
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