Knox-Lincoln 4-H Newsletter–May 2023
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
May 5 Deadline to apply for Citizenship Washington Focus (ages 14-18)
May 6 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, Hardy Farm, Farmington
May 9 KLLA Meeting, 6pm, Extension office, Waldoboro & online
May 13-14 Maine 4-H Youth Council Conference (ages 14-22), Windsor Fairgrounds (register by May 10)
June 1 Apply for Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors (MALE) membership/insurance —Be sure to apply for the 2023-2024 membership year
June 5 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent due
June 10 Deadline to register for Adulting 101 SPIN Club
June 30 4-H Animal Approval and Lease forms due (some commodity exceptions; refer to the Animal Science Resource page)—Find tips on filling out these forms in an article below.
June 30 Union Fair 4-H Livestock Show (Rabbit & Cavy, Small Domestic Pet, Working Steer) entry forms due at the Extension office
June 30 Union Fair 4-H Individual Exhibition Yurt entry forms due at the Extension office
July 12 Union Fair 4-H Horse Show entries due
May Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Kyra B., Charlie C., Xavier C., Anthony D., Paytyn D., Anna P., and Jeremiah S.!
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 project record 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.
Did you know you can complete your project record through ZSuite? There are simple instructions for getting started on the ZSuite User Help page. You can work on your project record through the year–and even upload photos directly from your phone!
4-H Adulting 101 SPIN Club
The “4-H Adulting 101 Series” will introduce basic adult life skills by exploring a different topic each week including personal values; building healthy relationships; buying and caring for a car; youth entrepreneurship; mindfulness and stress management; and a topic chosen by the participants. UMaine Extension 4-H staff and guest speakers will lead the discussions. The club is free; limited to 20 participants. Register by June 10 on the event webpage to receive the Zoom link and introductory email. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.324.2814; erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu. Additional information is available on the Extension 4-H Virtual Learning webpage.
4-H Tick Project
Registration is now open for the 4-H Tick Project, a community science project where youth collect, identify, and learn about ticks—while also contributing to real research about ticks in Maine! Sign up to receive tick collection materials, access to youth activities, educational resources, and UMaine Extension Tick Lab testing services. 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.
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, 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 each year and the number of qualified applicants. Download the Camp/Program Scholarship application at or request a paper copy by contacting Pamela Doherty at 207.832.0343 (in Maine 800.244.2104) or pamela.doherty@maine.edu.
Get Ready for Union Fair: Get the Information Booklet!
Don’t miss any deadlines for participating in Union Fair July 26-30, 2023. Download the 2023 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet from the Extension website, or request it be emailed to you. Paper copies are available at the Extension office upon request.
- Animal Approval Forms for most commodities are due June 30.
- By June 1 Apply for Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors (MALE) membership/insurance—Be sure to apply for the 2023-2024 membership year.
- Entry forms for 4-H Livestock Shows (Rabbit & Cavy, Small Domestic Pet, Working Steer) and the
4-H Exhibition Yurt are due June 30; 4-H Horse Show entries are due July 12. All forms are found in the 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet. - July 15 Members 4-H age 5-8: sign up for 4-H Cloverbud Demonstrations.
- July 15 Clubs: Sign up for 4-H Club Exhibit space; tell us what your Gift Basket theme will be.
Tips for Filling Out the 4-H Animal Approval Form
Any 4-H youth age 9-18 who plans to participate in 4-H livestock shows in 2023 must complete and submit an Approval Form for 4-H Animal Shows. If a member is leasing an animal to show, a Maine 4-H Contract for Rental/Lease of All Animals is also required. Animal Approval forms are NOT required for showing rabbits, cavies, poultry or small domestic pets (except dogs, which DO require the Animal Approval form). Both of these forms can be downloaded and are due June 30 for MOST commodities. Please refer to the 4-H Animal Science Resources for information specific to your commodity.
When filling out your Animal Approval Form, please keep the following in mind:
- When downloading, be sure to select “shrink to fit page” so that information is not cut off the edges.
- Print form 2-sided.
- Your club leader (or advisor for independent member) must sign on the line immediately after last entry in the list of animals. Be sure to leave time for this before the due date.
- 2-sided, signed ORIGINAL forms must be received at your county Extension office no later than the due date. 4-H staff will keep original for office records and return an official, embossed photocopy to you. This embossed copy is what you will need to have with you each time you participate in a 4-H livestock show. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your club leader or 4-H staff.
Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors Membership Requirement
Anyone showing livestock at Maine fairs who cannot show proof of a farm insurance policy (with the exhibitor’s name on the certificate) with a coverage level the same as or better than that offered by Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors is required to prove current membership in MALE. Apply for an individual MALE membership or a family MALE membership, making sure that you are applying for the for 2023-2024 season. If you require a printed application, contact MALE and make sure you are given the 2023-2024 application. Apply by June 1 so you will receive your membership card in time for Union Fair. The cost of this membership is $25 for an individual, $50 for a family.
Plan Your 4-H Club Exhibit—Independents, too!
4-H Club Exhibits at Union Fair may be submitted by 4-H clubs and pairs or groups of independent members enrolled in Knox or Lincoln Counties. Any club or sub-group within a Knox-Lincoln club can enter a club exhibit. Independent members can work together with other independents on one exhibit. For current guidelines, check the Union Fair Information Booklet. To reserve exhibit space, please contact Cindy Rogers at 207.832.0343 or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu by July 15.
Gift Basket Fundraiser for KLLA at Union Fair
We are bringing back the gift basket raffle at Union Fair! The raffle, which benefits Knox-Lincoln 4-H, will once again feature themed gift baskets filled with quality items donated or made by KL 4-H clubs. Each club is asked to come up with a theme for the club basket and notify Cindy Rogers (207.832.0343, cynthia.rogers@maine.edu) of the theme by July 15. Then the club should fill a large basket or other container with items relating to the theme as a prize for the raffle. We ask that these items be new and high-quality or handmade by 4-H club members, with a total basket value of at least $50.
Ideas for a basket might be a pet care basket, a jams and jellies basket, a scrapbooking basket, a family games basket, a Made in Maine basket…etc. Remember that the basket should appeal to a broad public audience, not necessarily matching your club’s focus. Think about what will sell lots of tickets!
Independent members and volunteers: please contribute items that would coordinate with of 4 prizes located at the Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension office:
- Calphalon 12”all-purpose pan & pottery grease pot—Ideas for items to add: spatulas, seasonings, recipes, or a Hannaford gift card ($10-$20).
- Swig 12-pack cooler bag—Ideas for items to add: Hannaford gift card ($10-$20).
- Oester 6-cup blender & measuring cups—Ideas for items to add: Hannaford gift card ($10-$20).
- Magnavox Bluetooth speaker & Volkano Bluetooth headphones—Ideas for items to add: Amazon, Best Buy or other gift card ($10-$20).
Plan to Enter the 2023 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photo Contest
Start taking photos for the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photography Contest 2023! The top photos per age category will be exhibited in the 4-H Gallery at the Knox-Lincoln Extension office.
This contest is open to any Knox-Lincoln 4-H member age 9 and up. Entries will be accepted through September 30, 2023. Members can enter up to four photos taken between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. Entry information is available on the KL 4-H Photography Contest page. Keep snapping those great photos! Contact Cindy Rogers at 207.832.0343 or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu if you have questions.
New to the 4-H Rabbit Show at Union Fair…Cavies!
One new feature this year at Union Fair is the addition of Cavy classes to the 4-H Rabbit Show, now the 4-H Rabbit & Cavy Show! Cindy has been working with judge Judith Cook to make this addition. If you don’t already know, Cavies are also known as Guinea Pigs. Caring for these small animals can be a great way for youth to begin to learn fitting and showing at fairs. If you already have a cavy at home, give showing a try! For those who want to know more, Ms Cook plans to demonstrate the art of showing cavies by bringing her own animals to the fair. This will very much be a learning experience that we hope many youth will come and observe. You can also check out this 4-H Cavy Project resource from Michigan State University Extension.
Maine 4-H Youth Council Annual Conference—May 13-14, 2023
Register Now! May 13-14, Maine 4-H Youth Council Annual Conference. An annual conference for youth ages 15-22. This year’s event will be held at the Windsor Fairgrounds. Register online by May 10. To register, see the workshops. schedule, or packing list—visit the Maine 4-H Youth Conference Registration page. Individuals with questions should reach out to Kristy Ouellette at kristy.ouellette@maine.edu.
4-H Paper Clover Campaign April 26-May 7 at Tractor Supply Co.
Each Spring and Fall, Tractor Supply Co. helps raise money for 4-H programs with the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign. Customers can donate $1 or more to 4-H in-store at the register or online. The funds are used locally for scholarships for 4-Hers to participate in camps and leadership programs. Participate by donating online or in-store, and tell your friends and family, too!
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 Volunter Training Opportunites page 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!
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 in conjunction with Maine 4-H Days. 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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