4-H Happenings

A NEWSLETTER FOR HANCOCK COUNTY 4-H PARTICIPANTS

September 2008 Issue

Photo Contest

	Judges Choice “Afternoon’s Delight” by Annie Abbott, Horse & Rider, and “The Crew” by Katherine Jordan, Jolly Juniors, were the recipients of this years Judges’ Choice Award.
Wonderful pictures again this year!  We had 16 entries representing 7 4-H members and 25 pictures from 13 different Cloverbuds. The photos will look so nice at the Blue Hill Fair exhibit hall. Our judges this year were Jennifer Osborn, reporter from the Ellsworth American, Carrie Jones, former reporter from the Ellsworth American, Mary Ann Schwartz, an artist, and Jessica Schwartz, who wants to pursue a business in photography. These judges gave careful consideration to the quality of the pictures and made some very helpful comments. Think about these hints when you are taking pictures next time. Another interesting note is that Carrie Jones has had her third young adult novel published so she's pretty tuned in to young people and Jessica is a   4-H member who keeps practicing her photography skills.  Thanks to everyone for making this contest such an exciting event! After the Blue Hill Fair, they will be on display at the Ellsworth Library and ribbons will be presented at Cloverfest.  Special thanks to the Leaders’ Association for making this event possible.

Upcoming Events

Hand-outs on “Disaster Planning for Livestock” from the Jamboree speaker are at the office if anyone needs a copy. I like the quote from the Maine Emergency Management Agency:  Disaster Preparedness is For Everyone - The only thing harder than explaining why you need to prepare for a disaster, is having to explain why you didn’t. 

Hancock County has a great Shooting Sports Program and we pay our tribute to this man:  Bill Stevens Awarded for Outstanding Service to 4-H Shooting Sports Program.   
During his 42-year career with the Federal Cartridge Corporation, Bill Stevens dedicated countless hours to developing the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.  The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program took time to recognize him with a special service award during the 2008 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational.  As a member of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee, Stevens traveled across the nation to promote the concept of 4-H Shooting Sports to conservation organizations and shooting sports companies. His efforts transformed the 4-H program into a major youth development initiative in more than 46 states where more than 300,000 youth built their appreciation of the great outdoors. Bill Stevens played a crucial role in teaching America's youth the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery, and the importance of conservation ethics. His unwavering support of 4-H and the 4-H Shooting Sports Program is a great inspiration. Stevens currently lives in Fridley, MN, with his wife, Nila, and his son, Andrew. He continues to be an active volunteer with 4-H today.

 CLUB CHAT - Horse & Rider club recently visited “Spirit of Hope Farm” in Winterport, which is a horse rescue farm as well as a temporary shelter.  It is one of only a few in the state of Maine that does both types of horse care.  The farm is run by Jess and Jen Winchester and sits high on a hill with lots of nice pasture and arenas.  There were seven horses there on the day we visited, which were in various stages of rehabilitation.  These horses are treated like royalty and they seem to realize how fortunate they are to be there.  This summer the  Winchesters will be offering several weeks of day camp at the farm.  Children will learn respect for the horses and will be taught how to care for them.  Our club was very impressed with the great job these folks are doing with these unwanted, sometimes abused animals.  We all fell in love with one or more of them, and wanted to bring some of them home with us!  We would encourage other clubs to call the Winchesters and schedule a visit.  They love to have 4-H kids come to learn more about horse rescue in Maine.  Their phone number is 433-0831 and the address is 853 Lebanon Road in Winterport, ME  04496   Submitted by Heather Linnehan, club leader

Left to Right:  Rebekah, Justine, Dalaney, Morganne, Annie, Becca and Jackson

4-H NEWS

VOLT Training - There will be a VOLT (Volunteer Ongoing Leader Training) on Saturday, September 27, 2008, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Hancock County 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.   

Project Records - are due Sept. 23rd.  If any leader is willing to judge, please contact the office or Terry Swazey at 469-3564.  Want to know how your project record is judged?  Check out the Ruberic Judging Guidelines on our  4-H county website: http://www.umaine.edu/umext/hancock/4-H/newslettertoc.htm. 4-H members are encouraged to complete and submit end of the year project record sheets to their local county extension office for 4-H county recognition.  4-H project  records are important documents that are necessary for state and national opportunities, awards and future scholarship consideration. Awards will be presented at Cloverfest!

 Pumpkin Daze - Mark your calendar!  Pumpkin Daze will be held on Saturday, October 11th at Simon’s Farms from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.  The pumpkin drop will be at 4:00 pm this year.  Rain date will be October 18th.  Watch your mail for more information.

 Did You Change Your Email? Don’t forget to notify Joyce, 4-H secretary, with your new email at: jfortier@umext.maine.edu.

 Congratulations to the Jolly Juniors - Leader Brenda Jordan reports she picked up the fair projects (over sixty) from the Bangor State Fair.  The club took home $219 in premiums! Julie (the exhibit hall chair) said they only had six Penobscot county clubs  participate this year and three from other counties.  She was very pleased to have our club exhibits.  Bangor did a nice job...their Cloverbud ribbons are nice (they say Cloverbuds on them) and each Cloverbud member got a cute 4-H bear sticker.  The kids that entered the poster contest earned $5 and a really pretty rosette ribbon.

 Great News! - The National 4-H animal patterns are now available as a free download!   The patterns are available on the Curriculum website at: www.4-hcurriculum.org (click on Curriculum Updates) or to go directly to the patterns, click: http://www.4-hcurriculum.org/updates.aspx .  At a later date the patterns will also be made available on the related   animal project sites.
Patterns available are:
·  Baby Pig
·  Calf
·  Horse
·  Lamb and Kid
·   Rabbit
Some of the patterns are in stock at the  Extension Office.

 Cloverfest 2008 - plans are being made now - a date will be announced shortly. Be sure to bring your family to help us celebrate all the wonderful accomplishments of the year.  More information will be mailed out soon. 

 Election Time for the Leaders’ Association -  Elections will be held at the next Leaders’ Meeting on September 12th, at 7:00 pm.  Current slate of officers:
President: Terry Swazey
Vice-President: Joey Wilbur
Treasurer:  Barbara Hopkins
Secretary:  Lisa Carney
Board: Wendy Hesketh, Brenda Jordan and Dwight Sargent
Ideally we would like to see at least two  people per position.  If you are interested, please contact Terry Swazey, Lisa and/or Bill Carney. We highly encourage everyone to come and vote and to nominate candidates from the floor.  The Leaders’ Association is such an important part of 4-H.  By working together the leaders earn the funds to help promote many of the programs, they represent 4-H to the outside world, they bring in new members, and they are the glue that holds the program together.  So vote for the candidates that are best suited to accomplish these goals and that will make “The Best Better.” We’re looking forward to another good year.

Re-enrollment 2009 - Another 4-H year will begin soon! Watch the mail for your club’s re-enrollment packets. Enrollments are due December 31st. 

Blue Hill Fair Results - The  winners from the Blue Hill Fair will be posted in our upcoming Special Edition. Congratulations ahead of time to all our 4-H’ers on a job well done!

 4-H Lock, Stock and Barrel Club - will be having sign up and a potluck supper on Wed, September 10th at 6:00 pm at the Blue Hill Rifle and Pistol Club on the Range Rd in Blue Hill. Basic  Rifle and  Advance Rifle will start the following Wed, Sept. 17 at 6:00 pm. Lock Stock and Barrel 4-H Club is open to all youth ages 9 to 19. Call Norwood and Becky Ames at 567-3066. Leave a message if they're not home.

 More Fun at the Blue Hill Fair - The goat committee is planning on having some very fun activities this year.  A quiz bowl is on tap for all those who would like to try their buzzer hands at a game of questions and answers and an    obstacle course will be set up.  Also, for the very first time, Downeast Dairy Goat Association is having an amateur goat cheese contest.  Hope to see you all there and don’t forget to stop by and buy some fudge! 

 The Maine Outdoor Youth Movie Festival -  is accepting submissions for short movies from Maine residents ages 10 and under that capture Mainers' outdoor experiences and connection to the outdoors - answering the question "Why being outside matters."  Submissions must be received by September 19, 2008.  Call the Extension office for more information.

Norma On The Lookout

	Taken from the Weekly Packet, Blue Hill, Maine June 5, 2008:   Civil Air Patrol Cadet Chief Master Sargent Hannah of Sedgwick was recently honored at the Civil Air Patrol Maine Wings ceremonies.  Hannah was awarded the Madison Dillingham Award for exceptional leadership. “Hannah was selected for this prestigious award for her selfless service. She continues to demonstrate integrity and wisdom beyond her years. Her vast experience, stern but calm demeanor, and servant leadership make her an invaluable asset to the Civil Air Patrol and her community. Under her leadership as the 38th Squadron Flight Commander, each cadet is  provided a safe environment to learn, grow and expand their comfort zone. She holds herself and others to high but attainable standards with the perfect balance of strong expectations and a clear way to reach them. She plans classes, recruits new members and keeps track of who needs praise and who needs a little extra help. Hannah is the personification of a team player. She remains willing to work hard, taking even the most difficult and uncomfortable situation without thought to personal recognition. Though Hannah has proved herself beyond all reasonable expectations in terms of her performance, her true achievement lies in providing the encouragement and leadership necessary for younger cadets to follow in her path. She personifies leadership in action.”      June 26, 2008  Hannah receives another award.  Hannah received the Air Force Sergeants Civil Air Patrol Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award. She was cited for her overall outstanding personal character, dedication to serving others, demonstration of leadership, and balanced priorities. 4-H is proud to honor Hannah for all her accomplishments and feels very fortunate to have her as a 4-H member.
	We can use volunteers here at the Extension Office at any age. Take a look at the important work Norman, Jolly Junior Cloverbud, is doing. This was Joyce’s number one helper to stamp return addresses on envelopes and to put     address stickers on 4-H brochures. Thank you, Norman, I appreciate your help. Please come again.   Joyce, 4-H Secretary
	A visitor asked Ken Silsby, 4-H leader,  how he got interested in goats? He related the story that he had always noticed goats in particular when around animals. His sister had a mother goat and baby headed for slaughter. Ken told her, “You can’t do that.”  She replied that he had two weeks to build a barn. He and Noni poured the cement themselves and put up an 8 x 10 building to house the goats that were headed for slaughter. The rest is history. Ken has been milking and showing goats for many years. His once general 4-H club,  Union River Valley, narrowed down to mostly being a goat club. He has had some very knowledgeable 4-H goat members. Ken himself shows goats at Eastern States and other fairs.  This new modern barn has made life easier for Ken and Noni. Noni will have a room in which to make her yummy goat cheese and fudge. Lots of samples were available for the Open Farm Days. Sally with her Dad, Ralph. Sally lives next door to Ken and Noni and helps with the goats all the time. She amazes everyone with her goat knowledge. Sally had a game called “Horse Sense” and she asked her mother, “Why  can’t I make one called ‘Goat Sense’?” Of course Mom saw no reason why not. Sally was helping visitors to play the game she had made. Good thinking, Sally. She also didn’t miss the opportunity to sell beef steer tickets.

 If you have any “sightings” that Norma might not know about - please notify the office.  Thanks!

 State 4-H News
August, 2008

1. VOLT Training Corner
On Saturday, October 11, 2008 a VOLT training will be held in Penobscot County from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Please bring your lunch, completed application forms, and a $5.00 fee for the notebook and materials. No one will be turned away for lack of money. Location will be in Bangor at the Penobscot County Cooperative Extension office, 307 Maine Ave. Register ahead of time by calling 942-7396 and speaking with Stacy, Barb, or Theresa. On Saturday, September 27, 2008, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, a VOLT training will be held at the Hancock County Extension Office. Please encourage anyone interested in 4-H to call the office at 667-8212 or 800-287-1479 for an application.
 

2. The 2008 Maine 4-H Dairy Show
was held on July 19 & 20, 2008 at Windsor Fairgrounds and the judge was Peter Cate of Warren, NH. The Eastern States Dairy Team was selected and these are the results by county: Cumberland County:  Eben Benson – Gorham, Mallory Brooks – Standish, Tyler Brooks – Standish, Michaela Davis – Gray, Alex Jackson – Windham, Aryn Martin – Gorham, Ashley Martin – Gorham, Allison Moon – Freeport, Brittany Moon – Freeport, Jessyca Rankin – Cornish, and Edwin Winship – Windham. Franklin County: Jaime Corbett, Ashlie Hardy, Marjorie Hardy, and Erika Johnson – all from Farmington, and Meg Hall – East Dixfield. Oxford County: Hattie Gushee-Kimball – Fryeburg. Penobscot County: Deven Dekoschak – Levant, Stephen Dekoschak – Levant, Elizabeth Richards – Hermon, Sarah Richards – Hermon, and Sarrah Simpson – Corinna. Waldo County:  Alex     Sargent – Troy, Colleen Schofield – Troy, and Tyler Stevenson – Thorndike. York County:   Richard Guillemette – Lyman, Andrea Haley – Limington, and Gregory Hussey – Limington.

3. 2008 Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum
The 2008 Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire from October 23-26, 2008.  For more details, a promotional flyer is available on our website at: http://extension.unh.edu/4H/4HVol/08NEVF.htm
 

4. Eastern States Bus Trip September 27, 2008
It’s time to reserve seats for the buses traveling to Eastern States Exposition (ESE or also called the “Big E”) in West Springfield, Massachusetts for Maine Day on Saturday, September 27, 2008.  This one-day trip is sponsored by the Maine Trustees of the Eastern States Exposition to encourage Maine 4-Hers who don’t presently participate in events at ESE to see the activities that go on for 4-H youth in hopes to bolster their enthusiasm to participate in the future.  Two buses are reserved for us and the northernmost bus will originate in Bangor and they will stop at several points on I-95.  Seats fill up quickly, and registrations began Monday, August 11, 2008.
All youth must go with a chaperone, but since this event is primarily for youth; seats are limited to no more than two adults per child.  The bus ride and admission to the “Big E” are free, but all individuals on this trip are expected to march in the parade at 5 pm.  It works well if you wear a 4-H tee shirt if you have one and for clubs to bring their club banner to display during the parade.
Items you might want to bring along with you are: light snacks, water, a good book, youth-appropriate movies (there is a DVD/VCR on the bus), a pillow, and a blanket.  There will be rest stops along the way.  Other items to consider bringing: clothing to identify your club, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a hat with a visor, sun glasses, sun screen, a back pack, personal spending money, a camera, and a watch.  If you have a cell phone, it will be helpful for logistics.  Please include your cell phone number when you register. Please leave valuable items at home.  We will not be responsible for lost or stolen items.  Bus stops will be determined based on location of riders.  Reservations must be made in writing or by e-mail to: Jessy Brainerd, 103 Libby Hall, University of Maine Orono, ME  04469-5741 jbrainerd@umext.maine.edu
When you register, please give your name, address, home phone and cell phone number if you have one.  Please give the names of all the people in your group and indicate if they are a child or adult.  Reservations are due by Friday, August 31, 2008– Please call after this date to see if there is still space available.  A confirmation letter will be sent to you two weeks before the trip giving you the time and pick up location.  Pick up will be bright and early in the morning, but the return trip will be staggered.  One bus will leave right after the parade; the second bus will leave after the evening events.  So when you register, let us know if you’d like to return on the early or late bus.
For questions, you may contact Jessy Brainerd or Michaele Bailey at 800-287-0274 or 581-3877
 

5. Funding Opportunity for Ag Projects
The Farm Service Agency offers youth loans to finance modest, income-producing,   agriculture-related, educational projects for members of 4-H, FFA, or similar organizations.  The project must be related to the business of agriculture.  Youth ages 10-20 who live in towns with a population of fewer than 50,000 people are eligible to apply. The maximum loan amount is $5,000 and terms can vary up to seven yrs. based on the type of operation.  Funds may be used to pay expenses associated with the approved project.  The current interest rate is 3.875%.  Please visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov for more information and county office contacts or contact the Maine State Office at 990-9140 to locate an office near you.
 

6. Animal Science Committee Nominations
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Maine 4-H Animal Science Committee is Saturday, November 1, 2008 in Hallowell. It is time for 4-H volunteers who wish to serve on those committees to be nominated or re-nominated for a three-year term. You can visit our website at http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/manual/partb/b18.htm to learn more about serving in this position.  You can find a nomination and re-nomination form at http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/forms/ASCnominationform.pdf. Deadline to send nomination forms to State 4-H Office is October 1, 2008.
Membership to the Animal Science Committees is gained by a nomination and re-nomination  process. Nominations can be made by an extension educator/professional, any member of the committee, and/or the nominee him/herself and occurs prior to the Fall ASC meeting. Nominations will be reviewed and voted on by each committee. Successful first-time nominees will be sent a welcome packet and an invitation to the Fall Animal Science Committee meeting. It is  recommended that teenage 4‑H volunteers be given seats on the Animal Sciences committees. Teen members will follow the same membership process as adults.
If you have any questions about the animal science committees or the nomination process, please contact Michaele Bailey at mbailey@umext.maine.edu or Donna Flint at dflint@umext.maine.edu.
 

7. Maine 4-H Volunteer Forum and Animal Science Committee Meeting
Combined Event on November 1, 2008 4-H 2009: Your Best Year Yet! 9 am to 4 pm Maple Hill Farm, Hallowell, ME Mark Your Calendar now for the Maine 4-H  Volunteer Forum: 4-H 2009: Your Best Year Yet! The Maine 4-H Volunteer Forum will combine with the Fall Animal Science Committee meeting with combined sessions of interest to both   animal science committee members and club volunteers involved in non-animal projects. Animal Science Committees will have plenty of time to meet while other participants engage in a variety of workshops sessions on topics such as club management ideas and new activities and materials to enhance your 4-H club or community group. All 4-H volunteers are invited to attend. Maple Hill Farm is in a beautiful setting just outside of Augusta in Hallowell and features beautiful scenery and trails, excellent food, and great meeting spaces.  In addition to invigorating workshops and delicious food, there will be door prizes and other goodies.  In mid-September, a detailed outline for the day including workshop choices will be posted on the 4-H website and sign-up will run from Sept 19 to October 17.  So Save November 1^st, it’s going to be “the best”!
 

8. Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship
Annie's Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full time undergraduate and graduate students studying sustainable/organic agriculture.   Students who are  beginning or returning to an accredited two or four year technical or college program or graduate school in the U.S. for the 2009/2010 school year are encouraged to apply.  Applications must be postmarked by October 30th, 2008. Final decisions will be made by March 3, 2009, and funds will be dispersed on or around June 15, 2009. See the Application and Guidelines at www.annies.com/scholarshipapplication

Maine 4-H Youth
Development Mission
To educate and empower Maine youth through hands-on and  community-based experiences.

 Maine 4-H Youth
Development Vision
Maine youth acquire the knowledge, life skills, leadership abilities and attitudes to help them succeed now and in the   future through effective collaborations, hands-on experiential education and self-directed learning.
 

“To Make the Best Better”
“Learn by Doing”

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Last Modified: 08/29/08
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