Waldo County 4-H Newsletter – April 2022
Upcoming Dates:
April 7: 4-H Leaders’ Association Monthly Meeting
April 21: Explore 4-H Alpacas
May 28 – May 30: 4-H Teen Leadership Retreat
County 4-H News:
Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association
The Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association monthly meeting will be on April 7th at 12:30 pm. Volunteers are welcome to join in person at the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office or virtually through Zoom. More information on how to join the meeting and the meeting agenda will be sent via email. We look forward to seeing you there!
Explore 4-H
Join Waldo County 4-H staff in a series of workshops to learn about all the awesome programs that 4-H has to offer! The Explore 4-H series is a chance for Waldo County youth and their families to learn about the many opportunities available through Maine 4-H. Each session will explore a different 4-H project through hands-on learning. The Explore 4-H series is open to all Waldo County youth ages 5-18 and their families. You can register for these events on our website at extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/explore-4-h/.
On April 21st from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm there will be the Explore 4-H Alpaca event. This event will take place at the Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm in Unity, Maine. This workshop will include a tour of the Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm as well as a hands-on activity introducing youth to fiber arts. All materials for the activity will be provided.
4-H Teen Retreat
Let’s go camping! You are invited to join fellow 4-H teens and staff at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center for a 4-H Teen Retreat. During Memorial Day weekend (May 28th-30th) 4-H Teens from Knox/Lincoln, Waldo, and Kennebec counties will be gathering at Tanglewood for a teen leadership retreat. Participants will have the opportunity to get the complete camp experience including meeting new friends, archery, low ropes course, hiking, and much more! For more information to register visit extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/s/4-h-teen-retreat/.
Waldo County 4-H Member Earns Spot on Maine Quizbowl Team
Waldo County 4-H member Kelsy S., a member of the Little Beavers 4-H Club, participated in the
4-H Dairy Quizbowl Tryouts in February. In the tryout process, Kelsy completed a written quiz, answered individual knowledge questions, and competed on the buzzers to answer questions as fast as possible. Kelsy is one of four Maine 4-H members who will represent Maine 4-H at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) this fall on the ME 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. At ESE, the team from Maine will compete against teams from other New England states for a chance to travel to the National 4-H Quizbowl Contest in Louisville, Kentucky. Congratulations Kelsy and good luck!
State 4-H News:
4-H For All: Spring 2022
The purpose of this virtual club is to provide new and potential members and their families a place to learn about 4-H; and to connect youth across the state. Youth will choose a project to complete and learn more about 4-H and how to become involved. We want you to join and engage in our 4-H program! There is no cost, and meetings will help challenge you to create new goals and discover new passions. Open to youth 5-13, dates will be March 24, April 28, May 26 at 10:00 am. Register at: umaine.edu/4h/4-h-for-all-club.
The Maine App Challenge
Love technology? Here is a chance to put your passion to a purpose and win a scholarship along the way! The Maine App Challenge is an incredible opportunity for Maine middle school and high school students who are 13 years of age and older to create a mobile application with a chance to win a scholarship and other valuable rewards. A series of innovation workshops from the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation will help you get started! There are three scholarships available for the top mobile apps: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.
Other awards include $500 to the high school with the highest participation, tablets to the first 50 completed submissions, and a guaranteed internship interview for the top 10 submissions following his/her college sophomore year. Visit the Tyler Technology Maine App Challenge website for more information. The deadline for submissions is May 15th.
Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub
Maine 4-H Virtual Learning is a hands-on, virtual learning program for youth ages 5-18. Workshops will be organized by age and topic. Topics include engineering, science, animals and agriculture, teen leadership, and more.
Workshops will range from single-time events to short-term programs (typically four to six sessions). Participants will engage in hands-on activities, interact with other 4-Hers, and be positive adult role models.
No prior experience with 4-H is required to participate. This is a great way for those who are interested to learn more about 4-H.
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- Check out the upcoming 4-H Virtual Learning Programs we have planned in the coming months: Visit the Upcoming Events: Statewide Virtual Offerings for 2021-2022 page.
- Learn which virtual event registrations are open: Visit the Open Registrations page.
- Interested in becoming a Volunteer Presenter? Visit the Become a Volunteer Presenter page for more information and to complete an interest form.
- Read what 4-H Parents, Youth, and Teachers have to say about these 4-H VirtualLearning offerings: Visit the 4-H Parents, Youth, Teachers: Stories and Testimonials page
ESE Approval Form Reminder
All 4-H members intending to exhibit a horse or dairy animal at Eastern States Exposition this fall must submit their 4-H animal approval form, as well as their accompanying lease forms and health documents, to their county Cooperative Extension office by May 1st. Copies of 4-H approval and lease forms can be found online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/forms. Please contact your county office with any questions.
2022 Intent Form for Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Now Available
The 2022 Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Tryouts intent to participate form is available online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/horse/. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must submit their intent forms by May 1st. Forms can be completed online or a hard copy of the form can be mailed to the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office. For more information or for questions, please contact Tara Marble at tara.marble@maine.edu or 207.778.4650.
Maine 4-H Offers Agriculture Symposium for Teens
You are invited to join Maine 4-H staff for the 4-H Agriculture Symposium, an immersive agriculture experience for Maine teens. The 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on UMaine Orono and UMaine Augusta-Bangor campuses, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state. Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation can be provided upon request.
The program is free and registration is required. Register on the program webpage. Current CDC and University of Maine health guidelines will be followed for all in-person events.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski at 207.622.7546; 4hagleadership@maine.edu. This program is made possible with generous support from the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.
Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Tryouts Scheduled for April 23rd
The 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on April 23rd at Juniper Farms in Gray, ME, and Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2022 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. Visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/judging for a complete schedule, contest rules, and directions to the farms. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadeemehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
Wildlife Workshop with WHEP and 4-H
Come for a full day of activities dedicated to learning about Maine wildlife and habitat management. Are you interested in learning about wild animals and the places they call home? Do you want to feel and examine an otter’s pelt or hold a bear skull in your hands? Then you should sign up for the Junior (9-12-year-old) Workshop! Do you want to delve deeper into ecology and food webs? Are you interested in exploring wildlife and habitat management as a career? Then sign up for our Teen (13+) Workshop! Both age groups will have the chance to participate in hands-on activities and learn from wildlife experts with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
There are two opportunities to participate:
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- April 19th 9:00 am-4:00 pm at the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood, in Lincolnville
- April 22nd 9:00 am- 4:00 pm at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine in Augusta
The workshops will be identical, so you only need to sign up for one! More information about the day will be emailed to you as the day of the event approaches.
Spaces are limited. Please be sure you can commit to attending before signing up. Visit the Wildlife Workshop Registration page to register today.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Erin McDonald at erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu or 207.324.2814.
Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
EFNEP offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.
EFNEP Recipe of the Month
The sound of s
ongbirds, crocuses poking their heads out of the snow, vacation week, new calves, and lambs in the fields were all signs for me as a child to celebrate the beginning of spring. It got me thinking of celebrating the beginning of the day and an EGGcellent recipe for breakfast! Eggs are a great, affordable source of protein. In this Egg Bites Recipe, you can easily change up the optional add-in ingredients to fit your taste or mood! Check out this and many other great recipes in our Maine Dish Recipe Video Series. By Deborah Barnett (EFNEP staff in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties – deborhah.barnett@maine.edu)
Recipe Ingredients and Instructions to Download and Print: Egg Bites (PDF)
Egg Bites
Makes 6 servings | Serving size: 1 Egg Bite with English Muffin
Ingredients
6 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup fat-free milk
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
(Optional) 1/2 cup – 1 cup vegetables, diced (onions, peppers, broccoli, spinach, mushroom)
6 English muffins
Nonstick cooking spray
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine beaten eggs, milk, pepper, and salt.
- (Optional) mix in diced vegetables.
- Pour mixture into a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish or into 6 muffin tins.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and cut eggs into six even squares.
- Toast the English muffins in a toaster or on a baking sheet for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Place one egg bite onto an English muffin.
Tips
- If freezing the egg bites: wrap each egg bite in parchment paper, place them in a freezer-grade container or freezer bag, and label them with the date frozen and the name of the food.
- Reheating: unwrap the frozen egg bite, place the egg bite on a microwave-safe plate with a paper towel under it to catch the excess liquid, and reheat for 1 to 1:30 minutes. Place egg bite on a toast English muffin.
Note: The nutrition facts label is based on the recipe without the added vegetables.
