January 2018


Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu

Be sure to scroll down to see State 4-H Office Core Newsletter, too!

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Upcoming Events and Important Dates

January 20: 4-H Public Speaking Workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., UMaine Extension

January 23: Deadline to register and pre-pay for Snow Tubing Event (2/3)

February 1: ESE Horse, Dairy, Dog, Goat and Sheep Intent to Participate forms due (See State News below for details)

February 1-28: NEW! JOANN Paper Clover Campaign, JOANN Fabric Stores

February 3: 4-H Snow Tubing Event and Pet Food Drive, Noon-2:30 p.m., GO Tubing, South China, Maine, register and pre-pay by 1/23

February 9: Deadline to notify Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension staff of intent to participate at Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)

February 12: Deadline to register for 4-H Winter Fun Day (February 17)

February 17: 4-H Winter Fun Day, 10 a.m. -2 p.m., Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, register by February 12 (Snow date: February 24)

February 20: KLLA Meeting 6 p.m., Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension

February 23: Deadline to register for Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament (March 4, snow date March 11)

March 4: Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, Jefferson Village School, 1-4 p.m., register by February 23 (Snow date: March 11)

March 9: Deadline to apply for 4-H National Congress and National Conference

January Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Isabella W., Adam E., Nathaniel D., Sydney G., and Serena B.!

Join Us for Snow Tubing… and Help the Pets!

The Knox-Lincoln Leaders Association will once again sponsor a 4-H Snow Tubing event at GO Tubing (Gotubingmaine.com) in South China on Saturday, February 3, 12 Noon-2:30 p.m. We are also asking that you bring a donation of pet food or supplies for a 4-H donation to a local animal shelter. With KLLA picking up part of the cost of tubing, the cost to families is $10 per person ($5 per child under 42 inches in height or 5 years of age; these children must share a tube with an adult). Enrolled 4-H volunteers can participate at no cost. A parent or leader must accompany children to this event. All participants must pre-register and send payment by January 23 (check made out to KLLA). Call 207.832.0343, email pamela.doherty@maine.edu to register.

New 4-H Partnership With JOANN Fabrics

JOANN Fabrics and National 4-H Council are partnering to bring more hands-on 4-H programs to youth in local communities across the nation. Through this partnership, JOANN stores will engage customers and community members to help equip local 4-H Clubs with the resources they need to grow and to bring the impactful 4-H experience to more kids. There are several ways that 4-Hers and JOANN customers can help.

Support the JOANN Paper Clover Campaign: Visit a local JOANN store between February 1 and February 28, 2018, and purchase a $1 or $4 Valentine’s edition of the popular Paper Clover. With the $4 Paper Clover, customers will also receive a coupon for $4 off their next purchase. Each Paper Clover will include instructions for a special 4-H/JOANN Valentine’s Day craft idea that customers can create to share with someone special. All funds collected go directly back to the 4-H program; 30% to National 4-H Council, 70% to the state 4-H program.

Sign up for the new 4-H Reward Card: The 4-H community and JOANN customers can save money while “shopping with a purpose” with the free 4-H Reward Card. This new card gives JOANN shoppers 15% off their total in-store and online purchases every day and gives a minimum of 2.5% of every eligible transaction as a donation to 4-H.

Participate in an in-store service project: On Saturday, February 3, 2018, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., local 4-H programs will partner with their JOANN’s store to hand-make Valentine’s Day cards to share their hearts and spread more love to local children’s hospitals, senior citizen centers and others in their community.

JOANN would also like to provide their stores as a place for clubs to meet or do activities. More information about this aspect of the partnership will be coming soon!

Come to Winter Fun Day at HVNC

Join other 4-Hers for Winter Fun Day on Saturday, February 17 (snow date February 24), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Hidden Valley Nature Center, 131 Egypt Road in Jefferson. Enjoy the center’s wooded trails on snowshoes or cross-country skis (bring your own or use some provided). Meet up to eat lunch in the warm lodge, then participate in various indoor activities in the afternoon. Bring a bag lunch. Snacks provided. Register by February 12 by contacting Pamela Doherty pamela.doherty@mane.edu, 207.832.0343.

Knox-Lincoln Public Speaking Tournament, March 4

Hold the date for the Knox-Lincoln Public Speaking and Demonstration Tournament on Sunday, March 4, 1-4 p.m. (Snow date: March 12). This year’s event will be held at the Jefferson Village School. To participate, download the Knox-Lincoln Registration Form on the Public Speaking Tournament page and submit to the Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension office by February 23. You might qualify to go on to the 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament in Orono on April 7! Presentation Guidelines, Judging Evaluation Forms, and Public Speaking Resources can be found on the Maine 4-H Public Speaking page.

It’s time to start working on your presentation for the tournament! Pick something that you know a lot about what you would like to share with others. Maybe you know how to make something that could easily be demonstrated in a few minutes. It is easy to do a presentation when you know your subject well!

Time to Think About 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. Any Maine 4-H Youth, age 14 to 18 is eligible to apply. Application packets are online and must be completed and postmarked by March 9, 2018, to your county office. Eligible Maine 4-H youth are encouraged to consider applying for both trips. Here are some highlights of each:

National 4-H Congress
November 23-27, 2018 (Orientation October 27, 2018)

  • Community Involvement
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Group Dynamics

National 4-H Conference
April 6-11, 2019 (Orientation February 9, 2019)

  • Youth/Adult Partnerships
  • Youth Voices and Involvement
  • Leadership

To apply, the youth must submit an application packet and participate in an in-person interview. Interview dates are set for April 21 and April 22, 2018. Application packets and information about the selection process, including scoring rubrics and sample interview questions can be found on the Youth – 4-H Events page.

Citizenship Washington Focus-Another D.C. Trip Opportunity

Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capitol during the week of June 30 through July 7, 2018. CWF 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. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington will be a part of the trip, including spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capital. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 28, 2018. Deadline to notify Knox-Lincoln Extension staff is February 9, 2018.

Start Your Project Records Now

It is winter. What better time than now to start thinking about 4-H projects for the coming year? You will have a much neater, more accurate record if you start now, not at the last minute! Does your club want help getting started with Project Records? If you would like to have Cindy or Kathryn visit one of your club meetings to help, or if you just want to ask a question, contact them at cynthia.rogers@maine.edu, kathryn.a.jensen@maine.edu, 207.832.0343.

State 4-H Office Core Newsletter

Save the Date for 2018 Maine 4-H Days: July 20 – 22 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.

Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee: July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events! If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee or have general questions/comments/recommendations about the event, please email jessica.brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.

2018 Intent to try out for Eastern States Horse available NOW! For all youth who are planning to try out for a spot on the Maine 4-H Horse team as a rider/driver/teen leader, the ‘intent to try out’ form is available:

Visit the Animal Science Resources – Horse page to download and print Intent to Participate in Eastern States Horse Tryouts form.

These must be postmarked by February 1, 2018. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kristy L. Ouellette, kristy.ouellette@maine.edu

New For 2018 – Regarding Eastern States Intent to Participate Forms: Due date for all 2018 Eastern States Beef Intent to Participate Forms was January 2. Intent forms for all other animal commodities- dairy, dog, goat, horse, and sheep will be due on February 1. This decision was made at the Spring Animal Science Committee meeting to help eliminate confusion by making all due dates a little more consistent. Updated ‘Intent to Participate’ Forms are now available on the 4-H Projects – Animal Science Resources page.

Come to Orono for the 2018 4H@UMaine May 18-19! Planning has started and the wheels are in motion thanks to the efforts of a tremendous team! We are looking forward to another great event this year, and there are some exciting changes in the works! Stay tuned for details. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich at gregory.kranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.

State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl: Sunday, February 18, 2018 (snow date of Saturday, February 24), at 1 p.m.; the University of Maine at Augusta Room 218, Randall Student Technology Center. Open to all currently enrolled 4-H Dairy project members ages 9 -18. For those 4-H Dairy members who may be planning to attend the Eastern States Exposition in September, please keep the following information in mind. You must participate in at least one of the following three events: State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl, State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, or Fitting Contest at the 2018 Maine 4-H Dairy Show.

You must also complete and submit an ESE ‘Intent to Participate’ Form which will be due on February 1. These can be found on the State 4-H Website, or check with your county office. Your completed 4-H Animal Approval and Lease Form (if applicable) will be due in your county office by May 1. Participation in a showmanship class and your animal’s breed/age class at the State 4-H Dairy Show will also be required.

If you have questions, 4-H Dairy ASC Coordinator, Stephanie Smith at 207.860.0979, a_mfarm@yahoo.com, or staff liaison Tara Marble at the Franklin County Extension Office 800.287.1478, tara.marble@maine.edu, or staff liaison, Alisha Targonski at the Kennebec County Extension Office 800.287.1481, alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu.

Maine 4-H Project Records, Reflection Tools, and Digital Badges! Maine 4-H is excited to roll out new 4-H project records, reflection tools and opportunities for digital badges. A team has been working to design the new records aligned with research and connections to Maine’s commitment to proficiency-based education in mind. We know that these won’t be perfect and are anxious to have YOU help us try them out and be part of the process. The new records are now posted online and can be found on the state 4-H website.

There are a few ways for you to be part of the team to ask questions and give feedback.

Join our Google classroom community: This will be a place where volunteers and youth members are able to share real-time feedback about these tools. To join:

  • Sign in to Classroom at classroom.google.com.
  • On the homepage, click Add>Join class.
  • Enter the code d9jmty and click Join.

Participate in our live feedback sessions: Please save the date for feedback sessions. These will be conducted using Zoom. Register for these sessions with KymNoelle Hopson at 207.353.5550  or kymnoelle.hopson@maine.edu.

  • January 23 from 6 – 8 p.m.
  • March 24 from 6 – 8 p.m.
  • September 11 from 6 – 8 p.m.

We are looking forward to having YOU as part of our team. If you have any questions please contact Kristy Ouellette, kristy.ouellette@maine.edu, 207.353.5550, extension 12.