4-H Happenings, July 2022

Contents


Important Dates: 


County News


4-H Forensics Day at Skowhegan Fairgrounds

Somerset 4-H Youth posing in front of a fire truckSeventeen Somerset County 4-H members and friends came together on June 22 at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds for fun outdoor activities to investigate forensics with special guests Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for Maine Dr. Liam Funte, and the Skowhegan Police and Fire Departments who gave tours of their cars and ladder truck and shared details of their jobs. Attendees also solved a “jewelry heist” crime following clues and evidence from a mocked up scene to the culprit. Snacks, pizza, and gift bags rounded out the day.

Many thanks to our special speakers and the 4-H club leaders who volunteered their time, expertise, and energy, and to the Skowhegan Fairgrounds for the use of the space.

Scholarships Awarded:

Congratulations to the 2022 recipients of Somerset County 4-H scholarships!

  • The 2022 Somerset County 4-H Camps, Inc. Scholarship Award was presented to Emma Smith.
  • Abigail Grunder was awarded the Norridgewock Northern Light Scholarship, the Shawn L. Dean Memorial Scholarship, and the Somerset County 4-H Dairy Foundation Scholarship.
  • Gretchen Grunder was awarded the Somerset County 4-H Leaders’ Food Booth Scholarship for a second year collegiate student.

Intent Forms for Skowhegan Fair 4-H Exhibition Hall

The Skowhegan fair will be here soon and it is time to submit your Intent to Exhibit forms. The deadline for these is Friday, July 22, 2022. Please read the Skowhegan Fair Exhibit Hall Information letter and submit the Skowhegan Fair Intent to Exhibit form if you plan to exhibit!

Tell Us About Your Interests! – 4-H Teen Survey

A letter from our colleague:

Greetings 4-H Community Member!

My name is Andrew Hudacs and I am a new member of the staff team at Maine 4-H.  I am working to support 4-H teen leadership statewide and would love to hear your thoughts. Please help me learn more about your interests in 4-H activities by completing the following SHORT survey (about 30 questions/7 minutes). The survey results will be used to improve statewide 4-H program planning.  If you are a parent of a 4-H child receiving this message, please have each child in 4-H complete a survey.

Also, I would be happy to share a summary of the results with you! Please let me know if you are interested by sending me an email.
If you have any questions, I can be contacted at andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, (207) 581-8204, 24 Main Street Lisbon Falls, ME 04252. Thank you in advance for your support!

Sincerely,
Andrew

Updating Record Sheets

We are currently working on a state-wide review and reconstruction of record sheets to make them more concise, relevant, and user-friendly. We’d like to have them ready for use by the beginning of the 2022-2023 season. If any leaders or current or former members (within the last few years) are interested in participating in the discussion, please contact Karen at karen.giles@maine.edu.

What Are Your Favorite STEM activities?

We have some program plans in the works and are looking for your input! Do you do STEM activities or programming for 4-H or at your school? If you have a fun or creative idea for a STEM activity for Somerset County youth, please email Karen Giles at karen.giles@maine.edu.

Skowhegan State Fair is Rapidly Approaching 

Make sure to get your forms in by the deadlines, for showing animals or displaying work in the exhibition hall. More details can be found in the 2022 Premium Book (pdf).


Club News


Don’t Forget to Submit Your Secretary’s Reports!

This is a friendly reminder that each club’s secretary should be submitting a report to this office after each meeting. Photos are encouraged too! These reports help us stay in the loop with what is happening within your clubs. Secretaries may email a digital copy to extension.somerset@maine.edu or mail a physical copy to Somerset County Cooperative Extension, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

Club Updates

We would love to use this space to share more stories directly from clubs. Please send us your news and events so we can share them in this newsletter! You may send them to karen.giles@maine.edu or to emily.collins3@maine.edu. We would love to hear and share what your club has been learning and doing!


State News


Events and Opportunities

4-H Summer Learning Series

2 youth working on a projectAfter an incredibly successful 4-H Summer Learning Series over the past two years, Maine 4-H will once again offer virtual experiential learning workshops and clubs to youth ages 5-18 from July 5August 5, 2022. Planning is still taking place, but topics in previous years have ranged from engineering, art, science, animals & agriculture, food & nutrition, teen leadership, and more. 

Registration is now open! For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Summer Learning Series webpage.

Fridays on the Farm is Back!

You are invited to join Maine 4-H staff for Fridays on the Farm, a series of hands-on learning experiences for Maine teens. In this series of farm tours, participants will explore possible careers in agriculture, learn about the Maine Food System, and practice real-life farm skills.  Participants may join one, or all of the farm visits. 4-H enrollment is not a requirement for participation, so share this opportunity with your friends! All youth ages 12-18 are welcome to participate. For more information on the available farm tours or to register visit the Fridays on the Farm registration page.

Looking for 4-H Alumni & Members Attending UMaine!

If you are a current or former 4-H member planning to attend UMaine this fall, know of a 4-H member currently attending UMaine, or know of a recent 4-H alumni attending UMaine, read this! Collegiate 4-H is an opportunity for 4-H alumni and college students interested in supporting the mission of 4-H to be involved in 4-H after high school. We are currently exploring starting a Collegiate 4-H Club at UMaine with an anticipated start date for the 2022 fall semester. Simply fill out this short form to let us know if you think you might be interested!

Animal Science Health, Nutrition, and Parasite Prevention Panel

Join us at the Magic Lantern Innovation Lab, at 9 Depot Street in Bridgton, on July 9 at 10:00 AM for a free workshop. Learn from a panel of veterinarians and nutrition experts on the health and wellness of animals. From your dog and backyard goats to poultry and large livestock. Don McLean, DVM and Paul G. Rudenberg, DVM will provide information followed by a question and answer session to help you keep your animals safe and well. Contact susan.jennings@maine.edu for more information.

Summer Camp Opportunities

2 youth and a camp counselor exploring the shoreVisit the Summer University Youth Programs’ Youth Summer Camps page to learn about a huge variety of camp experiences available to youth. From our traditional 4-H Camp and Learning Centers, to camps that focus on Academics, Art, Music, or Sports – there is something for everyone. There are often opportunities for scholarships.

STEM College Research and Career Exploration Course

Registration is open for an innovative four-week college STEM research course for qualified high school students (rising 11th–12th grade). This tuition-FREE course is offered by the University of Maine, July 18–Aug. 11, at the UMaine Hutchinson Center in Belfast, at UMO, and UMaine Machias. For more information and to register, visit the STEM Exploration Course webpage.


Fairs and Shows

Save the Date for the Maine 4-H State Dairy Show

Dairy CowThe Maine 4-H State Dairy show will be July 22-24 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The event is open to all Maine 4-H dairy project members 4-H ages 9 and above. In addition to the 4-H dairy show, the event includes a 4-H dairy fitting contest, grilled cheese contest, and educational workshops. For additional information and a schedule of events please visit the Maine 4-H State Dairy Show webpage.

Upcoming 4-H Working Steer Events

Save the date for upcoming 4-H working steer shows! In order to qualify and be a part of the Maine ESE Working Steer Team, you must attend two of the three tryouts. The tryout events are:

  • Saturday, July 9th at Ossipee Valley Fair
  • Saturday, July 23rd at Windsor Fairgrounds
  • Thursday, August 11th at Skowhegan Fair

For more information on upcoming 4-H working steer events and the Maine ESE Working Steer Team, please visit the Working Steer webpage or contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

Union Fair – New Dates in 2022

The Union Fair will be happening earlier in the summer, starting this year. The dates for Union Fair 2022 will be July 27-31, about a month earlier than in years past. Please plan accordingly, and check the Union Fair website for updates. Knox-Lincoln Extension staff produce a 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet each year. Once the 2022 pdf document is ready for distribution, it will be shared with all Maine county Extension offices. The booklet will also be available for download on the Knox-Lincoln 4-H website. Questions? Contact cynthia.rogers@maine.edu.


Leaders Meeting Minutes


June 15, 2022

Attendees: Sherry Grunder, Karen Giles, Lori Swenson, Cheryl Perkins, Hailey Dellarma

Minutes:

Fairground Improvements: They are still trying to find out where the leak is coming from. There doesn’t seem to be loose shingles on the roof- it may be coming from poor drainage, running in under the wall. They have not spent much time on the 4-H building as there are electrical issues elsewhere. We have permission to use it for Forensics Day.

Upcoming events:  See the flier that Karen sent out. 

Forensics Day Details:  The medical examiner is able to talk for 45-60 minutes. All the members will do that together. He will be doing a slide presentation that is age appropriate. Chief Bucknam will be doing fingerprinting. We will supplement that with either a Solve a Mystery activity or one of the activities from the Teachers Pay Teachers activity. The sheriff’s department will be coming with a dog. We have 16 participants signed up so far. We will get a mix of cheese and pepperoni based on 2 pieces per child. The event will be happening at the grandstand. 

Date of Next Meeting:   Wednesday July 20, 2022 at 6:00 P.M.

Sherry motioned for the meeting to be adjourned. Cheryl seconded. Meeting adjourned.