Knox-Lincoln 4-H Newsletter—October 2021
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
October 1 Start of 4-H year 2022
October 6-17 Fall 2021 Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Stores
October 12 KLLA Meeting, 6pm, Extension office, Waldoboro, and Zoom
October 15 Award Nominations due from leaders
November 6 2021 4-H Year-End Celebration, 1-4pm, 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Blueberry Cove
November 9 KLLA Meeting, 6pm, Extension office, Waldoboro, and Zoom
October Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Carson D., Justin B., and Arora E.!
Save the Date! 4-H Year-End Celebration November 6
Join your fellow 4-H members and leaders for the 2021 4-H Year-End Celebration at the 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Blueberry Cove! On Saturday, November 6 from 1-4pm, families can tour the camp, located in beautiful St. George, Maine. Bring a snack to share and enjoy a celebration of the highlights and achievements from the past 4-H year! Look for an invitation in the mail in the next few weeks. We hope you can attend! A Zoom option will be available for the achievement portion of the event.
Nominations Sought for 4-H Awards
Leader nominations for the following individual and club awards are due October 15: Team Player, Treasurer, Secretary, Community Service, Leadership, Citizenship, Katherine Watier Green Award. The nomination forms for these awards have been mailed to primary club leaders.
Re-enrollment Time
In the next few weeks, we will be mailing re-enrollment paperwork to club leaders and members. Annual enrollment is required for all 4-H members and volunteers to remain a part of 4-H. While most club leaders will distribute enrollment packets to members, a few club members and all independent members and volunteers will receive their packets at their home address. Be sure to check them over for accuracy, particularly the email, phone and mailing address that we should use to communicate with you in the coming year. All forms are due at the Extension office by December 15.
Northeast Region Presentation Fest Results
Congratulations to Nathan D. from the Jolly Farmers 4-H Club! He came in first place in the illustrated talk/demonstration category at the Northeast Region Presentation Fest. His topic was “Buried Alive! Oklahoma’s Legendary Time Capsule.” Eliza R. from the PVHA 4-H Club in Penobscot County received the high score in the category of formal speech with “Defining the Ultimate Evil: What Makes an Ideal Movie Villain?” Thirty-seven youth representing ten states competed in the virtual tournament. Also from Maine were Jeremy D. of the Jolly Farmers, and Sara H. and Maddie G. of Androscoggin/Sagadahoc Counties. Way to go, Team Maine!
The 4-H Virtual Exhibit Hall Is Open! 
The 2021 Maine 4-H Virtual Exhibit Hall is now available to view!
The 4-H Virtual Exhibit Hall had its debut in 2020 in response to the closing of most county and state fairs in Maine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While many fairs did take place in-person in 2021, 4-H staff wanted to offer a virtual option for members who might not be able to enter their projects in an actual fair. This online version also allows youth to participate in a statewide event.
Included in the 2021 Maine 4-H Virtual Exhibit Hall are posters created by teen leaders who led activities this past summer in 4-H Summer of Science. Mentored by 4-H staff, the teens delivered weekly STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities to youth in grades 3-7.
Extension Homemakers Have a Hall, Too!
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce the opening of the first Maine Extension Homemakers Virtual Exhibit Hall, now available to view.
Extension Homemakers is a volunteer group of adults that develops leadership skills, supports community causes, and promotes UMaine Extension’s educational programs in nine Maine counties. Handiworks on display in the Extension Homemakers Virtual Exhibit Hall were made by current members of the group. The online hall experience allows the viewer to browse the exhibits in a way that is almost like being in an actual gallery.
Extension Association Annual Meeting at Blueberry Cove
The Knox-Lincoln Counties Extension Association will hold its annual meeting from 5–7 p.m. Monday, October 18 at the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Blueberry Cove, 22 Blueberry Cove Road, St. George.
Ryan LeShane, Blueberry Cove director, will lead a tour of the camp, which will be followed by refreshments, talks about University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H programs at Blueberry Cove, and an open discussion with UMaine Extension staff and Extension Association members. The evening will close with a short business meeting, and time for comments and questions.
The event is free and open to the public. Masks will be required during any portions of the meeting held indoors. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.832.0343; extension.knoxlincoln@maine.edu.
The Family Kitchen
By Debbie Barnett, UMaine Extension, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
It’s fall in Maine and time for apple picking!!!! A day in the orchard is great fun but what to do with the amazing apples you bring home? Here is a simple applesauce recipe to try. While you’re eating your applesauce, check out these apple facts from our friends at the University of Illinois Extension:
- The science of apple growing is called pomology.
- Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.
- Most apples are still picked by hand in the fall.
- Apple varieties range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit.
- Apples were the favorite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Apples are a member of the rose family.
- The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.
Applesauce
Servings per recipe: 9
Serving size: ½ cup
Prep time: 15 minute
Cook time: 30 minutes
- 4 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¾ cup water
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- Wash and peel the apples. Cut into large pieces. Mix with lemon juice.
- Place the apples, water, and cinnamon into a large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and cook 5 minutes more.
- Remove pot from heat. Mash the apples with a fork or potato masher.
- Serve hot, refrigerate and serve cold, or freeze. Keep in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
**This recipe was adapted from our friends at The University of Rhode Island
State 4-H Office Core Newsletter
Minerals and Gems: Maine 4-H STEM Toolkit of the Month
Each month we will be highlighting a different 4-H STEM Toolkit available from UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H Program!
Maine has a rich history of mineral mining, especially in the western part of the state. Currently sand and gravel are the principal resources being mined, but granite and slate are also extracted. In certain parts of the state limestone and gemstones are mined successfully. The Minerals and Gems 4-H Science Toolkit was developed to introduce youth to these geologic resources. The toolkit contains eleven experiential learning activities and includes samples of minerals and gems found in Maine. Youth will explore those minerals and gems using standard identification methods and tools (such as hardness and streak). Youth will explore the structure of those minerals and will learn where in Maine minerals are found – and why! This Maine 4-H Toolkit was created with the generous support of the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum.
Learn more about this, and other 4-H STEM Toolkits online, where you can see what is available for different age groups or topic areas.
Maine 4-H Dairy Team Earns Blue Ribbons at The Big E
On Friday, September17, and Saturday, September 18, Maine sent four 4-H Dairy members to The Big E to compete against other New England states in a newly formatted set of competitions. The day started with the 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest and ended with two 4-H Dairy cooking competitions, “Grilled Cheese” and “Extreme Milkshake.” The Maine Quiz Bowl coach (and chaperone) Wendy Landry helped the team prepare for the event in the months prior. The four youth members, Owen B. from Penobscot County, Ali L. from Cumberland County, Jillian S. from Cumberland County, and Kat L. from Cumberland County won first place in the 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest. All team members take a written General Knowledge test before the team competitions, scores are used to seed the teams for the buzzer rounds. Maine 4-H member Kat Leach received High-Scoring Jr., and team member Jillian S. received High-Scoring Sr. in the written exams. Owen, Jillian, and Ali also took home the 1st place for their grilled cheese sandwich which consisted of extra sharp cheddar cheese, Colby jack cheese, grilled chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing on homemade sourdough bread. In addition, Kat and Owen received 1st place for their entry into the Extreme Milkshake completion. The recipe included 100% Maine ingredients, locally made vanilla ice cream, fresh blueberry milk, whoopie pies, and blueberry cake and topped with a lobster lollipop.
Plan Your College of Engineering Enhanced Visit
Sign up online through the Admissions Office to attend a College of Engineering Enhanced Visit! Each Friday, the tour starts at 10:00 am and ends at 12:00 pm. This tour covers the following majors of College of Engineering: Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Survey Engineering Technology, School of Engineering Technology. Registration closes ONE WEEK before tour date.
Maine 4-H Virtual Teen Science Cafes
Maine 4-H Virtual Teen Science Cafes are back this fall! Youth in grades 7-12 are invited to join us this season as we explore topics in environmental science. Sessions will be offered one Thursday a month from 3-4pm, starting October 28. Registration coming soon, please check our website for more details.
4-H Agriculture Leadership Opportunity for Teens
The Maine 4-H Ag Leadership Program is accepting registrations for an eight-week agricultural education and leadership experience. This program is open to Maine youth ages 14-18. Youth involved in this program will have opportunities to pursue their interest in agriculture and explore career pathways. This includes mentoring in post-secondary opportunities, as well as sparking a passion to investigate and explore current issues around food systems, livestock, crop sciences, aquaculture, climate issues impacting food systems, social justice around food equity, and more. There is not a requirement to have previous 4-H membership, this program is open to all Maine youth with an interest.
These opportunities will begin with a creation of an online learning cohort and will also include in-person experiences across the state and on the UMaine Campus. Visit the Maine 4-H Agricultural Leadership Ambassador Program webpage for more information or to register.
Get Involved in the Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP)
Do you like wild animals, trees, and the environment? Are you thinking about pursuing a career in land stewardship or wildlife management? Then you might like the Wildlife Habitat Education Program! WHEP is a 4-H and FFA program aimed at educating young people about wildlife habitat management. All ages are welcome, but the program is best suited for ages 8 to 18. In addition to learning how to identify wildlife, fish, animal tracks, and trees, youth participate in an annual state competition to test their knowledge! Particularly knowledgeable youth aged 14-18 may compete in the National WHEP contest!
Attend the Zoom informational session on October 26 at 6:30 pm to find out more about how you can get involved as a volunteer or youth participant. Register today! Contact Erin McDonald in York County if you have any questions: erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu or 207.324.2814.