York County 4-H Newsletter, April 2022

April 11, 2022 York County 4-H News

Upcoming Dates:

April 22nd — WHEP Workshop at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine in Augusta
April 23rd — A Year in Nature meeting at Vaughn Woods, 1-3pm
April 26th — 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting, 6:30pm
April 29th — Deadline to register for the Fashion Revue
May 6th — Deadline to submit the Betty Syvinski Scholarship Application

County News

National Volunteer Week: April 17-23

Be sure to show extra appreciation for your 4-H volunteers this month! Volunteers are the backbone of 4-H and we are very thankful for all of the hard work our York County 4-H volunteers do every year. From organizing club meetings to running the 4-H Food Booth, our volunteers are ever present, ensuring our 4-H youth get the most out of their 4-H experience. Over the last few months there have been several new additions to the York County 4-H volunteer family and we look forward to getting to know you as you start your new clubs! Thank you for your passion, enthusiasm, and dedication.

York County 4-H Volunteers:

Barbara Peterson, Else Cook, Ann Boucher, Jackie Lipsky, Maya Bogh, Debbi Cole, Nathan Cole, Kristi Maling, Jody Harrison, Melissa Ryan-Proper, Kim Lamontagne, Donna Flint, Scott McInnis, Jen Azara, Patrice Cousineau, Diane Qualey, Sally Wood, Nancy VanTassel, Lacey Qualey, Cortney Beamis, Laura Cashell, Amy Clock, Elizabeth Clock, Alex Nichols, Jessica Cyr, Julie Perron, Morgan Harper, Staphanie Dornsife

Sewing Workshop Fun!

Thank you to Jackie for leading a sewing workshop where everyone learned how to make a tote bag! Lots of fun was had by all and we look forward to seeing those tote bags on the runway at the Fashion Revue!

State News

4-H For All: Spring 2022

The purpose of this virtual club is to provide new and potential members and their families a place to learn about 4-H; and to connect youth across the state. Youth will choose a project to complete and learn more about 4-H and how to become involved. We want you to join and engage in our 4-H program! There is no cost, and meetings will help challenge you to create new goals and discover new passions. Open to youth 5-13, dates will be March 24, April 28, May 26 at 10am. Register at: umaine.edu/4h/4-h-for-all-club.

The Maine App Challenge

Love technology? Here is a chance to put your passion to a purpose and win a scholarship along the way! The Maine App Challenge is an incredible opportunity for Maine middle school and high school students who are 13 years of age and older to create a mobile application with a chance to win a scholarship and other valuable rewards. A series of innovation workshops from the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation will help you get started! There are three scholarships available for the top mobile apps: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.

Other awards include: $500 to the high school with the highest participation, Tablets to the first 50 completed submissions, a guaranteed internship interview for the top 10 submissions following his/her college sophomore year. Visit the Tyler Technology Maine App Challenge website for more information; the deadline for submissions is May 15th.

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub

Maine 4-H VirtualLearning is a hands-on, virtual learning program for youth ages 5-18. Workshops will be organized by age and topic. Topics include engineering, science, animals and agriculture, teen leadership, and more.

Workshops will range from single-time events to short-term programs (typically four to six sessions). Participants will engage in hands-on activities, interact with other 4-Hers, and be positive adult role models.

No prior experience with 4-H is required to participate. This is a great way for those who are interested to learn more about 4-H.

- Check out the upcoming 4-H VirtualLearning Programs we have planned in the coming months: Visit the Upcoming Events: Statewide Virtual Offerings for 2021-2022 page.
- Learnwhich virtual event registrations are open: Visit the Open Registrations page.
- Interested in becoming a Volunteer Presenter? Visit the Become a Volunteer Presenter pagefor more information and to complete an interest form.
- Read what 4-H Parents, Youth, and Teachers have to say about these 4-H VirtualLearning offerings: Visit the 4-H Parents, Youth, Teachers: Stories and Testimonials page.

ESE Approval Form Reminder

All 4-H members intending to exhibit a horse or dairy animal at Eastern States Exposition this fall must submit their 4-H animal approval form, as well as their accompanying lease forms and health documents, to their county Cooperative Extension office by May 1st. Copies of 4-H approval and lease forms can be found online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/forms. Please contact your county office with any questions.

EFNEP Recipe of the Month: Egg Bites!

The sound of songbirds, crocuses poking their heads out of the snow, vacation week, new calves, and lambs in the fields were all signs for me as a child to celebrate the beginning of Spring. It got me thinking of celebrating the beginning of the day and an EGGcellent recipe for breakfast, or anytime! Eggs are a great affordable source of protein. In this Egg Bites Recipe, you can easily change up the optional add-in ingredients to fit your taste or mood! Check out this and many other great recipes in our Maine Dish Recipe Video Series. By Debbie Barnett (EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties – barnett@maine.edu)

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.

2022 Intent Form for Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Now Available

The 2022 Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Tryouts intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/horse/. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must submit their intent forms by May 1st. Forms can be completed online or a hard copy of the form can be mailed to the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office. For more information or for questions, please contact Tara Marble at marble@maine.eduor 207.778.4650.

Maine 4-H Offers Agriculture Symposium for Teens

You are invited to join Maine 4-H staff for the 4-H Agriculture Symposium, an immersive agriculture experience for Maine teens. The 4-H Agriculture Symposiumis an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on UMaine Orono and UMaine Augusta-Bangor campuses, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state. Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation can be provided upon request.

The program is free and registration is required. Register on the program webpage. Current CDC and University of Maine health guidelines will be followed for all in-person events.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski at 207.622.7546; 4hagleadership@maine.edu. This program is made possible with generous support from the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.

Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Tryouts Scheduled for April

The 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on April 23rd at Juniper Farms in Gray, ME, and Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2022 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. Visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/judging/for a complete schedule, contest rules, and directions to the farms. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.