Waldo County 4-H Newsletter – September 2023
Upcoming Dates:
9/4 : Labor Day- office closed
9/10 : 4-H Brave Spaces – Registration due
9/18 & 9/25: 4-H Aspiring Volunteers- online informational sessions
9/22-9/24: Common Ground Country Fair-Stop by our table in the agricultural tent and say hi!
10/11: Fall 2023 Maine 4-H Agricultural Ambassadors Program – Registration due
Waldo County 4-H News:
Waldo County 4-H Members Shine at Fairs!
Waldo County 4-H members have been busy attending fairs with their livestock. Kelsy S. of the Little Beavers 4-H Club exhibited dairy cows at Union Fair and placed third in her Sr. Showmanship class. Kelsy also exhibited the Reserve Jr. Champion Ayrshire. Nice job Kelsy!
Independent 4-H members Asa and Lena took their market lambs and dairy heifers to Bangor Fair. Lena won her lamb fitting and showmanship classes. Asa took home two top awards in beef and sheep judging contests. Well done Asa & Lena!
We would love to highlight your 4-H project in our newsletter!
Just fill out the form at: extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/forms/waldo-county-4-h-activity-form/ or email sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.
Welcome Nita!
Please join us in welcoming Nita Frederick to Waldo County 4-H as our new Community Education Assistant! Nita brings a wealth of information to Waldo County 4-H including experience as a former classroom teacher, business owner, and community outreach professional. She has previously been enrolled as a Master Gardener with UMaine Cooperative Extension and is passionate about building a sustainable local food system.
Nita is excited to join the 4-H team and is looking forward to meeting 4-H members and volunteers from across the state. She can be reached by email at: nita.frederick@maine.edu , by phone at 207.581.8286, or stop by the Waldo County office!
Birthday Shoutout!
August: Isaac L., Merrily S., Ben B., Amy C.
September: Wayne S., Lena M., Asa M., Eva L.
4-H Spotlight:
Connie Clements
It is with great honor that we spotlight Connie Clements this month in our first of a new monthly column dedicated to highlighting the contributions that volunteers, members, community members, and donors have made to Waldo County 4-H. As we look to the future of 4-H in Waldo County we would like to honor Connie Clements for her indelible legacy on the 4-H family and her tireless endeavors to increase the capacity of 4-H to serve greater numbers of youth.
Many remember Connie as the leader and founder of the 4 Seasons 4-H Club in Monroe in the early 1970’s. Members of the club each had to host a monthly 4-H meeting at their home during the year. They worked on and exhibited projects at fairs including Bangor Fair, Skowhegan State Fair, Union Fair and Windsor Fair. Members also made trips to Baxter State Park three times. Older members on the trips tackled the peaks of Katahdin and the younger members hiked to Chimney Pond. Over the years the 4 Seasons 4-H Club sent a number of members to Washington D.C. for Citizenship Short Course and Conference, and Chicago for the National 4-H Congress.
A decade after founding and leading the 4 Seasons 4-H Club Connie was honored at the national level as part of the inaugural Salute to Excellence Program. In addition to receiving the award, at the conference Connie attended workshops regarding creative techniques for expanding 4-H at the local level. “Fund-raising projects were discussed to help develop and carry on the 4-H programs at a local, county and state level” Connie commented, as reported by the Republican Journal in 1982. Upon her return to Maine she worked with 4-H Leadership on incentive grants to increase volunteers in the 4-H program.
Several years later she was asked to be co-chairman of the Northeast Regional 4-H Leaders’ Conference held in Portland, Maine. There were over 500 people in attendance from 13 states from Maine to Georgia.
Connie led the 4 Seasons 4-H Club and worked with 4-H leadership around the state until the end of the 1984-85 programming year when the last of her own children graduated high school and aged out of 4-H. The club was disbanded at that point, but Connie’s tenure with 4-H wasn’t over!
Pat Pierson at the University of Maine Waldo County Extension office contacted Connie in 1989 and offered her the position of 4-H Coordinator for the county. She accepted and worked in that position until she moved to being a 4-H aid in 1994. Connie worked at the extension office in various positions until her retirement in February of 2008.
We look to Connie’s commitment to 4-H and steadfastness in rebuilding the program for inspiration as we work to create a robust 4-H program in Waldo County.
Were you in the 4 Seasons 4-H Club? Share your stories and pictures with us either on our Facebook (@Waldo4H) or email them to nita.frederick@maine.edu and we will include them in our archive and in another edition of our newsletter.
Thanks go out to Ken Clements for his contribution to this article!
State 4-H News:
UMaine Extension 4-H to offer sessions for aspiring volunteers in September
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on Sept. 18 & 25, 2023 from 6 – 7 p.m.
“Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth.
A 4-H volunteer is many things – mentor, advisor, friend, teacher, referee, role model, pacesetter and much more. As a 4-H volunteer, participants will have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children, teach them valuable life skills, help them thrive towards a positive self-image, accomplish positive personal goals and a sense of accomplishment.
The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired.
Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our website at extension.umaine.edu/4h/start-your-4-h-volunteer-journey-training/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley, jennifer.lobley@maine.edu or at 207.255.3345.
4-H Ecological Studies (4Est) SPIN Club
Did you know that YOU are a scientist and can contribute to the science community?!? This virtual 4-H citizen scientists club encourages youth to practice citizen science in their own backyard, with a variety of citizen science opportunities to consider, and report their observations while making connections with fellow citizen scientists in their community and around the state. Along the way, we’ll learn about Maine ecology and how you can participate in research by just taking a picture.
Tuesdays September 12 – October 17, 2023 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm via zoom. This SPIN club is open to up to 12 youth ages 12 – 18. Please register by August 30th, so we have time to mail the materials to you home. To learn more or sign up, visit our web page at extension.umaine.edu/4h/virtual-learning-hub/4-h-ecological-studies-4est-spin-club/.
Fall 2023 Maine 4-H Agricultural Ambassadors Program
Who: This program is for all Maine youth ages 14 – 18.
What: This hybrid program will provide youth with an opportunity to connect to local agriculture, build relationships with industry professionals, develop professional and advocacy skills, and explore careers in agriculture. The 2023 fall cohort will explore careers and local agriculture through in-person field trips (limited transportation available), and by attending virtual meetings to grow their professional skill set (e.g. resume writing and interviewing skills). Additionally, youth will complete a personal reflective project exploring the role of agriculture and their future. This program includes mentoring in post-secondary opportunities as well as exploring current issues around food systems, livestock, crop sciences, aquaculture, climate issues impacting food systems, food equity, and more.
Why: The goal of the Maine 4-H Ag Ambassador Program is to provide experiences for youth to explore their interest in agriculture. The program focuses on.
– connecting youth with their local food systems and industries
– exploring the richness and diversity of the Maine food system
– developing “ag-vocacy” skills
– increasing access to career and post-secondary opportunities in agri-science and food systems.
Where: Virtually and in-person throughout Maine.
When: – Virtual Meeting Dates: October 18 & 25, November 1 & 15
– In-Person Meeting Dates: October 21, November 10, and December 2.
How: Interested in Joining? Register Online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/ag-leadership/registration-agricultural-leadership-ambassador-program/ by October 11th.
4-H Brave Spaces
4-H Brave Spaces is a five-session series designed to provide a safe place for youth to have important conversations about gender identity. This series demonstrates to LGBTQ+ youth that they are valued and welcomed by 4-H and gives all youth the tools to be supportive and effective allies. The peer-reviewed curriculum was created by Minnesota 4-H youth alongside regional and local Extension educators. Session highlights include: gender identity basics, a panel of LGBTQ+ and ally 4-H alumni, and tools to interrupt harassment and bias.
Session topics will include:
- Words and Culture Matter
- A Walk in Their Shoes
- What Can I Do?
- Global Cafe
Cost: Free
Ages: Youth in grades 6 – 12
Dates/Time: Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 pm, September 14, 21, 28, October 5 & 19, 2023
Register Now: For currently enrolled 4-Hers (be sure to be logged into ZSuite) or For youth not currently enrolled in 4-H.
Limited to 12 participants. Register by September 10th. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.581.8206; sarah.sparks@maine.edu.