Waldo County 4-H Newsletter – September 2020
Upcoming Dates
09/03: Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association annual meeting
08/15-09/15: Virtual Fun Run
10/01: Start of new 4-H year
10/04-10/10: National 4-H Week!
10/07: 4-H Spirit Day
10/16: Project Records and Achievement Award Applications due at the county office
County News
4-H Leaders’ Association Annual Meeting!
The Waldo County 4-H Leader’s Association will be hosting their annual meeting on September 3rd at 6:30pm via zoom. All 4-H volunteers are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. More information on how to join the meeting and the meeting agenda will be sent via email. We will be covering important information on restarting in person 4-H programming in Waldo County. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
Virtual Fun Run
University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is hosting a virtual fun run along the Maine coastline from Aug. 15–Sept. 15. The event is open to Maine 4-H members and the public.
Help ME Conquer the Maine Coastline is a virtual run, walk, and bike along all 3,478 miles of Maine’s coastline. The event includes an interactive map to follow as the miles add up, and videos about points along the way.
The event is free; registration is required and can be completed on the program webpage. Participants can register at any time beginning Aug. 15. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Cathy Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu
Project Records
4-H members in Waldo County are encouraged to complete a project record for all projects in which they have participated during the 2020 4-H year. Despite the uncommon and challenging 4-H year, it is important to reflect on your experiences and set goals for the upcoming year.
In order to be considered for recognition at the Waldo County 4-H Recognition Night, 4-H members need to complete a project record form.
Please note, you do not need to be finished with your project to complete a project record. We understand that many 4-H projects are ongoing and do not end at the same time as the 4-H year. If you are filing a project record for an ongoing or unfinished project, simply enter the information for your project up to the current date.
Project records are due at the Waldo County Extension office by the end of the day Friday, October 16th. Before turning in your project records to the county office, be sure to have your 4-H club leader or enrolled volunteer score them.
The project record forms as well as the evaluation forms and instructions can be found at extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/project-records/. If you need hard copies of the project records printed for you, please contact the Waldo County Extension office.
Project Records are divided into the four levels listed below. If you are unsure of what level of project record to complete, please call the Waldo County Extension office.
Cloverbud: This record is appropriate to use with 4-H members who are between the ages of 5 and 8 years old. This record is meant as an entry into project records; this is a good introduction to the process without being overwhelming.
Beginner: This record is appropriate to use with 4-H members who have not previously completed a project record and are at least 9 years old. This record is meant as an entry into project records regardless of age; this is a good introduction to the process and encompasses beginning reflection tools.
Intermediate: This record is appropriate to use with 4-H members who have previously completed the beginner record for at least one year, and are at least 9 years old. This record should be used prior to the advanced record, regardless of age or level in project. A member should use the beginner record sheet until they are proficient or distinguished in most categories of the beginner record. We want 4-H members to be successful and build their skills, then move on to the next level.
Advanced: This record is appropriate to use with 4-H members who have previously completed the intermediate record for at least one year, have demonstrated themselves to be proficient or distinguished in most of the intermediate record level, and are at least 12 years old. The hope is that by completing the intermediate record, the 4-H member has built those skills and has become confident to challenge themselves with the advanced record.
County 4-H Club Recognition
To finish the 4-H year, 4-H clubs are encouraged to complete and return their 2019/2020 Club Criteria forms. Clubs who submit a club criteria form are eligible for recognition at the annual recognition event. We understand that the COVID 19 situation greatly impacted and continues to impact all of the Waldo County 4-H clubs. This will be taken into consideration when recognizing clubs for the 2019/2020 4-H year. If you have questions or concerns or need assistance completing the Club Criteria form, please contact Waldo County 4-H staff at 207.342.5971.
It’s time to re-enroll 4-H members and 4-H volunteers!
Enrollment packets are being distributed to 4-H clubs and leaders. If 4-H clubs, groups or families have not received re-enrollment packets, please contact your 4-H leader or advisor. ALL enrollment packets are due by December 31st.
Renewing members and clubs are expected to re-enroll between October 1 and December 31 each year. New members may enroll at any time. However, both new and re-enrolling members must be enrolled by December 31 to participate in events and activities such as, but not limited to, state-wide market animal auctions, Eastern States Exposition competitions, National 4-H Congress, National 4-H Conference, and to be eligible for 4-H post-secondary scholarships.
Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association Basket Raffle
Due to the COVID 19 situation, the Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association Raffle that had been scheduled for this spring was postponed. The raffle is now ready to begin again and ticket sales will continue through the mail. Youth are encouraged to reach out to family and friends through email, mail, or through a phone call. The baskets in the raffle and the items in them can be seen at extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/activities/basket-raffle. Youth who need hard copies of this list mailed to them should contact the Waldo County Extension office at 207.342.5971.
Ticket buyers can mail their checks directly to the Waldo County Extension office at 992 Waterville Rd. Waldo, Maine 04915. Please reach out to Waldo County 4-H staff with any questions.
State News
Maine 4-H Virtual Exhibit Hall is Open for Viewing!
The Maine 4-H Virtual Exhibit Hall is now open! To check out the great entries from 4-H youth from all over the state visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/virtual-fair/exhibit-hall.
Coming Soon: Maine and Northeast Regional 4-H Dog Photo Contests
Enter the Maine 4-H Dog Photo Contest! ALL enrolled 4-Hers may enter, not just dog or photography project members. Entries will be judged and winners in each of the categories will move on to compete at the Northeast Regional 4-H Dog Photo Contest to compete against winners from several other states. For more information on how to enter or to view the contest rules and guidelines visit
extension.umaine.edu/4h/animal-science-resources/dog/dog-photo-contest/ or call your local extension office.
Maine 4-H Dairy Promote Your Passion Video Contest Results
The Maine 4-H Dairy Committee would like to announce the results of the Promote Your Passion video contest. This contest gave youth the opportunity to create a short, informational video about the dairy industry and share their passion for dairy cattle with others. We would like to congratulate Lydia S. for winning the Sr. division with her video The Milking System. Congratulations also go out to Amelia R. who won first place in the intermediate division with her video The Pasteurization Process. A close second place in the intermediate division was awarded to Isabelle G. for her video Making Yogurt.
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National 4-H Week is Almost Here!
National 4-H week is October 6th through 10th and we want everyone to celebrate with us. Listed below are multiple ways that you can get involved in National 4-H week and show your 4-H support.
Shop at a local tractor supply and donate to the Paper Clover Campaign. As part of National 4-H week, Tractor Supply will help raise money for 4-H programs with the Paper Clover Campaign, a national in-store fundraiser that benefits 4-H programming. Visit your local Tractor Supply between October 7th and October 18th and ask about the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign to donate.
Participate in the National 4-H STEM Challenge- The 4-H STEM Challenge, formerly known as 4-H National Youth Science Day (4-H NYSD), is an annual month of October initiative to inspire kids everywhere to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on learning. For the past 12 years, 4-H has developed fun, accessible challenges that show kids how STEM skills can be applied to the world around them.
This year participants will journey to the Red Planet in the #4HSTEMChallenge, Mars Base Camp. The four included activities allow kids to explore Mars in exciting ways like targeting the perfect landing zone, building a rover and growing food to sustain their team. Get started right away with the FREE activity, Insight from Mars, that teaches kids to code using CS First and Scratch.
This challenge is open to all, 4-H youth, non-4-H youth, afterschool, homeschool and school students. Please contact your local county UMaine Extension 4-H Program Staff if you would like to partner or collaborate with our Maine 4-H Program in this year’s STEM
Challenge. More information on the 4-H STEM challenge can be found at 4-h.org/parents/4-h-stem-challenge.
Celebrate National 4-H Week spirit day (October 7th)- Wear green or the 4‑H clover. Have a 4‑H mask? Be sure to wear it!
Share these ideas and encourage other 4‑H’ers to participate in spirit day!