2018 October PCEA-EC Minutes

Minutes: Piscataquis County Extension Association Executive Committee Meeting, 10/15/18

Present: Members: Beth McEvoy, Carole Boothroyd, George McKay, Gretchen Huettner

Staff: Donna Coffin, Trisha Smith, Sheila Norman

  • President Beth McEvoy called the meeting to order at 3 pm. Donna Coffin was appointed timekeeper.
  • Minutes of the 9/10/2018 meeting were unanimously approved.
  • Treasurer’s Report was unanimously approved.

Program Updates

Highlights of 4-H Program – Sheila Norman

  • October 1 starts the new 4-H year. Enrollment in 4-H programs increased to 80 in 2017-18 and the goal for 2018-19 is to reach 100 participants.
  • The Milo After School program for 3-4 graders, run by the 4-H Leaders Association, was unable to get a STEM Ambassador from UMO this year. They are looking for volunteers to run the program for 6 weeks in fall and 7 weeks in spring. A good curriculum covering a wide number of topics is available.
  • Carol Pinney, on the Garland Line Road, is seeking a helper for a new SPIN club, dedicated to general care and understanding of owning a horse.
  • The annual Awards Celebration is at the Valley Grange on October 26 at 5 pm. Potluck dinner at 5:30.
  • Donna suggests that the Executive Committee pay $150 per STEM Ambassador and try to recruit a STEM Ambassador for spring. Gretchen suggests that the Committee hire a part-time aide to run an afterschool program in Milo. No decision was made.

Home Horticulture Report- Trisha Smith

  • The second graders harvested plenty of pumpkins for their November project.

Trisha and the passport kids harvested 10 pounds of garlic. Mr. Murray’s class sorted out the biggest and 120 cloves were re-planted. The remainder went to the school cafeteria.

  • The Piscataquis County Cooperative office is teaming up with Kate Garland to offer Master Gardener Volunteers training in 2019. The Piscataquis office will be a satellite location for the lecture portion of the class, with some hands-on activities. Classes begin in late February and go until May, then resume for 3 weeks in September. Some specialized classes will be held at UMaine. Watch for an email announcement.
  • Invitations to the 4-H Awards Night have been sent to Passport participants and their families.
  • An official Worm Bin Harvest kit is now available at the office for Jock’s Worm Bin students to borrow.

Piscataquis Activities- Donna Coffin

  • Donna reports 12 one-to-one contacts, including questions on liming materials, obsolete pesticide pickup, poultry, goat and vegetable production, vine crop diseases, pond algae and insects on peppers.

Upcoming Programs/Meetings

  • Piscataquis County Annual Meeting is on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at 5 pm at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church. Dinner by DKB Catering from Greenville. Speakers: Dr. Alicyn Smart, Plant Pathologist, and Dr. Matt Wallhead, Ornamental Horticulturist. Their topic: What’s Killing My Plants? Top Identifications of 2018 and Prevention. Pesticide credits are available. The price of a dinner ticket will be $15 Early Bird until October 15 and $20 thereafter until Friday, Nov 2. Payment can be made online or by check at the office.
  • The Piscataquis County Budget Advisory Committee has invited members of the Executive Committee to attend their meeting on Nov. 1 at 6 pm.
  • Beginning Sheep Farmers Workshop will be held on Nov. 15 from 6-9 pm at the Piscataquis County Extension office in Dover-Foxcroft. The workshop is designed to educate new sheep farmers or anyone wanting to know more about sheep breed selection, husbandry, health, nutrition, reproduction, housing, and handling sheep. Dr. Colt Knight will go over basics of sheep production and insights into the lamb market in the USA. The workshop will cover the basics of lamb preparation and end with a freshly prepared leg of lamb lunch/dinner.

https://extension.umaine.edu/livestock/home/sheep-101/

Past Programs/Meetings

  • Winter Care of Poultry on Sep.20 with Dr. Colt Knight and Donna Coffin gathered 13 people at the morning session and 9 people at the evening session. Participants ranked Knowledge Gained, Usefulness of Info and Quality of Presentation at an excellent rating of 4.8/5. Donna reports that Dr. Knight is putting together a calendar for 2019 of these kinds of programs.

Unfinished Business

  • The committee welcomes Anette Moulton as our new part-time Administrative Specialist.
  • The Civil Rights Meeting needs sign-offs by Executive Committee members.
  • All program staff are preparing end of year reports for the December 10, 2018 meeting.

New Business

  • Prospective Executive Committee members– 3 expiring terms to fill. Gretchen and Beth will contact Joy from Turning Page Farm. Carole will contact Ben and Ashley Cookson and Andrea Thurlow.
  • Discussion on 2019 educational events, community outreach, and collaborations.
Jan Possible food preservation workshops
Feb Master Gardener Volunteers training; Sew Much Fun SPIN Club
March  

Possible small-scale greenhouse workshop; possible Value-added Ag Products; Grow ME
April Small Ruminant workshops
May
June One tomato; student garden
July Passport Program
Aug Piscataquis Valley Fair
Sep Winter Care of Poultry
Oct Annual Budget; possible Octoberfest, Seed Saving, Food Preservation
Nov Annual Meeting Dinner
Dec Possible Farm Records

 

Meeting Adjourned at 5:00 pm  Next Meeting: Nov 7 Annual Meeting Dinner, 5 pm at Congregational Church in Dover-Foxcroft. Submitted by Carole Boothroyd, Secretary 10/31/18