Waldo County 4-H Newsletter – March 2021
Upcoming Dates
3/1: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline
3/4: March Waldo County 4-H Leaders Association Meeting
4/1: Waldo County Extension Association Scholarship Application Deadline
4/7: SkyWarn Weather Spotter Training
4/16-18: State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
4/18: Maine 4-H Public Speaking Awards Ceremony
County News
Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association
The Waldo County 4-H Leader’s Association monthly meeting will be March 4th at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. All 4-H Waldo county 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 look forward to seeing you there!
Waldo County Extension Association Scholarship for a Brighter Future
The Waldo County Extension Association in cooperation with the Maine 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of a $1500 scholarship for Waldo County residents entering their first or second year of post-secondary education.
Applicants must be pursuing a career in a field that supports the Cooperative Extension’s mission “to help Maine people improve their lives through an educational process that uses research-based knowledge.” Examples of eligible fields of study include, but are not limited to agriculture, horticulture, crop science, animal sciences, natural resource conservation, environmental sciences, home economics, nutrition, food systems, preventative health, youth development, and education.
Students who apply for this scholarship must complete the application and a 500-600-word essay discussing their future career goals and how this scholarship will help them achieve these goals. Scholarship applications can be found at extension.umaine.edu/waldo/wcea-scholarship. Applications must be returned to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office by April 1st.
A single scholarship recipient will be announced by May 1st, with funds awarded following completion of a successful first semester.
For more information, contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or call 207.342.5971 or 1-800-287-1426 (toll free in Maine).
2021 National Weather Service SkyWarn Weather Spotter Training (Virtual)
Help your National Weather Service by becoming a Weather Storm Spotter! Storm spotters identify and report on severe weather that they observe. The SkyWarn spotter training will be delivered by the Waldo County Emergency Management Agency and will teach you how to accurately measure and report significant weather phenomenon!
The SkyWarn Weather Spotter Training will take place in spring 2021. The training is open to youth of all ages, but youth under 16 will need to be supported by a parent or guardian.
You may also consider taking online, self-paced weather spotter courses at: www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23.
To register for the training, for additional information, or to request a reasonable accommodation, email sadee.mehuren@maine.edu. Registered families will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link and workshop handouts.
State News
2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
The 2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will take place virtually over the weekend of April 17–18, 2021. If you are interested in participating in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program and need assistance in any way, please contact us to discuss your needs. We are committed to making 4-H programs accessible to all youth, regardless of internet or technology access.
Family, friends, and the general public who wish to support youth can join us for the Awards Ceremony! The Awards Ceremony will be streamed live via Facebook Live, YouTube, and Zoom on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 4:00pm. We encourage you to invite anyone you’d like — there is no limit on attendees!
Questions about the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program? Contact Sheila Norman, 207.942.7396.
Exciting Upcoming Maine 4-H Virtual Teen Science Cafes
Maine 4-H Virtual Teen Science cafes are back for 2021! The sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 4:45 pm. Pre-registration is required, and registration links are online.
- March 2 – Our first session kicks off with John Arimond, whose presentation will focus on wind turbine engineering, UMaine’s wind blade testing, and 3-D Printing Production.
- March 9 – Tom Rounsville joins us to talk about his field research involving bobcat populations.
- March 16 – Our guest is Allison Gardiner, a medical entomologist whose research focuses on the ecology of infectious diseases of humans and wildlife that are transmitted by arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes or ticks.
- March 23 – Join Sean Birkel of UMaine’s Climate Change Institute, whose research utilizes climate modeling and data visualization to better understand climate variability and future impacts from human activity.
- March 30 – Colt Knight of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension will talk about pigs and cows – From Farm to Table and Beyond.
EFNEP Recipe of the Month:
Are you looking to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in a healthy way? This smoothie is an excellent way to enjoy a variety of fruits and even a vegetable with some low-fat protein to make an excellent breakfast or snack choice. Try to include at least 3 of the 5 food groups in every meal and snack.
