4-H Happenings

A NEWSLETTER FOR HANCOCK COUNTY 4-H PARTICIPANTS

February 2007 Issue

Mix n’ Match Workshop

          On Jan 6, Mix and Match gathered at the Extension office to learn about worms and worm eggs that are present in our goats.  We learned that all goats have worms, but it's when the worm load gets to be more than the goat can handle, the goat becomes ill.  Fecal samples were taken from the members goats, earlier in the day and after the samples were prepared, the members looked at the sample under high powered microscopes supplied by the Maine Science Lady, to see if worms or eggs could be found.   To our surprise there were very few to be found, which meant the worming management of our animals was good.  All participants were very excited to be able to learn how to do this procedure.  Afterwards we all shared stories and a snack. 
          Thank you to the Leaders’ Association for sponsoring this workshop.
           Submitted by Lore Lipkvich, 4-H Leader. 

 

Upcoming 4-H Events

             

Feb Ethnic Festival has been canceled for 2007
Feb 14 7:00 - Leaders’ Meeting - Extension Office
Feb 19 Extension Office Closed - Presidents’ Day
Feb 23  Deadline to register for Demonstrations
March 2 Deadline to register for Style Revue
March 3  1:00 pm - Demonstrations at the Cave Hill School
Snow Date - March 10th
April 20   Projects for Style Revue due in the Extension Office
April 26 4:00 - 6:00 pm - Dress Rehearsal for Style Revue
April 27 7:00 pm - Style Revue - Father Kenny Center at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ellsworth
April 27  Deadline for Leaders’ Association Scholarship
July 6-9  Maine 4-H Days at the Windsor Fairgrounds

                            

NORMA’S NOTES

THE GIFTS OF 4-H
BELONGING, MASTERY, INDEPENDENCE, AND CARING
THESE ARE THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF 4-H
We work to share these not only with our youth but to everyone that
comes in contact with our program.
Thank you for what you do to make it happen!
We can’t say it too many times.

 CLUB CHAT: They clean the club house, chop the wood, build the fire, prepare the vegetables, cook, serve, learn and they have fun!  Who? Lock, Stock and Barrel 4-H Club. This club is so good to  invite my husband, Floyd and me for a club visit and some of their functions. We really enjoy it and appreciate it. This time we were invited to an outdoor cooking event done by the members under the supervision of Foster Smith and Sherri Davis. They made stew over an open fire in this huge cast iron kettle. They made biscuits cooked in a grill and apple crisp cooked in a reflector oven. Beverage was cocoa served from an iron kettle. But that was not all! They made two kinds of home made ice cream (strawberry and vanilla). What a great meal!! When they were not working, they went to the indoor range to practice as Henry is ready to do.  Their work day started at 9:30 am cleaning the club house (community service and a thank you for the use of the building). At 5:00 pm their finished products were served. I heard they had a chose of moose burgers on   biscuits or venison sweet sausage on biscuits for lunch. I’ll bet lunch was just as good as supper. This activity is one of three planned for the year. They have already done the trash can  turkey and in the spring will do a pot luck with the main course cooked outdoors.  Are you sure you don’t want to join this club?                    Submitted by Norma Hardison, 4-H Program Aide

 

4-H News

Welcome New VOLTed Volunteers - This new 4-H year finds four newly VOLTed leaders who have completed their training and paperwork in  Hancock County.
          Michael Haskell - Deer Isle
          Shannon Curtis - Holden
          Joyce Hanson - Hampden
          Lisa Jordan - Osborn
Congratulations and best wishes as you join the 4-H family! 

The 2007 Hancock County 4-H Volunteer Directory - has been mailed.  If any leader did not receive theirs or would like an extra copy please call the office.    

Photo Contest - Information on the upcoming photo contest will be mailed out shortly.  In the meantime - be sure you’re snapping pictures in preparation now.  Be ready for those “Kodak” moments.

Get Well Wishes - Emma Foster, Independent, has been to a specialist in North Carolina to help her with a breathing problem she has always had. Emma says, “I feel better because I got my tonsils and adenoids out and my nose was broken so I can breath through it for the first time. I can sleep really good now. I can eat more.” Emma, your 4-H family is so glad to hear that you are feeling better! 

Email Updates - Lore Lipkvich,    4-H leader, has once again graciously volunteered to continue sending update emails to all members and leaders.  These updates include calendar events and activities.  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.  Thank you Lore for this helpful service. 

Seniors Did You Know? - The Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association offers scholarships of varying amounts under the following conditions:

1.     Must be an active Hancock County 4-H member or Hancock County 4-H alumni/past member.

2.     Pursuing higher education in a post secondary program.

3.     Has not reached the age of 19 by January 1 or the current year.

Applications are available at your local high school guidance councilor’s office or the  Hancock County

Extension office.  Scholarships must be postmarked or received at the Extension Office on or before

April 27, 2007. 

A Special Thank You From the Extension Office - The office would like to thank the Snapdragons and Hollyhocks Club for donating their quilt to the office.  This was their club project last year and was entered in the Blue Hill Fair.  Mrs. Fortier especially enjoys having it hang over her desk 

Style Review 2007– will be held on Friday, April 27 at the Father Kenny Center at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ellsworth.  You may enter in one or more categories of sewing, knitting, crocheting, and miscellaneous.  Packets have been mailed out to 4-H members enrolled in Clothing and Textiles projects.  If you are interested in participating but did not receive paperwork please call the office.  Entry forms must be received in the Extension Office by Friday, March 9.   

Christmas Caroling - A few of the    members from the Mix ’n’ Match Goat Club went Christmas Caroling with baby goats on December 22nd.  We met at Ruth Tainter’s  house in Ellsworth and walked up Alton Avenue with a few baby goats dressed as "reindeer".  It was a big hit with the families we visited.  Many of the small children thought the goats were really Santa's reindeer.  One of the kids was so convinced that he whispered his Christmas wishes in a goats ear, hoping they would pass the message along to Santa.  It was a cold night, but we all enjoyed it.  We plan to make this an annual event.  Here's a picture of the kids.  Submitted by Wendy Hesketh, 4-H Leader. 

Demonstrations Reminder - Each club should be holding their own club  demonstrations during the month of   February.  Leaders by sure to call the office by February 23rd with the name of the demonstrator and the name of the demonstration. Regionals will be held Saturday, March 3 (Snow Date March 10) at 1:00 pm at the Cave Hill School in Eastbrook.       
New this year - a new judging sheet appropriate for 5-8 year olds.  For your  convenience both judging sheets are now available on our website  http://www.umaine.edu/umext/hancock/4-H/newslettertoc.htm.  If you don’t have  access to the web copies can be picked up at the Extension Office.
For additional tips, go to the website  www.maine4h.umaine.edu/newforms.htm. If you have any other questions, feel free to call the office.  Good Luck to all! 

Community Service Project - Snapdragons & Hollyhocks 4-H Club is now collecting donations of Dog Food, Cat Food, and Scoopable Cat Litter to benefit the new SPCA and other Pet Foster Homes in the county.  If you are interested in donating, please drop your donations off at Hannaford’s Grocery Store in Ellsworth.
The club has set up a large crate with posters in the front of the store which will be there until February 10th.  If you would like to make a donation after the 10th, please contact Sue Baez at 664-0048.

 

Tips for Preparing A Demonstration -

1. Pick a topic by asking yourself these questions: 

2. Pick a title that will arouse the interest of your audience.  One of your posters should show your title. 
3. Your introduction should catch the interest of your audience in the first 15 seconds!  Start with a question or a short snappy sentence.  “Help, my bunny is a giant fur ball!”
4. The body of your talk should explain the points or demonstrate the steps you wish to show clearly and in logical order.  Use a poster or two to list your steps. 
5. Select materials that are familiar to you and easy to use and see.  Arrange on a tray in step by step order.  Use clear containers if people need to see inside.
6. Conclusion:  Neglecting to have a well defined end to their talk is the most common mistake speakers make!  Show the finished product. Summarize the main thing you wanted the talk to teach.  Show a summary poster.  End by asking for questions or thanking the audience for their attention!
Taken from Aroostook County’s Newsletter

 4-H News From the State

 11. Eastern States Center Program
 Oxford County 4-H has traveled to the Big E to do the New England Center Program for the past 25+ years. The program covers the entire time period that the Big E runs and different 4-H  programs from the New  England States participate. Maine has gone the second weekend of the fair traveling on Saturday and presenting on both Sunday and Monday.  The presentations    include 8 hands on display areas in which 4-H members demonstrate 4-H projects from crafts, food and nutrition, to sciences, and cultural projects. There is also a stage area that we are responsible for during each day. We have created hour long performances and repeated them 3 or 4 times during the day.  In the past two years there have been situations where the New England Center building has not been covered, this has been midweek when school is in session. There is an opportunity for another group from Maine to join in with this project and cover a couple of open days, or some room for a group or club to join the Oxford Program. If any one is interested in finding out more about the New England Center Program please call Susan Jennings at 1-800-287-1482 or 743-6329. 

2.  State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl
 Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 1:00 PM - Farm Bureau Office, Augusta, Maine
Senior Division—State Competition and Eastern States Quiz Bowl Team Tryouts
Junior Division—State Competition.
For more information contact:
Dave Marcinkowski, Dairy Specialist
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
5735 Hitchner Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5735
Phone: 1-800-287-7170 (Instate Toll Free) or 207-581-2740
Email: davidm@umext.maine.edu 

3.  2007 Eastern States Dates to Remember
 Intent forms need to be filled out by the following dates.  This does not mean you are  automatically on a team.  Once the Intent Form is received further information will be mailed to you.  Intent to Participate forms are available at:  www.maine4h.umaine.edu
Intent forms
             Horse – April 1st                             Sheep – May 1st                              Goat – May 1st
            Dog – May 1st                                 Dairy – May 1st                               Beef – January 10th
            Working Steer : contact Heidi Thuotte at: hthuotte@aol.com
Eastern States Dates (when team will be at Eastern States)
            Dairy Cattle – Sept. 13th  – 16th                             Horse – Sept. 19th  – 23rd
            Beef – Sept. 20th  – 24th                                             Working Steer – Sept. 21st  – 24th
            Dairy Goat – Sept. 27th – Sept. 29th                     Sheep – Sept. 28th – Sept. 30th
            Dog – Sept. 28th – Sept. 30th

4.  Tanglewood 4H Camp and Learning Center
 Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center in Lincolnville is proud to announce the release of the 2007 catalog which includes an array of new programs for all seasons. Offering affordable outdoor learning experiences for 25 years, Tanglewood continues the tradition with the addition of programs like Teen Quest and Focus Plus! that allow campers to get the most out of their time at camp. Blueberry Cove, the seaside camp in Tenant’s Harbor also has new programs that take participants on adventures on surrounding islands. It’s never too early to register for summer sessions. Visit tanglewood4h.org or call 789-5868 to request a catalog.

5.  Like life on the EDGE?
 Let 4-H give you the edge when it comes to planning for your future!  If you are between the ages of 11 and 15, we’re inviting you to come to campus May 19 and 20 for the 2007 4-H EDGE Weekend at the University of Maine!  EDGE will ENGAGE you with some of the great things you can study at the university and the faculty who teach them through hands-on workshops, find out ways to your DIRECTION as you look forward to your future college experiences. and help you set GOALS for future success.  You will participate in workshops all around campus, sleep in a residence hall, eat in Memorial Union, and take part in an evening of fun, challenging and relaxing activities. Sunday morning we’ll do an on-campus community service project.  There will be a special session for parents Saturday morning on the things they need to think about as you prepare for college as well as a session for you and your parents on planning ahead for college expenses.

 Find out what campus life is like, get the scoop on some new career ideas, meet new friends, and get a head start on your future. Plan to take advantage of what 4-H, “Your first class at the University of Maine”, has planned for you.

 Registration materials will be available in March. So save the dates, May 19 and 20, and watch next month’s State News for more information on the 4-H EDGE Weekend.  Call your county office to sign up to get a registration sent directly to you.

 6.  Maine 4-H Volunteer Forum
 The Maine 4-H Volunteer Forum is scheduled for March 2nd and 3rd at the Bangor Ramada Inn. Through a grant from National 4-H Council, Monsanto Corporation and the UPS Foundation, 4-H will cover the cost of  the one night's room and meals for a team of 3 to 4 volunteers from each county. Interested in attending?  Call the Hancock County Office by Wednesday, February 14.  We are still looking for one or two members to  complete the team 

7.  Free Horse Lease
 Kim Boucher a former 4-H member in the horse program is Free Leasing her Horse Lady. Lady is an aged mare, with a lot of years left. She is in great health, never had issues with lameness. She has taken Kim to ESE 4 times, has numerous show experience and does all. Lady has not been used much in the last year and a half, due to the birth of Kim’s son. You could still hop on Lady and go for a ride! She is well broken. Kim can be reached at 415-4879 

8.  A place for 4-Hers to Shine
 My.MaineToday.com is a new initiative by MaineToday.com designed to allow anyone to report the news in their community. We know that 4-H clubs are active around the state and participate in some interesting activities. MaineToday.com would love to see 4-Hers share their photos and stories about the great things going on in their clubs. It's really simple and easy to do.

 Post a photo: You can create a photo gallery if you have a bunch of photos to share or a single photo. It is up to you. The site accepts standard JPEG images, just like those from nearly every digital camera or camera-equipped cell phone. You don't have to write a story to go with your photo(s) but a brief title and basic description helps others understand and appreciate them even more.

 Post a story: Stories can be just about anything including what the 4-H club did during their last meeting, a field trip, a service project, taking care of their animals, etc. And, you can add up to three photos to your stories - or upload a gallery of photos separately. It's an anything goes type of thing. And adults don't  have to be the only contributors - kids can do this too.

A couple of 4-H clubs have already shared some photos on My.MaineToday.com (check out the Windham, Gray and Gorham town pages to see 4-Hers in action!) and we're hoping that more clubs will contribute. It's a great way to generate both publicity and interest for a great youth organization in Maine.

 To get started, go to My.MaineToday.com and look for the green-shaded box at the top of the page titled: "Get Started Now." The site will guide you through the upload process (it's only 1-3 steps depending on if you're uploading a story or photo; it's really quick). And the best part is that your stories and photos become "live" on the site as soon as you're done.

 If you have any questions, feel free to email Wendy Almeida, Content Producer for My.MaineToday.com at wea@mainetoday.com

 9.  Speak Out for Military Kids Training Weekend
 DATE: Saturday and Sunday February 10-11
TIME: 10 am Saturday – 3 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Best Western, Waterville
COST: $25.00

 Expectations:  Teens will gain skills to present information to community groups on how to support military children.  We will have a bank of computers to use during the development of presentations.  Directions will be sent out once registrations and registration fees are in.  If you are willing to make the commitment this training expects but you need support financially, call to request a scholarship.  IF you are unable to attend this weekend event but want to help two other Speak Out for Military Kids weekend include March 10-11 and April 28-29. 

Karen Hatch Gagne, Extension Educator
125 State Street Suite 3, Augusta, Maine 04330-5692
207-622-7546 or 207-621-4919
karenhg@umext.maine.edu

 10.  MISSION OF THE MONTH: DIGITAL MEDIA SHOW-AND-TELL
 Let the world know what makes your 4-H or CYFAR program special and win recognition. Tell everyone what you enjoy most about your program. 

From 4-H clubs to summer camps to athletic teams, every youth program has something that makes it special. While one group is painting a mural or designing a fair exhibit, another group is planting trees or building a Web site. Some youth keep returning to their program to see their friends, to learn new skills, to explore nature or all of the above. What about YOU?  

During CYFERnet's Digital Media Show-and-Tell contest, you can let the world know what makes your CYFAR and 4-H program special. Your mission is to use digital photography, audio, video or a mix of digital media to answer the question, "Why am I here?" In other words, what do you enjoy most about your program and what benefits keep you coming back for more?  

Work independently or as a team to show off your art, communication and technology skills while telling your story. CYFERnet will post submissions online for the public to enjoy. Our panel of judges will announce and recognize the winners at the May 2007 CYFAR conference.  

Visit http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/missions.html for complete details. 

11.  Maine 4-H Days
 Mark you calendars now for Maine 4-H Days this summer at Windsor Fairgrounds, July 6, 7, 8, & 9. It will be a weekend full of personal enrichment workshops as well as livestock events. Camping is encouraged and entire families are welcome.

 12.  Maine Livestock Expo
 Event Name: Northeast Livestock Expo (formerly the Maine-New England Beef Expo)
When: May 18,19, and 20, 2007
Where: Windsor fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
What:  Beef: Feeder calf sale, Purebred Sale, Youth show and events, Educational programs
Sheep: Market lamb sale, Purebred sale, Youth show and events, Educational programs
Boer Goats: Purebred sale, ABGA sanctioned show, Youth show and events, Educational Programs
Commercial Tradeshow
Educational programs
Food vendors
Open to the general public
Contact: Ron Howard (207) 236-2739  email: rhoward@mcht.org 

13.  Citizen Washington Focus
 Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capitol during the week of the 4th of July. Citizenship Washington Focus is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 15 to 19. 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 leave on June 30 and return on July 7, 2007. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington will be a part of the trip. 

Contact your county 4-H office to find out how to apply for this trip. Each county will have their own selection process. 

14.  Maine State 4-H Award Trips
 Maine 4-Hers between the ages of 14 and 19 may apply to attend the National 4-H Congress and the National 4-H Conference. Applications will be out this spring and more information will be in your county newsletter.

 15.  National 4-H Congress
 4-H youth who attend Congress during the weekend after Thanksgiving,  participate in leadership training workshops and attended large group assemblies with more than 1,000 other 4-Hers from across the United States. Delegates also participate in a service learning experience where they participate in hands-on service learning projects.

 16.  National 4-H Conference
 The National 4-H Conference is a five day youth conference held at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside of Washington, DC during the last week of March, 2008. 4-H delegations from every state meet to share ideas and form recommendations for the future of 4-H. Delegates participate in activities that emphasize civic engagement, youth-adult partnerships, and professional development.

  

4-H Happenings
An informational source for 4-H leaders in Hancock and Washington Counties

 STUDY:  AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS CAN IMPROVE SOCIAL, ACADEMIC SKILLS 

A newly released study concludes that afterschool programs employing evidence-based approaches to improving students’ personal and social skills “were consistently successful in producing multiple benefits for youth” and those benefits include improving children’s personal, social and academic skills, and their self-esteem.

“The Impact of After-School Programs that Promote Personal and Social Skills,” by Roger P. Weissberg, President of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and Professor Joseph Durlak, Loyola University.  The two conclusions they deemed most significant were:

 The authors considered programs to be using “evidence-based skill training approaches” if they used a “sequenced set of activities to achieve skill objectives,” “active forms of learning,” and at least one program element “focused on developing personal or social skills” that targeted specific skills.  The study was conducted for CASEL with funding from the William T. Grant Foundation.  It is available online at www.casel.org.

Hancock County 4-H is looking to expand programming efforts into the realm of after school!  We can provide 4-H curriculum, training for after school staff members and would like to see new volunteers start clubs in the after school programs.  Letters have been sent out to all the schools and we will be scheduling meetings with after school coordinators to share what 4-H has to  offer.  Interested in seeing a 4-H Afterschool program get started in your local school?  Call Jen Lobley, Extension Educator to learn more.

 Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association Minutes of Jan. 10, 2007 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. The flag was saluted and the 4H pledge was recited.

Members Present (8): President Terry Swazey, Treasurer Barbara Hopkins, Secretary Lisa Carney, Dwight Sargent, Gail Sargent, Norma Hardison, Wendy Hesketh and Lore Lipkvich.

Secretaries & Treasurers Reports:

The October minutes were approved as written. Thank you notes were received and read from DJ Sanborn (money for Eastern States) and Annie Smith (Komen Breast Cancer donation).

The November and December Treasurers’ Reports were accepted as read.

Club Reports:

Mix n’ Match went caroling and hosted a Fecal examination workshop.

Horse of Course went on a field trip to a mini horse farm.

Old Business:

Decisions made by the Board during December- $50 were approved for the goat club fecal workshop. Three scholarships will be offered to CWF; participants must be 14 or older.

Ethnic Festival- Liz will not be able to direct Ethnic Festival this year, but should be able to next year. A decision was made to consider holding it every other year.

New Business:

Meeting in December- it was suggested that the December Leaders’ Meeting be canceled in the future. People are very busy with the holidays and there is usually not much to do at that time.

Lore made a motion to give the scholarship fund an additional $1000. Seconded and approved. Also, she reported that the Scholarship committee had met and changed the application and requirements for applying for a scholarship.  They streamlined the portfolio to avoid duplication of information in the forms that need to be completed.  In addition, the scholarship is now offered to anyone who is or will be attending an institute of higher education that has not aged out of 4-H.

Unconfirmed dates for demonstrations- March 3rd, with a snow date of March 10th.

Unconfirmed dates for Jamboree- the first weekend in June. The committee will meet before the regular Leaders Meeting in February to start planning.

Unconfirmed dates for Style Review- garments in April 20th, rehearsal the 26th, review the 27th, OR garments in April 27th, rehearsal May 3rd, review May 4th.

Terry has finalized all of the committees.

There are new forms for records on the Washington County website. Youth may use these   instead of the Hancock County forms; they will be judged the same.

There are no volunteers to raise the steer yet.

Fright Night- made $440, and we were invited back next year.

There will be a volunteer forum in Bangor March 2nd and 3rd.

Meeting adjourned 8:15 

Respectfully submitted, Lisa Carney, Secretary

 Cooking with the Kids

Pink Cloud

 Ingredients:
       1 (10-ounce) pkg. frozen strawberries in  light syrup
       1 cup milk
       2 cups strawberry frozen yogurt or strawberry light ice cream

 Place strawberries in the pouch in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes. Remove from water and carefully open pouch; pour strawberries and the syrup into blender container. Cover and blend till smooth.

 Add milk and half the yogurt or ice cream; blend till smooth. Stop blender; scrape down sides. Add remaining yogurt or ice cream. Blend till smooth. Stop and scrape down sides, if necessary. Pour into glasses.

Makes 3 to 4 servings.

 

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Last Modified: 05/25/07
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