York County 4-H News, March 2018
4-H Club News
D.O.G.
Lucky Charms
The Lucky Charms club has been busy! We’ve elected new officers, built bird houses, and planned a spring fundraiser. We had two members participate in the public speaking contest and some of the February vacation workshops. Our next activity meeting will be messy, we’ll be making slime! Happy Spring!
Kidding Around
Our February meeting was a fun one. Sally came and did a power point presentation on vermicomposting (worm farming) and each member made their own worm composting bin.
At our March meeting, we learned how to make an inexpensive incubator and hatch and raise chicks. There were lots of little chicks for the kids to play with and they helped Nate put bands on the chicks.
Kidding Around 4-H club will be hosting a Poultry Clinic on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 1:00 PM at 119 Shaws Ridge Road, Sanford, Maine.
You will learn 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. You can bring your birds if you want, but you do not have to. The Judge from last year at Acton Fair (Jonathan Myers) will be on hand to talk about getting your birds ready for show and showmanship
Please bring a lawn chair.
RSVP to Debbi Cole at Debbi@kennebunklaw.com or 207.469.8714.
Nature Kids
York County Shepherds
We had a demo done by Aidan about his lambing season. We discussed our one theme club project for the fairs. We picked a theme. We did a felted wool car diffuser as a craft. Club members also attended the felting and painting workshops.
York County Presentation Contest
A county presentation contest was held on March 10. We had 10 participants. We have six 4-H youth from York County who qualified to compete at the State 4-H Presentation Contest at Maine on April 7. Great job, kids and leaders, in preparing for the competition. We had great presentations from Cloverbuds who will get their chance at the state contest when they reach official 4-H age.
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.
March 31, 2018: D.O.G. Rabbit Clinic at Tractor Supply in Scarborough from 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
April 1, 2018: Eastern States Horse approval forms/lease forms due in county office.
April 1, 2018: Enrollments due for new 4-H members.
April 3, 2018: 4-H Leader’s Meeting at 7:00 PM in the county office.
April 7, 2018: State-Wide Public Speaking Contest, Orono
April 8, 2018: Snow date for April 7, Public Speaking Contest, Orono
April 7 – 12, 2018: National 4-H Conference trip to Washington, D.C.
May 1, 2018: “Intent to sell” Market Lamb forms due in county office.
May 1, 2018: Animal Approval/Lease forms due in county office for Dairy and Working Steer.
May 1, 2018: Go online to “Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors” for livestock insurance to show at the fairs or provide evidence of $1,000,000 homeowners insurance to show at the fairs.
May 12, 2018: Poultry Clinic 1:00 PM, hosted by Kidding Around 4-H Club, rsvp to debbi@kennebunklaw.com or call 207.469.8714.
May 18 – 19, 2018: 4-H@UMaine program for 4-H members ages 12 – 17.
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
Save the Date for 2018 Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 20 – 22 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee
July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events! If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee, or have general questions/comments/recommendations about the event, please email brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.
Come to Orono for the 2018 4H@UMaine May 18-19!
Planning has started and the wheels are in motion thanks to the efforts of a tremendous team! We are looking forward to another great event this year, and there are some exciting changes in the works! Stay tuned for details. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich at kranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capital during the week of June 30 to July 7, 2018. CWF is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 14 to 18. Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will travel down on June 30 and travel home July 7, 2018. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington, DC will be a part of the trip, including spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capital. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 28, 2018. For more information visit Citizenship Washington Focus. Contact your county 4-H office for details about how to be a part of this experience if you don’t hear from them very shortly. All county offices have different criteria/dates to apply, so please contact them ASAP.
4-H Healthy Relationships Teen Council Meeting March 19
In February, Maine 4-H sent 7 teens to the Healthy Living Summit in Washington D.C. As part of the trip the group created an action plan to bring back to Maine to implement. They chose to focus on helping other youth establish healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives including families, significant others, and friends, in part by helping them to understand their own self-worth. Their goal is to empower kids to connect and create an environment full of healthy relationships. The team will be meeting virtually via Zoom on Monday March 19th 5:00 – 6:30PMand welcome any other youth ages 14-18 who would like to participate in this action plan. For more information about the action plan you can visit our live video at https://www.facebook.com/UMaineExtensionCumberland/videos/10155351926926938/. If you are interested in participating please email Sara Conant, conant@maine.edu or call the Cumberland County Extension office at 207.781.6099.
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.
4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Wildlife Education Training Event, April 19 – 20. Please hold the date!
Maine will host the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program this July at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia. In preparation, Maine 4-H will have a training event to prepare and select a team to compete in the national event. On April 19th and 20th the Maine 4-H program will host an overnight educational training program and team selection. Plans include an ongoing WHEP event and participation in the national program each year. More information will follow. Cost will be $25 per member all meals and materials included. The training will be held at the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Training is open to all youth ages 8-19. Studying a science-based manual, participants:
- Learn wildlife terms and concepts
- Learn about wildlife habitat
- Learn how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
- Learn about wildlife habitat management practices
- Learn about wildlife damage management
To learn more, go to the 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) website or facebook.com/mainewhep or contact Sally Farrell, sarah.s.farrell@maine.edu or 207.324.2814.
Registration Now Open for 2018 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge
UMaine-led STEM Competition for Maine Middle School and High School Youth Focused on Renewable Energy, Innovation, and Economic Development Slated for May 18, 2018.
The Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge, hosted by the University of Maine, asks teams of students to design and construct a floating platform for a scale model wind turbine, and then delivers a presentation to a panel of expert judges. The event is designed for student teams with a diverse range of experience. We encourage all middle and high school students to participate.
UMaine staff work with teachers or advisors throughout the design and build process. Teams are presented with a guidebook and a simulated test turbine to test their platform prior to competition day.
Participation is free, and a limited number of travel stipends are available to schools with demonstrated need.
We recently published this ~2 minute video highlighting the design, build, and test process with youth from King Middle School in Portland.
High School Teams are teams of 4 or less high school students. Members of the top qualifying team will be offered an internship at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, contingent upon their enrollment at UMaine, valued more than $20,000.
Middle School Teams are teams of up to 10 middle school students. These groups will test their platform and provide a presentation, just like high school teams, but they will not be considered for the internship award. An alternative award will be granted to the members of a winning middle school team.
For more information, contact Marcy Smith at marcys@maine.edu.
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.