4-H Happenings

A NEWSLETTER FOR HANCOCK COUNTY 4-H PARTICIPANTS

April 2007 Issue

Demonstrations

Are you looking for a place to get new ideas? Then Hancock County’s final Demonstrations at Cave Hill School was the place to be.  What a good job of getting up in front of an audience and judges to demonstrate something you can make. We had five clubs and an Independent represented. It was especially good to see a brand new horse club, Hancock County 4-H Wranglers. It is amazing to see how well the demonstrators handle the questions at the end of their presentations.  Submitted by Norma Hardison, 4-H Program Aide

Upcoming Events
    

NORMA’S NOTES:  I thought those with a “scrap booking project” might like this idea I saw in a magazine. Instead of throwing out old birthday and holiday cards, cut out the words and pictures to use in your scrapbook. It’s much cheaper than purchasing expensive stickers, and adds special meaning to the pages. This is just one of the many ways to recycle those  beautiful cards.
     Here’s a helpful hint for simple cake and cookie decorating. Cover one corner of a resealable plastic bag with tape, fill the bag with frosting and cut a hole in the corner. The tape adds stiffness, which makes controlling your decorating easier.
     Hopefully these hints will help you make a better looking project and catch the judges eye. 

CLUB CHAT: A brand new club has been formed and they meet at the Hancock Grammar School. So new in fact, they don’t even have a name yet. Linda Woodworth is their leader with a couple of helpers and the focus right now is knitting. Learning to knit can be very frustrating but very rewarding when you finish your project. So with lots of practice the stitches and rows will just keep getting better. Knitting is a very “cool” thing to do now.
     Mrs. Woodworth read off the suggested names the members accumulated from a brain storming session. They sure had a long list of very creative names!
     Norma Hardison, Program Aide, presented the club with the flag set and the banners that are furnished by the Leaders’ Association. She also gave the 4-Hers wrist bracelets and pins and welcomed them to 4-H.
     This club is excited to have their first knitting meeting. We wish them lots of luck and we are looking forward to seeing their projects at the Style Revue.
     The very latest update as this newsletter goes to press: the name of the club is “The Clover Club.” The next lesson went very well so they are busy as can be knitting. 

 4-H NEWS

4-H Photo Contest - Continue taking those pictures!  Deadline to submit photos to the office is August 1st. 

 VOLT Training - There will be a VOLT (Volunteer Ongoing Leader Training) on Saturday, April 28, 2007, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm here at the Extension office. Please encourage anyone  interested in 4-H to call the office for an application.  This will give a volunteer the opportunity to start a club, assist a club, chaperone, or just gain more knowledge of 4-H. 
What do you learn in VOLT?
J You learn about 4-H and UMCE.
J You learn about starting and working with a club
J You learn about new opportunities and resources.
J You learn different ways to teach life skills.
J You learn about leadership and group work.
J You become a member of a national community of caring people who are helping young people to reach their goals in life.

Special 4-H Keepsake Edition - If you are interested in receiving a color copy of the Special Edition, you may purchase a CD at a cost of $3 each.  Contact Joyce at the Extension office for your copy.

Goat Intent Form - 4-H members 12 years old and up intending to go to Eastern States must have forms signed by the 4-H Educator by May 1st.  The new forms are now available on line or you may call the Extension office and we can mail you one.

 Last Reminder to Seniors - Don’t forget that the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association scholarship application must be postmarked  or  received at the Extension Office on or before April 27, 2007.

 4-H Supply’s Source Book Spring  Update - Over 75 new 4-H items are available such as:
· 4-H Tech accessories
· Infant & toddler items
· Pet accessories
· Backpacks & totes
· 4-H apparel for all ages, many sized to 3XL
· More ways to shop the Spring Update than ever!
Go to www.4hsupply.org to:
· Download PDF files of Spring Update or specific pages
· View & click items on each page of their virtual catalog
· Request to receive a copy of the Spring Update in the mail

Email Updates - Just a reminder of the gracious service Lore Lipkvich does for Hancock County 4-H.  Lore sends  updates, including calendar events and activities, to any member interested.  Often theses updates have important information members need to know before the next newsletter.  If you are not receiving these and would like to be included on her list, please notify her at:
chowderpatch@prodigy.net. Also, if you have something you would like her to include you may also email her your request.

Knit-In - It’s cold so what better time to think about knitting. The Hancock County Knit-In was a fun and relaxing evening. Relaxing, that is, unless you dropped a stitch or were just learning. But even that was not a problem. There was a volunteer right there just waiting to help you. A snack, some hot chocolate and a little conversation made for an enjoyable evening. Hope to see these girls at Style Revue! 

Hippology!
What is Hippology? - Hippology is an exciting opportunity for 4-Hers to learn about horses. You do not need to own a horse and all ages can participate.              

Hippology meetings will be held twice a month in various locations so come to as many meetings as you can to learn about horse breeds, coat colors, anatomy, telling age, feeding, general care, tack and equipment, horse events, diseases, breeding, genetics, riding styles and much, much, more! 

Goal - The goal of these meetings is to educate 4-Hers about their project, to prepare them for the Eastern States written test, and to select the Maine Hippology National Team for Kentucky.

 The National Teams - Eastern States 4-H Horse Round Up, also known as Nationals, is different from Eastern States Exposition Fair in Massachusetts. ‘Nationals’ is a competition with 24 or more states participating held once a year in Louisville, Kentucky. 4-Hers between the ages of 14-18 can represent their state and compete in quiz bowl, horse judging, speech, demonstration, or hippology. Practices are going on now, and tryouts for the teams are right around the  corner! DON’T MISS OUT! The next Hippology meeting will be on April 12, 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Kennebec Extension Office in Augusta. A field trip is in the works for April vacation. 

If you are interested in trying out for Hippology, future practice sessions, studying for Eastern States, or just want to learn more about horses, you can contact: 

Equestrian Knowledge Challenge    

 The Horse of Course club is planning an Equestrian Knowledge Challenge on Saturday April 28^th at the Orland School 9:30 am - 3:00 pm. The purpose of this event is to   increase equestrian knowledge, promote teamwork, and to connect the horse community of Eastern Maine and possibly a Southern Maine team. Junior and Senior teams will compete using the quiz bowl format on information from the Colorado 4H Horse Project Manual and the New England 4H Horse Show Rules, which are both free on the web. Not required to be 4H members.  Registration fee of $20 per team will cover costs of ribbons, building, and prizes.  If you would like more information call Annie Smith @359-8311 or Terry Swazey @469-3564.

 STATE NEWS

1. Scholarship Opportunity   
Were you on an Eastern States animal science team last year or before?
Do you think you might be on an Eastern States team this year?
Are you a junior or senior in high school and in good academic standing?

You may be eligible to apply for the Morris Scholarship, a $500 one-time scholarship   towards your education after high school.

For more information, check our website at www.maine4h.umaine.edu/4hmembers.htm and scroll down to ESE information and click on ESE Morris Scholarship or you can call your County Extension Office, or call Michaele Bailey at 1-800-287-0274 or e-mail at mbailey@umext.maine.edu

2. Market Lambs for Windsor and Fryeburg
You are no longer required to send an Intent to Participate Form for Market Lambs being shown at Windsor and Fryeburg Fairs, however, if you are planning to show at these fairs, you still need an Approval Form and to have your lambs tagged. There are four lamb tagging sites this year and bringing your lamb to one of them for tagging will constitute your intent to participate. When your   animal is tagged, you will be given an Approval Form that must be signed and embossed by your county  educator or professional. The deadline is June 30.  Tagging Sites:
May 19 NE Livestock Expo, Windsor Fairgrounds, tagging will start after the sale.
June 2 Cumberland County 4-H June Jamboree, Cumberland Fairgrounds, 10-12 am
June 9 Franklin County 4-H June Jamboree, Farmington Fairgrounds, 10-12 am
June 16 Oxford County June Jamboree, Oxford Fairgrounds 10-12 am

3. Maine 4-H Days  Mark your calendars now for Maine 4-H Days this summer at Windsor Fairgrounds, July 6, 7 & 8. It will be a weekend full of personal enrichment workshops as well as livestock events. Camping is encouraged and entire families are welcome. 

4.  Lil’ Kicks Horse Show 
Lil’ Kicks 4H Horse Club, based in York County, is hosting an Open Fun Show on Saturday, May 5, 2007.  The show will be held at the Hollis Equestrian Center, New County Road, Route 5, Hollis Maine.  This show is open to both adults and children as a way to “warm-up” for the coming show season.  We will begin at 9:00AM. All spectators are welcome and a food booth will be available on the grounds.  The cost is $20 for unlimited classes per rider or $3.00 per class pre-entry.  Early registration is encouraged.  For a copy of the class list or registration form, please contact Martha Dumont at 283-0783 or montdmm@gwi.net.

5. Chaperones Needed for Maine 4-H Teen Leadership Conference
We are in need of chaperones for the Maine 4-H Teen Leadership Conference.  This conference is based on the 'Leadership Skills You Never Outgrow' Curriculum.  This event is sponsored by the Penobscot Valley 4-H Junior Leaders Club, the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation, and Youth in Governance Program Leadership Team.  Come learn about this great program and see if your club wants to try a new take on leadership  education.  Or learn how to start a Junior Leadership group in your area. This conference will be a 45 hour event.  Teens will have a sleep time but will not be required to sleep.  We will need overnight and daytime chaperones.  Time will be allotted for all chaperones to sleep.  Any VOLTED volunteer is more than welcome.  We are requesting teens not drive themselves due to the "Night Owl" scheduling of the Conference. Without volunteer chaperones these events cannot happen so your participation is greatly  appreciated.  Please contact Kelly Hamilton at 234-7274 or swroguekelly@hotmail.com if you are interested.

6. Tanglewood to Host Earth Day Open House
Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center will host an open house on Sunday, April 22. The event will run from 1 – 4 pm and will be held at the Lincolnville Campus. Come celebrate Earth Day, explore the beautiful Camden Hills State Park and learn everything there is to know about Tanglewood. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide hands-on experiments for potential campers. This is the perfect chance to get acquainted with the staff and the facilities. For more information call (207) 789-5868.

 7. National 4-H Trips
It is time to apply for the National 4-H Trips, Conference and Congress. To apply all you have to do is submit your 4-H Story and your Resume. Guidelines for writing your 4-H story can be found at www.maine4h.umaine.edu and click on Members. Scroll down to see National 4-H Trips application. You may also pick up an    application at your local County Extensions office. Next year Congress will be held in  November in Atlanta and Nat’l 4-H Conference will be held in Washington DC in March.

8. Maine 2007 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders Training
Cumberland County - The sessions are:
Friday, April 27,  7 pm – 10 pm,  General session – to be certified you must  attend this session and one discipline training.
Saturday, April 28, 7:45 am – 12 pm, Rifle, Muzzleloader & 1 pm – 5 pm, Pistol, Shotgun
Sunday, April 29, 7:45 am – 12 pm, Rifle, Archery

Leaders can attend one or all three training sessions.  The Rifle sessions are the same.  Sessions are limited to eight participants, on a first-come basis.

To register send: (Registration Due Date is April 13^th, 2007)
Leader Name, Mailing Address, Phone Number, County, Disciplines you plan on attending
To: Maine State 4-H Office, % 4-H Shooting Sports Training, 5741 Libby Hall,
                    Room 103, Orono, ME  04469-5741
For additional information, contact Fred Schlutt, 581-3739

9. Attention Parents and Guardians: 4-H also has an EDGE for YOU! - By now we hope you have read all about the upcoming 4-H EDGE Weekend as a step for our Maine 4-H members considering college in their future. If not, briefly, on May 19 and 20, the EDGE program will bring 11-15 year old 4-H youth to the University of Maine campus to ENGAGE them with some of the great things you can study at the university through hands-on workshops, encourage them to set a DIRECTION as they look forward to future college experiences, and encourage them create GOALS for future success.  As parents or guardians, you might be thinking, “That’s great, but who is going to help ME prepare for my child’s college experience?”  And we at 4-H have an answer for you!  The Saturday May 19 session of the 4-H EDGE weekend has a set of workshops for parents.  As the youth go to their first workshop, parents will have an opportunity to attend a session on helping your child lay the groundwork for college admission as they move into and through their high school years. Next, both parents and EDGE youth participants will be treated to a BBQ lunch and then attend a workshop on getting school scholarships ready which will focus on how youth can position themselves to qualify for  different kinds of scholarship aid.  As the youth go off for their second workshop,   parents/guardians will have an introduction to some of the options for financing college.

So, parents or guardians, plan to arrive on campus with your youth on Saturday morning.  Your sessions will run until 2:45 on Saturday afternoon.  Then you can be free as a bird until 11:15 on Sunday morning when it is time to pick up your 4-H member!  We hope you will take the time to participate in these sessions designed to help you feel a little more prepared for the college experience which will be upon you before you know it!

Registrations for the EDGE Weekend will go out in mid-March.  Parents, don’t forget to sign yourself up while you register with your 4-H member.

Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association Minutes of March 14, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm. The flag was saluted and the 4H pledge was recited.
· Members Present (8): President Terry Swazey, Treasurer Barbara Hopkins, Secretary Lisa Carney, Norma Hardison, Wendy Hesketh, Lorie Scovin, Molly Varnum, Jen Lobley and Lore Lipkvich.
· Secretaries & Treasurers Reports:
· The January minutes were approved as written. An update of Emma Foster was read; she is doing very well.
· The January and February Treasurers’ Reports were accepted as read.
Club Reports:
· The goat groups have three people signed up to go to Eastern States, worked on their demonstrations, held an Emergency preparedness workshop and are now into kidding season.
· Molly took over the Busy Bees. She held here first meeting and is planning a fundraiser.
· Horse of Course is setting up the Equine Knowledge Challenge.
Old Business:
· Jamboree- will be held June 1-3 at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds. A meeting held before this Leaders Meeting was attended by Lore, Terry, Lisa and Wendy. Some of the items that came up included: Joey offered to cook, but would like to start at 11:30 instead of 12. Norma said he would be bringing cameras for the photo contest. A bonfire was suggested for Friday night; we will check to see if we can get permission. The Science Lady will be on vacation, but we will rent the microscopes for $20 and can repeat the fecal workshop. Jen asked about getting judges to show the kids what they are looking for in a top animal; they are expensive. Terry has a quarter horse judging tape that the horse group can use. George Lorette was suggested for beef cattle judging. The clipping demo was well received by the goat group last year. For quiz bowl, each species will submit 10 easy questions; we have the buzzers. We still need a speaker. Kids should use the buddy system for safely.
· Demonstrations- Barbara reports that 21 excellent demonstrations were given this year!
· Blue Ribbon Clubs- Wendy is heading up the committee; she will be going over the requirements.
· Government Day- will be happening in April for youth 12 and over. There will be a mailing. The bus will leave the Bucksport McDonalds parking lot at 7am. Lore made a motion that we raise the lunch stipend from $7.50 to $10; seconded and approved.
New Business:
· Tanglewood scholarships- Lore motioned we fund up to 6 scholarships of $125, one per youth, limited to one week of camp per youth. Seconded and approved. It was motioned that we fund up to six scholarships for the Tanglewood minicamp, $50 each, limited to one week of camp per youth. Seconded and approved.
· Animal approval forms are due into the office by June 30^th.
· Style Review- the committee requested $350 for their budget. Wendy motioned to give the style review committee $350; seconded and approved.
· Animal Science Committee- need intent forms in by May 1^st.
· Endowment fund- the meeting was cancelled due to lack of interest; leaders will be contacted individually.
· Horse Camp- tentative date of June 26-30. Orientation will likely be June 5^th. Terry requested $200 for T-shirts; Lore motioned we give her $200; seconded and approved. Wendy suggested giving scholarships to Horse Camp. Lore made a motion that we offer up to three full scholarships based on financial need, to youth from Hancock County, first come first serve. Seconded and approved.
· Countywide service project- Lore has an idea based on a project from the Maine Council of Churches. Youth collect signatures from people who pledge to spend $10 a week on local foods. Jen says she may have a speaker who would    complement this effort nicely.
· Jen says the volunteer forum has been rescheduled.
· EDGE conference- this is an opportunity for youth age 11-15 to stay at UMaine Orono from May 19-20. There will be representatives from the various college programs available. Fees are not yet determined, but there will likely be some scholarship money available.
· Jen on Sabbatical- Jen Lobley will be on sabbatical for six months beginning in October. She will be studying how web based training for volunteers is set up in other states, particularly MD.
· 5-8 year old policy from the National Level- there will be a committee to look at questions and concerns arising from the new National 4H policy with regard to 5-8 year olds. Chief among them is the issue of showing animals.
· Office supplies- a motion was made to give the Extension office $1000 for office supplies and the Pine Tree Foundation $500. Seconded and approved.
Meeting adjourned 8:15    
Respectfully submitted, Lisa Carney, Secretary

 Cooking With The Kids 

Bunny’s Best Slaw
A Wonderful healthy anytime snack! 

Ingredients:

           2 large carrots, peeled                      1 apple, peeled
           1/3 cup raisins                                 2 tsp lemon juice
           2 tbsp plain yogurt 2 tbsp honey
           1/4 tsp cinnamon
1. In a large mixing bowl, grate carrots and apple, and discard the core.  Add raisins and lemon juice, stir.
2. In a separate mixing bowl, blend    yogurt, honey and cinnamon.  Stir into carrot-apple-raisin mixture.
3. Chill well
Taken from Hey Kids! You’re cookin’ Now!

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Last Modified: 05/25/07
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