AROOSTOOK COUNTY NEWS 4-H NEWSLETTER

April 2009 Edition

“to make the best better”

Upcoming Events!!!

April 1st - Animal Approval Forms for Horses due in the Houlton Office!!!

April 5—OC Meeting 2 pm PI Office Carpool leaves Houlton USDA at 12:50

April 18—Spring Energizer at UMPI 10 am –3 pm

April 23rd - Leader’s Association Meeting

April 24 Deadline for EDGE registrations

May 15-16 - 4-H EDGE Weekend:  Connecting Kids to Campus - Orono

COUNTY & CLUB NEWS…

HONORARY PAGE PROGRAM

On March 12, 2009, Katie and Matthew McKenna traveled to Augusta to participate in the UMaine day at the Legislature. We were put as honorary pages at the House of Representatives. After a brief tour and training session with the rest of our group, we were escorted into the House by a professional page, while being introduced by the Speaker of the House. When our job began, we were very busy. As each Representative wanted a message delivered to another Rep, or bills were being distributed, we would pass them out. We met several legislators from the Mapleton/ Presque Isle areas, as well as from other districts all around the state. After the short session was adjourned, about an hour later, we had cake for a special occasion at the capital! We both had an amazing time and are looking forward to returning next year for a hopefully longer session. This is a great opportunity and we encourage everyone to try to attend it at one time or another.

                                    Katie McKenna, AV Dairy

LEADER’S ASSOCIATION MEETING…

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Time:  6:30 pm

via Video Conference at the following sites:

Presque Isle Extension Office

Houlton Higher Education Center

Bring orders for Cooperative Extension Apparel if you have any!!!

  Another Scholarship for all you Seniors!!!   More paperwork - just for you!

 The Wilma Winslow Post-Secondary Leader’s Association Scholarship

application has been mailed out to our 6 graduating seniors enrolled in the 4-H program for the 2008-2009 year.

This is a $500.00 scholarship!

 Seniors, please get these applications completed and back to us by May 1st!!!

COW CHIP BINGO TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!!

We have started our ticket sales a little earlier this year!  Leaders, feel free to stop by the office and pick some up to help us sell.

Please remember that no one under 16 may purchase or have their name on a ticket!

July 5th the cow will be turned out to do her stuff.  We would love to have every ticket sold.  Keep July 3rd open for Midnight Madness as we will be looking for helpers to sell tickets in downtown Houlton!

SPRING ENERGIZER!!!

SAVE the Date!!

Saturday, April 18th

UMPI Campus!

10:00 am - Public Speaking clinic—get ready for our brand-new Public Speaking Competition at the Northern Maine Fair.

11:00 am—other workshops and an Earth Day activity

12:00 Lunch with Outdoor Cooking (weather permitting)

1:00-3:00 pm Swimming and Rock-climbing at Gentile Hall

Your leaders will be receiving details shortly!

Alumni Search

     We would like to start an Aroostook County 4-H Alumni Group and we need your help!

     Do you know of someone who was in 4-H?  We would love to hear from anyone and everyone that was in a 4-H club during their lifetime, either as a member or a leader. 

     We are also looking for someone who would be willing to head up this project!  Interested?

Let Christy know by emailing her at cfitz@umext.maine.edu

Cooperative Extension/4-H Clover Logo Apparel available to order…

For anyone interested (Leader’s - you all received an email about this which included the order form) there are long & short sleeve T-shirts, fleece vests, denim long-sleeved shirts, hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts and hats available, all containing the Extension logo and clover, as shown below.  If interested in purchasing, contact your club leader before April 30th as that is the deadline to have all orders in to the State office.

 Thought you might be interested to know… 

     Jean’s Serendipity, located in Houlton, has become the proud owner of an embroidery machine!  Jean is in the process of learning how to make it work and has high hopes that she will be up and running in the near future.  She has catalogs for anyone interested in seeing what she will eventually be able to do.  You can contact her at 532-3567 or stop by when you’re in town! 

2009 4-H Photography Contest

The OC has suggested that since photography is such a fun project and since having a nice wall of 4-H photos would look great at the Northern Maine Fair, we should declare 2009 the year of the First Annual 4-H Photography Contest.

And so it is!

Sizes and other specific rules will be published in the May newsletter but here is enough information to get you started.

Subject categories

1.      Animals      2. Sports/Action photos    3. Nature/Landscape

4. People    5. “This is 4-H!”

Age groups

• Cloverbuds
• Juniors 9-12
• Seniors 13-18

And a VERY special category—Volunteers!  Yes, a category just for all enrolled 4-H volunteers!

Photos may be black and white or color.

There will be great prizes—exactly what TBA!

Aroostook County 4-H Public Speaking/Demonstration Contest

Monday August 3 at the Northern Maine Fair Exhibit Hall

Brand new this year, we will be doing our Public Speaking contest at the Fair! We hope to have an audience of 4-H alumni as well as the general public!

All clubs should plan to do some practice events and we’ll also have a very inter-active public speaking clinic at the Spring Energizer on April 18!

Here’s some basic information to help you get ready…

Demonstration - a presentation in which you explain and show step by step how to do a favorite project or food preparation, usually accompanied by 1-3 posters and materials to do the demonstration.   Cloverbuds require only one poster.

Public Speaking - an original speech “Why 4-H Matters!”

Cloverbud Interpretive Reading - read a short passage, story or poem

30 second radio spot- educating people about 4-H and encouraging them to join.

Length of presentations….

Cloverbud (ages 5-8) 1-4 minutes               

      Cloverbuds will receive feedback from judges and identical awards.

Junior( ages 9-12)- time limit 5-8 minutes

Senior ( ages 13-18) - time limit 8-12 minutes

Presentations will be judged on the general categories of appropriate content: knowledge and organization; poise, appearance, and grooming; and delivery (voice volume, speed, eye contact, gestures, facial expression, pronounciation).  Demonstrations will include workmanship, visual aids, and presentation.  For copies of each score sheet and a booklet about demonstrations, call or email the Houlton Office.

Important note: There will be significant prizes for this contest!!!!

 We would like to say a Huge THANK YOU!!!  to everyone who helped out during the Ag-Trade Fair at the Forum.

            A special Thank You to Penny Kern and her AJEPS 4-H Club for getting us the opportunity to be there. Also to the Maine Potato Board for sponsoring us and to each and everyone person who showed up to help out with the booth.  We had a really great weekend and managed to sell just over 100 of our Cow Chip Bingo Tickets!  Excellent start!!!  Of course, we still need everyone’s help to sell the rest so leaders, please stop by the office and pick some up or zip us an email and we’ll get some to you! 

STATE & NATIONAL NEWS…

4-H EDGE Weekend 2009: Connecting Kids to Campus

Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16, 2009

at the University of Maine in Orono!

It’s going to be the best EDGE yet! 

*         Team building   *Swimming and Volleyball at the New Recreation Center on Friday! 

*         Super workshop sessions on Saturday!  * 4-H and Super Futures Panel

*Parent Workshops *Planning for College in Challenging times  *Supporting Career Aspirations. 

*Reduced rates for parents at local hotels and transportation to and from campus!

  Also, new this year, transportation will be available in the form of two Cyr buses.

One for Southern Maine and one for Northern Maine. 

In the north, a stop is scheduled for Houlton with the possibility of adding another in Medway. 

Both youth and adults can ride the bus!

Aroostook County 4-H members, take advantage of this opportunity!!!

Cost is $55.00 per 4-H member and $40 for additional family members.  Non 4-H members may also attend at a fee of $75.00 per person.  Registration April 3 - forms will be on the website.

http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/events/edge.htm

It is going to be the best EDGE yet!  Register early—workshops are assigned 1st come, 1st served!!!

 Interested in SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY?

Make plans now to put together a team (consisting of one Adult Leader and three 4-H members (ages 13+) and join in on the NORTHEAST YOUTH & ADULT FORUM taking place at the University of New Hampshire, New England Center, in Durham, New Hampshire on July 23-26, 2009!

There will be cool Science challenges, you’ll work in the UNH Labs, Learn how to teach others, take part in Workshops, Labs & Demonstrations! 

Potential Topics include:  Food Science, GPS, Robotics, Wind Energy and more…

Scholarships are available!

Contact Christy for more detailed information!!!

SAVE THE DATE - 4-H DAY at the SKOWHEGAN STATE FAIR

- Sunday, August 16, 2009

 All 4-H Clubs, you are invited to participate in the 4-H Day Parade at the Skowhegan State Fair.  You may participate by walking in the parade; leading, riding an animal or carrying an animal, riding on a float from your club or county, driving an antique tractor or just about anything else.  Flags and banners are welcome.  Be as creative as you can be - it is a celebration!  Any 4-H member taking part in the 4-H Day Parade will be admitted free to the Fair on 4-H Day.

During the day, there will be livestock demonstrations in the livestock ring and the 4-H Club Building will be open to view all the projects and educational exhibits from around the state.  Because Skowhegan is a State Fair, all 4-H’ers are welcome to display in our building and show in our 4-H livestock shows. 

For more information, contact Eleanor Pooler at 643-2305.  Emails can be directed to dkantor@umext.maine.edu at the Somerset County Cooperative Extension Office.

MAINE 4-H DAYS!!!

Maine 4-H Days, held June 26, 27 and 28, 2009 will be full of fun events for the whole family.  This year we will offer the Physics Road Show again and some workshops like Rocketry and Digital Photography.  The Goat Track will have a veterinarian present a healthy goat seminar and will demonstrate how to test for internal parasites by doing fecal samples.  At Dog Camp there will be lots of activities to learn all kinds of dog knowledge.  Parents who come as chaperones can participate in VOLT training if they are interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer and adults can also learn about what other clubs do in 4-H at the 4-H Speed Date Workshop!

Check out the website in the coming months as more information, and registration

materials become available:  www.umext.maine.edu/4h/events/4hdays.htm.

ANIMAL SCIENCE NEWS…

 REMINDER THAT ALL ANIMAL APPROVAL FORMS EXCEPT FOR HORSES ARE DUE JUNE 1.

Animal Approval Forms are not required for rabbits.

Cloverbud members do not use Animal Approval Forms

MARKET HOG PROJECT NEWS

For anyone who wanted to raise a market hog, but did not have a place to keep their animal, Harry Donovan has generously offered to house the animals at his farm in Blaine.

To participate, members need to purchase their pig and its feed and to visit the Donovan Farm at least once a week to clean stalls and work with their animals.

We have room for 2 more participants!  You will need to have your pig and be all ready to go no later than May 1.  Please call Christy ASAP if you want one of these two slots!

4-H Horse Vaccination Requirements for 2009

These are the same as last year.

“4-Hers attending 4-H horse events in 2009 must provide proof of current, annual vaccination for rabies as well as a current Coggins test done by a veterinarian. EVH-1 and Equine Influenza are also required, horse owners may, however, administer their own EVH-1 and Equine Influenza inoculations and a sales receipt will be sufficient evidence for proof of vaccination.” EVH-1 and Equine Influenza are considered effective for six months. Plan the timing of your inoculations with your last event in mind.

Remember that if you have had your horse out of state (like to Eastern States) since your last Coggins, it must be re-done!

4-H Horse Members!!! 

There are two more study sessions at eight different high schools through out Maine.  Come study with other 4Hers!  We meet from 6-8pm.

The remaining dates are: Apr. 14 and May 22.

These study sessions are open to all 4Hers in the horse project.  See the 4-H Project website for ATM sites:  www.umext.maine.edu/4h/resources/horse.htm.

 Aroostook Shearing Clinic

A northern Maine sheep shearing school is planned for Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Lana McCurry farm in Presque Isle, The cost of the school is $25.00 per person and includes instruction, a shearing informational packet lunch. Shearing equipment will be provided.

Co-sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sheep Breeders Association..

For more informationto register, contact UMaine Extension (Cumberland County) at 1-800-287-1471

or email choyt@umext.maine.edu.

Space limits the number of participants to 14.

 Dairy Judging

Tryouts for the 4-H Dairy Judging Team will be held on Saturday, April 18, in Penobscot County.  The top four qualified youth will be selected to compete on the Eastern States 4-H Dairy Judging team.  Judging will begin at 9:00 am at the Ronnie Simpson farm, 189 Corinna Court Road, in Corinna.  The Simpsons will serve dinner at noon.  Judging will continue in the afternoon at the Louis Nuite farm, 129 Dyer Road in Atkinson.  Bring a clipboard and a pencil and be ready to judge.  For more information you can contact Dave Marcinkowski, State Dairy Specialist at 1-800-287-7170.

MAKE IT WITH WOOL CONTEST!!!

4-Hers in Maine are invited to enter the Make It With Wool Contest, a national competition sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Association.  The state-level contest will be held on October 10, 2009 at the Page Farm Museum at the University of Maine in Orono.  Enter garments made with wool that are sewn, knit, crocheted or felted.  Information and rules at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/events/other/wool.htm

or you can contact Michaele Bailey at 1-800-287-0274 for more information.

Northeast Livestock Expo

The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will be held May 15-17, 2009 at the Windsor Fairgrounds.  If you are a beef, sheep, goat or horse enthusiast of any age, plan to attend this event. 

For more information on horse events, contact Cathy Thomas at hippology@myfairpoint.net or call 458-1402. 

For more information or to receive entry forms for NELE, please contact Wendy Reinemann at (207) 785-2978, or by email at guiniridge@gmail.com.

You can visit the NELE website at www.northeastlivestockexpo.com

 State Dairy Show and ESE Tryouts

Save the Date!  The 2009 Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will take place on July 18-19, 2009 at the Windsor Fairgrounds.  More information can be found on the Maine 4-H website’s Dairy page at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/resources/dairy.htm.

New England 4-H Dog Clinic

Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Tolland Agricultural Center, Route 30, Vernon, CT,

8:00 am-4:00 pm.

The dog clinic is open to all registered 4-H Dog project members 9-18 years of age and their registered 4-H project dog.  Information and registration materials can be found on the Maine 4-H website’s dog page at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/resources/dog.htm.

 Youth Beef Show and Sale

April 24 to 26, 2009 will be the 19th Annual Beef Youth Show at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds sponsored by the New England Galloway Group.  There will be a purebred sale, youth activities, commercial exhibitors and educational seminars. There will be an all-breed heifer show and steer classes.  For more information contact Diane Gushee at 935-2248 or email her at dianeg@shawneepeak.com.

ESE 4-H Beef Program Scholarship

Two $1,000.00 Scholarships will be awarded in 2009.  Open to high school seniors and current college students who have participated in the Eastern States Exposition 4-H Beef Program.  Awards will be announced during the ESE 4-H Beef Activity.  Scholarships will be awarded after the successful completion of the first semester of a 2 or 4 year program.  Applications are on the Big E website at www.thebige.com/agriculture/pdfs/09ag4hbeefscholarshipapp.pdf. 

Return application by May 1, 2009 to:

Rebecca Smith
160 E. Hebron Tpk
Lebanon, CT   06249

Morris Scholarship 2009

Every two years Maine has the opportunity to select an Eastern States Exposition participant to receive a $500.00 scholarship towards continuing his or her education beyond high school, and this is one of our years!  To find information on how to apply for this scholarship, look online at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/ese/morris.htm.

 4-H Members - Are you looking for something different and exciting to do this summer?  Thinking about a career in Animal Science?  Veterinary Medicine? Agribusiness? Or maybe Plant Pathology?  Check this out!! 

For starters, you need to check out www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery/.  Check out the brochure!!!  Once there you will find 7 different, totally amazing opportunities for the summer!

Fill out an application, make sure you include everything they ask for!  Mail it to the proper address and wait.  Those that are chosen will have the chance to spend two weeks on the college campus they applied for.  The only cost to you will be travel expenses.   This is a tremendous opportunity.  Just ask Acacia Kimball from Easton.  She went to Kentucky State University two years ago and loved every minute of it.

Take a chance!!!  You can’t go if you don’t try!!!   Deadline for applications is

April 17, 2009!!!

 NEXT OC MEETING THIS SUNDAY April 5 AT 2 PM

PRESQUE ISLE OFFICE

Note: Meetings are regularly on the second Sunday of each month

But because of Easter will be earlier this month

Carpool from Houlton leaves at 12:50 from USDA Building on the North Road

The Officers Council (OC) is a youth organization that is working to help make 4-H fun for the 4-H’ers of Aroostook County. All clubs are invited to participate—either send your officers or an officer can designate on OC member or two!

We do fun leadership and teambuilding activities thanks to Marie Strouse and then work on planning activities and events for our 4-H members.

Special news—Aroostook County 4-H has received $200 from the paper clover fundraiser done for us by MPG.  The Leader’s Association is turning this money over to the OC to decide how to spend it.  Come offer your ideas and those of your club!!

 OC Notes March 8

1.      Pledges

2.      Roll Call—favorite foods

3.      Minutes of Feb 22 meeting accepted as read

4.      Officers -We'll having "rotating officers" at each meeting Sarah V was president and Jacob Jones was secretary.

5.      Ice breaker game on good communication played

6.      Skiing and Tubing –cancelled.  Marie suggested using the Nordic Heritage Center next year—free and we might be able to get free skies too

7.      School Visits -We will show things to grades 3 + 4. -Jacob can go to Houlton, Marie to Caribou. –Christy and Jacob will go talk to Mr. Tarr at Houlton Southside School

8.      Contests Planet planting:-See newsletter-Marie can ask about getting four leaf clovers. -The deadline will be May 1st. -The prize will be a 4-H hat or t-shirt. Photo contest: -Possibles are: animals, sports, this is 4-H (a pictorial representation of 4-H), nature, black and white -It will be done during the Northern Maine Fair to give people the summer. -As for rules, we can look on the national site for their photo rules. Public speaking: -At the Northern Maine Fair, the middle of the exhibit hall will be area used for the speaking event. -There will be significant prizes like money or a savings bond.

9.      Spring energizer—suggest public speaking clinic, photo clinic, , outdoor cooking, Earth Day activity, go to Gentile Hall 1-3 pm for rock climbing and swimming  

10.  Humane Society Fundraiser –Send letters to clubs to ask them to participate, Sarah will get a list of things to go into boxes, make boxes at next meeting 

11.  Getting More OC Involvement -Games were suggested –cook snacks in summer

12.  Next Meeting -April 5, 2009 at 2 PM (early because of Easter)

13.  Agenda for next meeting --Humane society  service project, June Jamboree—Laser Tag and other activities, Officer training

14.  Adjournment of meeting -Jacob motioned. –Sarah seconded. Jacob Jones, Secretary

Planet Planting Contest

4-H Has been asked several times if we would create a planting around the site of planet Uranus located in Littleton.  In order to get this done and make it fun, the OC has come up with a landscape design contest.  Each club may enter 1 or 2 designs.  The minimum size is about 6’ by 6’.  It can be bigger and can be any shape.  The design must specify what kinds of annuals and perennials will be used, what kinds of border and fill materials, and must include a sign that advertises 4-H.  Other items may be included. (OC will purchase plants!)

The winning team will receive 4-H hats or t-shirts for all members who helped with the design.

Deadline is May 1.

What’s Happening in Science, Engineering and Technology….

4-H GPS/GIS TEK* Trek

*Technology and Environment for Kids

AKA Naturalist Camp                                              July 5-10, 2009

Greenland Point Center and the University of Maine at Machias

Princeton and Machias, Maine

Ages 12-15

4H GPS/GIS campers will "Get Outdoors" to learn about wildlife and their surroundings including woods, water. land and air.  Participants will learn to collect GPS data and carry out a service mapping project for the Center and will also spend 1-1/2 days at UM Machias using the computer labs and exploring the campus.  ATV and Boater Safety certifications course will be available. Bring cameras for tips on photography!

Special cost to 4-H members $150.00 for the entire week

 Non 4-H cost is $250.00

To register, go to www.greenlandpoint.com

Under Skills Camp, find Naturalist Camp - 4H GPS/GIS

At bottom of list, go to Click Here for Application

Apply early! Camp is limited to 15 participants!