March 2018
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Be sure to scroll down to see State 4-H Office Core Newsletter, too!
Follow Knox-Lincoln 4-H on Facebook!
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
March 19: Deadline to register for State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
March 20: KLLA Meeting 6 p.m., Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension
March 26: Deadline to register for Tractor Safety Course (see article)
April 1: ESE Horse Animal Approval Form due
April 1: KLLA Camp Scholarship applications due
April 7: State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, University of Maine, Orono (Snow date: April 8)
April 7-12: National 4-H Conference, Washington, D.C. (age 14-18)
April 11-22: Spring 4-H Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Co. Stores
April 17: KLLA Meeting 6 p.m., Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension
May 1: 4-H Working Steer Animal Approval Form due
May 1: ESE Dairy Animal Approval Form Due
May 1 Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent to Sell form due
March Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Cadence T., Henry U., Kelsie H., Noora H., Zoey S., Alannah C., Savannah D., Crystal M.!
Winter Fun Day at HVNC
Eight 4-H youth, five adults and two staff members participated in 4-H Winter Fun Day on February 24, at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. It was a beautiful sunny day and no snowshoes or skis were needed to enjoy the trails at the center. Lots of natural wonders were observed, including the lake, squirrels (and their pinecone snack leavings), and a beaver dam! After our hike and a snack, Kathryn led a game of Camouflage. See more photos from the day on the 4-H of Knox-Lincoln Counties Facebook page.
Knox-Lincoln Public Speaking Tournament
At this year’s event at the Jefferson Village School on March 4, two Cloverbuds, five Juniors, and ten Seniors presented illustrated talks or demonstrations. The judges were very impressed with the quality and wide range of subject matter exhibited by our 4-H youth. Congratulations to everyone who participated! See more photos from the event on the 4-H of Knox-Lincoln Counties Facebook page.
Cloverbuds
- Izzy B. and Zoe B., Aldermere Achievers, TmD-How to Make Slime
Juniors
- Julia B., Aldermere Achievers, IT-Bike Safety, BLUE
- Anthony D., Jolly Farmers, D-Antonio the Great, BLUE, TOP JUNIOR D
- Jeremy D., Jolly Farmers, IT-The B17 Flying Fortress, BLUE, TOP JUNIOR IT
- Sabrinnah D., Jolly Juniors, D-How to Make a Fairy Garden, RED
- Adam E., Aldermere Achievers, IT-Backyard Bird Feeding, BLUE
Seniors
- Greta B. and Audrey B., Aldermere Achievers, TmIT-Earth Systems, BLUE, TOP SENIOR IT TEAM
- Pearl B., Aldermere Achievers, IT-Gun Violence in the U.S., RED
- Anthony B., Aldermere Achievers, IT-Our Political System, BLUE
- Abigail C., Jolly Farmers, Senior, IT-All About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, RED
- Nathan D., Jolly Farmers, Senior, IT-The Life and Death of the Edsel, BLUE, TOP SENIOR IT
- Savannah D., Jolly Farmers, Senior, IT-The History of the Electric Guitar, BLUE
- Elizabeth E., Aldermere Achievers, Senior, IT-Wool Sheep, BLUE
- Sydney G., Aldermere Achievers, IT-Humans at the Fault of Another Mass Extinction, BLUE
- Jordan O., Aldermere Achievers, IT-Maple Sugaring, RED
Everyone age 9 and older who participated at the County tournament qualified to go on to the 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament in Orono on April 7! Plan to support our county youth at this statewide tournament! Visit the 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament page.
4-Hers: If you plan to participate at the State level and have not already, call the Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension office to register by March 19. Call 207.832.0343.
Scholarships Offered for Camps and Programs
KLLA is offering scholarships to Knox-Lincoln 4-H members to be used to attend educational camps and programs in the coming year, including, but not exclusive to: 4-H National Trips (CWF, 4-H National Congress and National Conference), summer camps (including Tanglewood, Blueberry Cove and Bryant Pond 4-H Camps), science camps, animal camps, exchange programs, and school programs. Preference will be given to applicants attending 4-H-sponsored programs and camps. Applications are due April 1, 2018. The amount of the scholarships will be determined by the funds available and the number of qualified applicants. The application is available for download on the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Educational Program Scholarship page.
Tractor Safety Course in Union
A Tractor Safety course will be held on Wednesdays, starting April 4, from 6-8 p.m. at Union Farm Equipment, 1893 Heald Highway (Route 17) in Union, offered by University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Knox-Lincoln Farm Bureau, Union Farm Equipment and Farm Family Insurance. Classes will continue on successive Wednesdays through April 25. A written exam and tractor-driving test will be held Saturday, May 5, at 9 a.m.
The cost for the course is $20, student financial assistance is available based on need. The classes are designed for adults and youth at least 14 years of age and are required for 14- and 15-year-olds who plan to operate farm equipment for hire on farms other than their own. Those who successfully complete the written and road tests will be issued a Federal Certificate of Training.
Register online on the 2018 Farm Tractor Safety Course page by March 26. For more information contact Pamela Doherty at Knox-Lincoln Cooperative Extension, 800.244.2104, pamela.doherty@maine.edu. To request a disability accommodation, contact Mark Hutchinson mhutch@maine.edu.
Raise Funds for Your Club and County at Tractor Supply Event!
The Spring 4-H Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Co. Stores will take place April 11-22. During this time, TSC customers can purchase paper clovers at the register for $1 each to support 4-H nationally and in our counties. The clover funds are no longer store-specific, so you may participate at any Tractor Supply Co. store in Maine to benefit your state and county program! We encourage clubs and independents to participate in this event. It’s been proven that in-store participation with 4-Hers increases donations! Hold a bake sale, do an animal or science demonstration, or provide a carry-out service for customers at any time during this campaign. Use your creativity! Learn how to connect with your local TSC store to participate in this event on the Fundraising Connections page. Contact Cindy Rogers if you are planning to participate.
State 4-H Office Core Newsletter
Save the Date for 2018 Maine 4-H Days: Maine 4-H Days will take place 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.
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.
4-H Healthy Relationships Teen Council Meeting March 19: In February, Maine 4-H sent seven teens to the Healthy Living Summit in Washington, D.C. As part of the trip, the group created an action plan to bring back to Maine to implement. They chose to focus on helping other youths establish healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives including families, significant others, and friends, in part by helping them to understand their own self-worth. Their goal is to empower kids to connect and create an environment full of healthy relationships. The team will be meeting virtually via Zoom on Monday, March 19, 5 – 6:30 p.m. and welcome any other youth ages 14-18 who would like to participate in this action plan. For more information about the action plan, you can visit our live video on the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Cumberland County Facebook page. If you are interested in participating, please email Sara Conant, sara.conant@maine.edu or call the Cumberland County Extension office at 207.781.6099.
2018 American Goat Federation Youth Scholarship Program: To encourage education and development of youth involved in the goat industry, AGF will accept scholarship applications from qualifying youth who enter and complete all requirements of the program. Projects must be received at the AGF office by August 20, 2018, and the Scholarship Application accompanied by a short biography must be received at the office no later than 30 days prior to August 20, 2018. Entries will be judged by an independent panel and winners will be announced September 2018.
Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and under the age of 21 as of September 30, 2017. Applicants must be a member of the American Goat Federation, the child, grandchild, great-grandchild or stepchild, step grandchild or step great grandchild of a member of the American Goat Federation, or of any of the following member organizations of the American Goat Federation: The American Boer Goat Association (including Jr Association), The American Dairy Goat Association, Alabama Meat Goat and Sheep Producers Association, Cashmere Goat Association, Texas Sheep and Goat Breeders Association. For more information, visit the American Goat Federation (AGR) Youth Scholarship Program page.
4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Wildlife Education Training Event April 19-20: Please hold the date! Maine will host the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program this July at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia. In preparation, Maine 4-H will have a training event to prepare and select a team to compete in the national event. April 19-20 the Maine 4-H program will host an overnight educational training program and team selection. Plans include an ongoing WHEP event and participation in the national program each year. More information will follow. The cost will be $25 per member all meals and materials included. The training will be held at the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Training is open to all youth ages 8-19. Studying a science-based manual, participants learn:
- Wildlife terms and concepts
- About wildlife habitat
- How to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
- About wildlife habitat management practices
- About wildlife damage management
To learn more, go to the Youth – Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) page, the Wildlife Habitat Education Program Facebook page, or contact Sally Farrell at sarah.s.farrell@maine.edu or 207.324.2814.
Registration Now Open for 2018 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge: UMaine-led STEM Competition for Maine Middle School and High School Youth Focused on Renewable Energy, Innovation, and Economic Development Slated for May 18, 2018. The Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge, hosted by the University of Maine, asks teams of students to design and construct a floating platform for a scale model wind turbine and then delivers a presentation to a panel of expert judges. The event is designed for student teams with a diverse range of experience. We encourage all middle and high school students to participate. UMaine staff work with teachers or advisors throughout the design and build process. Teams are presented with a guidebook and a simulated test turbine to test their platform prior to competition day.
Participation is free, and a limited number of travel stipends are available to schools with demonstrated need. We recently published this 2-minute video highlighting the design, build, and test process with youth from King Middle School in Portland:
High School Teams are teams of 4 or less high school students. Members of the top qualifying team will be offered an internship at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, contingent upon their enrollment at UMaine, valued at more than $20,000. Middle School Teams are teams of up to 10 middle school students. These groups will test their platform and provide a presentation, just like high school teams, but they will not be considered for the internship award. An alternative award will be granted to the members of a winning middle school team. For more information, contact Marcy Smith at marcys@maine.edu, or 207.581.2125
4-H Science Saturday Registration Open – Science of Cheesemaking! Have you ever wondered just how cheese is made? Join us to find out! Food Science Specialist, Dr. Robson Machado, will show us how to make two different kinds of cheese. While we will not be able to taste-test the ones we create, we will be testing a few different types of cheese and other dairy products as well as discussing the importance of sensory testing food products. You don’t want to miss this! March 17, 2018, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Hitchner Hall, Commercial Kitchen, University of Maine, Orono, ME.
- Cost: $10.00 (includes the price of lunch.) Open to youth grades 6-8.
- Registration by March 14 is required and space is limited.
- To register, find more information or learn about upcoming Science Saturday offerings, please visit the UMaine 4-H Science Saturdays page.
- To request a disability accommodation, contact Jessica Brainerd at 800.287.0274, or jessica.brainerd@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.
We are also planning 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.
- 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 or 207.353.5550, extension 12.