York County 4-H News, May 2018
4-H Club News
D.O.G.
Our club ran a rabbit and cavy education day at tractor supply the day before Easter and was busy with non stop visitors and questions. They did a great job with their posters and presentations! Several of our club members also attended an ARBA show. Abby went for her first time and won Reserve in show with her Himalayan rabbit and Maya won Best in Show with one of her Britannia Petite rabbits.
We are planning another educational presentation for End of June.
Lucky Charms
This month the lucky charms 4H group had a great time together at the North Berwick Community Center. We made bird seed ornaments, slime and we turned animal feed bags into reusable shopping bags. We also did a fun experiment with milk, dye and dish soap. Finally, we gathered at the Tractor Supply Co. for the spring fundraiser. We sold bird houses, bird seed ornaments, slime, and the shopping bags.
Kidding Around
At our April meeting, Nate talked to us about planting and all our members went home with small gardens containing seedlings they chose. It was a great day to be outside.
The club also hosted a Poultry Clinic on Saturday, May 12, 2018. Topics covered were everything you need to know to show a chicken or duck at Acton Fair from filling out your forms to showing your bird in the ring. The Judge from last year at Acton Fair (Jonathan Myers) was on hand to talk about getting your birds ready for show and showmanship
Nature Kids
Spring brings sawdust for Nature Kids! We have started our woodworking unit by making candy dispensers using wood, hammers, nails, sandpaper and most importantly… TEAMWORK.
York County Shepherds
Last meeting was in April and we talked about the one theme exhibits for the fairs. We worked on sheep knowledge in small groups and discussed up coming events. June Jamboree is June 9th- 10th. We had a couple of kids do the WHEP camp and loved it!
Dairy Goat Clinic, Sunday, May 20 at 1:30 PM
Reegan and Cole Hussey, independent 4-Hers, are planning a dairy goat clinic at their farm on Sunday, May 20 at 1:30 PM. They will focus on showing the goats. The address is 119 River Road, Biddeford, Maine.
Please contact Sally at 324.2814 or email sarah.s.farrell@maine.edu so we can let the Husseys know how many kids are attending.
4-Hers don’t have to bring their goats to attend, the Hussey’s have some that the kids can work with.
4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Camp
York County 4-Hers from two different clubs attended the camp at UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond during spring break. Levi F. and Chloe L. attended from York County Shepherds 4-H Club. Trista H., Ellie J., and Maya J. attended from D.O.G. 4-H Club. There is a state contest being held on May 12 in Gray to determine 4-H members selected to represent Maine at the National WHEP Contest in July.
Exhibit Hall at Ossipee Valley Fair, July 10-15, 2018
Please join us at Ossippee Valley Fair in the Exhibit Hall this year! There are One Theme Exhibits, and individual exhibits. Exhibit information is on the Ossippee Valley Fair website. Exhibit setup is Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 6:00 – 8:00 PM or Wednesday July 11, 2018, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Contact Ann Boucher at 207.793.2373 with questions and for exhibit cards.
State 4-H Presentation Contest
Aurora A., Sean A., Cadence E., and Ella M. competed in the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest on April 7 at the University of Maine in Orono. All four won blue ribbons. Great job kids!
Year 2017 – 2018
York County 4-H Program “Dates and Facts to Remember”
4-H is age 5-18. 4-H Age is determined by December 31. On December 31 your age is what you will be in the new year. In most cases you must be 9 years old to show a large animal project. For 4-H trips you must be 4-H age of 14. Cloverbuds are aged 5-8/Junior members are age 9-11/Intermediate members are age 12-14/Senior members are age 15-18.
The 4-H program year is October 1 to September 30. This was traditionally set up years ago to follow the agricultural fair schedule. Our two County Fairs are: Ossipee Valley Fair in July and the Acton Fair in August.
May 18 – 19, 2018: 4-H@UMaine program for 4-H members ages 12 – 17.
May 20, 2018: Dairy goat clinic, 1:30 PM, 119 River Road, Biddeford, Maine.
June 2018: Animal Approval forms need to be filled out and signed; Due June 30. Entries are due to Ossipee Valley Fair. Be sure to get a camping spot if needed/ Check fair website for specific dates. Bring certified embossed approval forms with you if showing animals.
June 30, 2018: Animal Approval/Lease forms are due in Extension office for Dog, Goat, and Sheep.
July 16 – 20, 2018: Southern Maine 4-H Horse Camp.
June 30 – July 7, 2018: Citizenship Washington Focus trip.
July 12 – 15, 2018: Ossipee Valley Fair in South Hiram.
July 19 – 22, 2018: Maine 4-H Days at Windsor Fairgrounds.
July 23 – 25, 2018: National 4-H WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program) Contest at Schoodic Institute, Winter Harbor, Maine.
August 1, 2018: Acton Fair entries are due in county office.
August 23 – 26, 2018: Acton Fair.
September 2018: Eastern States “The Big E” Fair.
September 30 – October 7, 2018: Fryeburg Fair.
- Always bring York County 4-H embossed copies of your approval forms with you to the fair if you are showing animals.
- Approval forms not needed for rabbits or chickens.
State 4-H News
Register Starting June 1 for 2018 Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 20 – 22, 2018 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you do not have online access, please contact your local county office for paper copies of the forms. Find information and registration materials at the Maine 4-H Days website.
Registration opens on June 1. If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact Sarah Sparks at sparks@maine.edu or 207.353.5550.
Oxford County 4-H June Jamboree
Oxford County 4-H JuneJamboree Livestock Clinic, Working Steer and Horse Clinic is being held June 8 through June 10 at the Fryeburg Fair Grounds, 1154 Main Street, Fryeburg, Maine. Workshops are designed for youth completing project work in the areas of sheep, swine, working steer and horse. Horseless riders are also welcome. Rabies vaccines will be available. A Big E Try Out for Working Steer is being held Sunday Morning.
Workshops will include washing, clipping, showmanship, animal handling and learning activities around zoonotic disease.
There is a $20.00 registration fee for everyone attending. Camper space is available and meals will be provided starting with breakfast Saturday morning through lunch on Sunday. Check in begins Friday evening after 5:00 PM. For more information about Oxford County June Jamboree please email cyr@maine.edu or rebecca.mosley@maine.edu. This event is open to 4-H Families from all counties. Adults and youth must preregister online due to insurance regulations and to help with meal and activity planning.
Check with your county office for the online registration link which will be available soon. Registration deadline is May 25.
4-H Summer Camp Programs — Register Now!
Registration is open for summer programs at the UMaine 4-H Centers at Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, and Tanglewood for youth ages 8-17. Camps start up June 24 and run through August 18 with week-long, two-week, and mini-camp sessions to fit your needs. Campers shape their experience through activity choice (STEM, swimming, archery, gardening, watershed and marine ecology, creative arts, boating, drama, group challenge, and primitive skills), on adventures and trips, eating delicious home-cooked meals, and in wicked evening programs. Teen Leadership Programs build conscious young adults, through teamwork and community stewardship, and teach canoeing/backpacking skills while exploring Maine’s beautiful woods and waterways. Special scholarships for 4-H youth from the Maine 4-H Foundation and some scholarships for Conservation Education camps through Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Tanglewood and Bryant Pond. To learn more visit UMaine 4-H Camps and Learning Centers/ or contact your local UMaine Extension county office.
2018 American Goat Federation Youth Scholarship Program
To encourage education and development of youth involved in the goat industry, AGF will accept scholarship applications from qualifying youth who enter and complete all requirements of the program. Projects must be received at the AGF office by August 20, 2018 and the Scholarship Application accompanied by a short biography must be received at the office No Later than 30 days prior to August 20, 2018. Entries will be judged by an independent panel and winners will be announced September, 2018.
Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and under the age of 21 as of September 30, 2017. Applicants must be a member of the American Goat Federation, the child, grandchild, great grandchild or step child, step grandchild or step great grandchild of a member of the American Goat Federation, or of any of the following member organizations of the American Goat Federation.
- The American Boer Goat Association (including Jr Association)
- The American Dairy Goat Association
- Alabama Meat Goat and Sheep Producers Association
- Cashmere Goat Association
- Texas Sheep and Goat Breeders Association
For more information, visit the American Goat Federation website.
Maine 4-H Project Records, Reflection Tools and Digital Badges!
Maine 4-H is excited to roll out new 4-H project records, reflection tools and opportunities for digital badges.
A team has been working to design the new records aligned with research and connections to Maine’s commitment to proficiency-based education in mind. We know that these won’t be perfect and are anxious to have YOU help us try them out and be part of the process. The new records are now posted online and can be found on the state 4-H website. Direct links are available here:
- Project Record – Advanced (Word | PDF)
- Project Record – Beginner (Word | PDF)
- Project Record – Cloverbud (Word | PDF)
- Project Record – Intermediate (Word | PDF)
- Portfolio (Word | PDF)
We are also planning a few ways for you to be part of the team to ask questions and give feedback.
Join our Google classroom community: This will be a place where volunteers and youth members are able to share real-time feedback about these tools. To join:
- Sign in to Classroom at classroom.google.com.
- On the homepage, click Add>Join class.
- Enter the code d9jmty and click Join.
Participate in our live feedback sessions: Please save the date for feedback sessions. These will be conducted using Zoom. Register for these sessions with KymNoelle Hopson at 207.353.5550 or kymnoelle.hopson@maine.edu.
- September 11 from 6 – 8 p.m.
We are looking forward to having YOU as part of our team. If you have any questions please contact Kristy Ouellette, kristy.ouellette@maine.edu or 207.353.5550, extension 12.