4-H News in Washington County – January 2021
Dates to Remember
January 6-19: Registration for Washington County 4-H Winter Activity Series
January 12: 4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series: Virtual 4-H Special Interest Clubs – What’s All the Hype?
January 18: Office Closed to Observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 19: 4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series: Taking 4-H Outdoors
January 19, 30; Feb. 2, 13, 16, and 27: 4-H Passport Around the World SPIN Club
January 26: 4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series: When Your 4-H Club Can’t Meet in Person…GO VIRTUAL!
January 26: 4-H Public Speaking Workshop -Online Presentations | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
February 9: 4-H Public Speaking Workshop- Career & College Readiness |6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
February 16: 4-H Public Speaking Workshop- Introduction to 4-H Public Speaking for Cloverbud | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m
February 23: 4-H Public Speaking Workshop- All About Judging & Scoring | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
March 1: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications Due
April 16-18: Maine State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
Washington County 4-H Winter Activity Series
Looking for a way to connect with your club or other 4-Hers this winter? Join us for our 4-H Winter Activity Series starting in January. The series will include a choice of various hands-on learning activities such as Wildlife Tracking, Indoor Herb Gardening or Geocaching. Youth will have the opportunity to hear virtually from a professional and learn more about their topic of choice. Clubs can choose a topic together and participate in monthly share outs or join the county virtual share outs. Kits are available for 4-H members in Washington County only. Registration will run from January 6th to January 19th. For more information and to register: Washington County 4-H Winter Activity Series Website
For questions or to request an accommodation, contact Brittany Foster, brittany.foster@maine.edu or 207.255.3345.
We look forward to you joining us!
Available Kits: (all ages)
Geocaching | Do you love treasure hunts or hiking? Would you like to learn basic compass or GPS skills? Geocaching is a great way to practice navigation skills while hiking around. Explore various geocaches around you. You might be surprised how many you can find in Washington County.
Winter Wildlife Tracking | See an animal track or scat and wonder what animals are roaming in your area? Explore the various signs of wildlife around you. A field guide is available to help you identify tracks, make your own cast of a track or use the signs of wildlife to tell a story.
Indoor Herb Garden | If you would like to bring a little bit of the outside inside this winter, try gardening indoors. This kit includes everything you need to grow herbs for cooking inside. Once your herbs grow, get creative and use them in a recipe or attend a cooking demonstration.
4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series
Need a little change of pace this winter? Looking for an opportunity to connect with other 4-H volunteers? Maine 4-H is excited to offer some short, fun virtual learning opportunities for 4-H volunteers! Whether you are a club volunteer who has worked with a group of youth for a number of years, or a newly enrolled volunteer trying to decide how you can get involved, the Maine 4-H program has something for you. Register to join us for one, two or all three virtual sessions in our January Cabin Fever Series on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. The best part is you can cozy up with a blanket and your slippers, a cup of hot cocoa and a snack and join us from the comfort of your own home!
Sessions:
Virtual 4-H Special Interest Clubs – What’s All the Hype? |When: Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 7:00 – 8:00 pm.
Taking 4-H Outdoors |When: Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
When Your 4-H Club Can’t Meet in Person…GO VIRTUAL! |When: Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
For more information or to request an accommodation, please contact Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu.
A New Year, a new Project Record!
Welcome to the new year! 4-H Project Records are used by 4-H members of all ages to demonstrate the goals they have set, what they have learned, and what they have achieved during their 4-H year. 4-H youth all over the world are working on Project Records throughout the year – you are not alone! As you are planning your 4-H projects this year, we encourage you to keep a record of your experience by using the 4-H Project Records. Visit the website to download the records and learn more.
UMaine Extension’s Commitment to Civil Rights
This message is being sent as a reminder of UMaine Cooperative Extension’s commitment to ensuring the civil rights of its clients. Every member of the 4-H community must be treated fairly, equitably, with dignity and respect in employment and education. This policy applies to all – regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression, citizenship status, and marital or family status. Each 4-H Volunteer has an important role in ensuring that our programs are open and accessible to all youth in accordance with the goals of the program, and for maintaining a positive and equitable environment. The challenge, for each of us, is to make special efforts to seek out diversity. We must be able to show we have made all responsible efforts to reach community members who are traditionally underrepresented in our programs and groups. We each become more effective in teaching and learning when we are open to a diversity of ideas, cultures, experiences and backgrounds. Not only are our lives enriched, but we also build healthier communities for learning and living.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Extension Office with questions.
Dog Photo Contest Northeast Regional Competition
Congratulations to Washington County 4-H member, Linda J. of Cobscook Currents, who placed in the Costume Class of the Northeast Regional 4-H Dog Photo Contest with this photo of Tikka in an October dress. Well done Linda!
To view all entries, visit the website.
The statewide birding club, 4-H Bird Chats, is underway! Club members met for the first time on December 16th and learned basic birding techniques and all about Project FeederWatch, a citizen science initiative of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hancock County CEA Zabet NeuCollins, who is leading the group, said that she was blown away by the enthusiasm by the kids and fellow staff members. There are twenty-one participants! She hopes this will be an annual club. In the meantime, she is prepping for January’s lesson which will be about different types of bird feeders. If you’d like to sign up to receive activity sheets at home, fill out the form on our website at: 4-H Bird Chats
Maine Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Recipe and Resources
Enjoy this recipe provided by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Visit the Washington County University of Maine Cooperative Extension EFNEP page to learn how to participate in nutrition education programs!
State News
Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
Graduating seniors can apply for a 4-H scholarship from the Maine 4-H Foundation. Applications are due on March 1, 2021, to the local county office and on March 8, 2021, to the Maine 4-H Foundation. For more information please go to: https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.
4-H Passport Around the World SPIN Club
Join Maine 4-H and Greenheart Exchange as we travel around the world virtually and meet other teens from across the globe! Meetings will include a brief presentation from a Greenheart Exchange Student, an activity, and Q & A. This SPIN Club is best for ages 12-18 and open to all youth. A minimal supply list will be provided for each activity.
Dates are Tuesdays, January 19th, February 2nd, and 16th, 4:00-5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, January 30th, February, 13th and 27th, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Register at: umaine.edu/4h/4-h-passport-around-the-world-spin-club/.
Important Information for 4-H Market Steer Project Members
Any youth who have submitted an Intent to Sell a Market Steer at the Fryeburg Fair need to follow the updated guidelines sent out:
Email a photo and the following information to jessica.brainerd@maine.edu (if you don’t have access to email, you can print the photo and put the required information on the back – regular paper is fine – mail to: State 4-H Office, 491 College Ave, Orono, ME 04473). Show any distinct marks (i.e. white feet, white spots on head/body). Include a picture of the RFID tag in the animal’s ear.
1. Your name on the page
2. The USDA approved RFID ear tag # (it starts with the first three digits of "840") and it is 15 digits long.
Confirm that you have written down the number correctly! No changes will be made.
3. The name of your steer.
4. The birth date (month/year or exact date if known)
5. Beginning weight – use a weight tape if necessary (either the date you first tape it or the weight you
purchased/obtained your steer) – we can figure the ADG (Average Daily Gain) at the final weigh-in
6. The breed of your steer
7. Who you purchased/obtained your steer from and the price paid. If Bred and Owned, please state this.
8. Address where is the steer being housed – a complete address.
9. Any other farm tags or tattoo that your animal has.
NEW THIS YEAR – Your approval form will be handled at the county level. Your steer should be entered
on your regular animal approval form. In the column titled “Show Class” enter Fryeburg Sale. If you do not
complete this correctly the animal will not be eligible for Fryeburg’s Sale as there are other sales throughout
the state.
The 2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will take place virtually over the weekend of April 16 – 18, 2021. In the absence of local club and county tournaments this year, there will be ample support for youth preceding the tournament in the form of workshops and focused practice opportunities. These workshops are open to all youth who wish to practice their public speaking skills and those who wish to qualify for the state tournament. 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.
– January 26, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Online Presentations
– February 9, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Career & College Readiness
– February 16, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m | Introduction to 4-H Public Speaking for Cloverbuds
– February 23, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | All About Judging & Scoring
– Practice Sessions by appointment in February and March
– April 16-18, 2021
sheila.norman@maine.edu.
Do you have an animal, an acre of pasture, and an interest in GPS? Learn real-world uses for GPS in modern livestock operations.
Youth 14 – 18 year will learn:
- How GPS works
- History of GPS livestock tracking
- Current GPS uses in livestock research
- Developing your own GPS Research Project with your livestock
- How to download and analyze data
- How to present your GPS research results—Best presentation receives a Custom Silver Buckle
Want to know more? Contact either Debra Kantor – debra.kantor@maine.edu or 207.474.9622, or Colt Knight – colt.knight@maine.edu or 207.581.2593.