Aroostook County 4H Program

AROOSTOOK COUNTY NEWS 4-H NEWSLETTER
October 2008 Edition

“to make the best better”

Upcoming Events!!!

November 1st - Maine 4-H Volunteer Forum & Animal Science Committee Meeting

November 13-16 - Equine Affaire - W. Sprinfgield, Massachusetts

December 1st - Preferred Deadline for Aroostook County Re-enrollments

December 31st - State Deadline for Re-Enrollments

REMINDER! REMINDER! REMINDER! …Your Club could win a prize!!!

The deadline for the State of Maine for re-enrollments is December 31st, however, we would really like to see as many clubs as possible get their re-enrollments back to us by December 1st or earlier.

Those clubs that get their completed re-enrollments in by Dec. 1st will be entered into a drawing for a special prize with the drawing to take place on December 4th during a Leader’s Meeting.

By completed re-enrollments we are referring to those members from the 07-08 year that wish to continue. Laurie will be checking with leaders if there are names missing to be sure the club’s records are complete in order for them to be eligible.

COUNTY & CLUB NEWS…

AJEPS (Aroostook Junior Emergency PlannerS) has finished up the first part of the initial plan with a survival camp overnight at Aroostook State Park. This followed almost of year of cookouts, camping trips, and classes to learn how to survive in the out of doors. Workshops included fire building (with and without matches); edible plants, shelter building (summer and winter snows); and purifying water. They also took the first part of the Red Cross disaster team training to learn how to help others. To promote emergency preparedness, the AJEPS presented BE RED CROSS READY at the skill-a-thon at the Northern Maine Fair.

Part Two is working with an ESRI grant on community mapping. Some of the members spent three days at Greenland Point learning how to use the ArcMap program and a GPS. They are teaming up with the emergency management agencies in a couple communities to do some mapping for them. A GPS practice was held Sept. 19, 2008. The club invited others to join them in some geo-caching. Girl Scout Troop 63 and a couple 4-H members from Easton joined us. We tried to locate 7 geo-caches - finding 4. The kids said the one at the public library in Caribou was their favorite.

Twice this summer the AJEPS were tour guides for the A E Howell Wildlife Conservation Center at Spruce Acres Refuge and will participate in at least two clean up sessions. One was held last weekend - raking, clearing brush, painting, and moving gravel were on the agenda. The second time will be Oct. 11 where the refuge will be prepared for winter. We they will be doing things such as winterizing buildings, putting up tarps and protection for the animals, making beds and nests and building retaining walls in case of large amounts of snow again.

Club members also have their mapping assignments so those will start taking shape in the next few weeks. Lots to do before August 2009.

In connection with the above article…

ESRI GIS GRANTS AVAILABLE!!!

The 2009 GIS Grant for 4-H application has a deadline of December 1^st, 2008! This is a change from previous years.

They also are now offering a “beginner level grant”. Clubs that are new to both technology and spatial thinking can apply for the “Getting Started with GIS” grant.

Information on the new grants should be available by October 5^th online at: www.esri.com/industries/k-12/4-H/grants.html

The Mane Eventers 4-H Club will be attending the Chris Lombard Equestrian Clinic at Serendipity Stables in Glenburn on October 11th. Club members voted on how they would like to use their fund-raising this year on either a trip to the Equine Affaire in Springfield, MA or towards working with their own horses at a clinic and they voted to attend the clinic. They are taking 6 horses and 8 riders (two members will have a horse provided for them there as they are unable to take their leased horses). They are looking forward to their day at the Serendipity Stables. Chris Lombard is a former 4-H member himself and they have heard great things about him.

HAVE FUN, MANE EVENTERS!!!

Congratulations to the Maine Eastern States Equestrian Team!!!

...and to our very own Aroostook County members of that team! You guys did great! Callie Foster finished with a 2nd place in Western Pleasure, 6th place in Western Hardiness, 9th place in Fitting & Showmanship and 10th place in Western Equitation. Desiree Foster finished with a 3rd place in Fitting & Showmanship, 3rd place in Bridle Path Hack, 4th place in English Pleasure and 7th place in English Equitation. Brianna Hanington finished with a 2nd place in Fitting & Showmanship, 2nd place in Western Hardiness, 3rd place in Western Equitation and 6th place in Western Pleasure. Alyssa Kilcollins finished with a 2nd place in English Equitation, 5th place in Fitting & Showmanship, 6th place in English Pleasure and 10th place in Hunter Over Fences. Kimberly Levesque participated in the Driving Classes and finished with a 2nd place in Driving Reinsmanship and a 4th place in Pleasure Driving. The girls also took part in the General Knowledge test and in Judging.

We also had representation on the Beef Team this year!!! Patricia Donovan of Blaine came home with a 2nd place finish in the Spring Yearling Heifer (Class 3 Commercial Heifer) and an 8th place finish in the Fitting & Showmanship. Congratulations, Patricia.

Aroostook County 4-H Leader’s Video-conference Meeting

Thursday Oct 9

6:30 pm

Presque isle Extension Office

AND

Houlton Higher Education center Room 121

Please mark your calendar

This meeting is not on our regularly scheduled night-hopefully by next month we will be back to our usual schedule.

We have lots of plans for Achievement Celebration and our upcoming 4-H Year so please plan to attend!!

We would like to invite Teen Representatives/Officers of the Clubs to also attend this meeting as we will be discussing the Achievement Celebration.

Congratulations to our new officers for the 2009 and 2010 4-H years

President...Pam O’Bar, Caribou Clovers

Vice-Pres...Jean Sloat, Wild Mustangs

Secretary...Penny Kern, 4-H AJEPS

Treasurer...Pam Hickey

Thanks SO much to all of you!!!!!

They will be taking over at the

NOVEMBER MEETING!

Officer’s Council Meeting

Sunday Oct 12 at 2 pm at the Presque Isle office

Carpool for Houlton USDA at 12:45

ATTENTION 4-H members with club leadership roles!

It’s time to get the Officer’s Council back in gear. The Leader’s Association is waiting for your input on the Achievement Celebration and we know there will be lots of other projects you will want to undertake!

All club officers or their representatives are invited to attend and we hope that there will be someone from every club there.

Remember there will be a carpool from Houlton with stops as needed along the way!

NOTE TO ALL VOLUNTEERS:

Don’t forget our Volunteer Forum which is combined with the Fall Animal Science committee meeting on November 1 at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell. It’s called 2009: Your Best Year Yet and it’s going to be fun with lots to learn and prizes too!

It would be great to have a group from Aroostook carpool down-maybe even go down the night before and have a 4-h leader sleep-over! To find out more about the Forum, go to http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/vol/forum.htm.
Registration is required. Call the State 4-H Office at 1-800-287-0274 or 207-581-3877 by Friday, October 17^th to reserve your space today! And let Christy know if you want to carpool on Friday night!

ANIMAL SCIENCE NEWS…

Free Rabbits! Free Rabbits!

Lop-Earred

1 Male & 1 Female,

2 Large homemade cages &

large bag of food.

Call Tonya Fitzpatrick - 694-7858

Sheep & Goat Health Seminar

Saturday, October 25 at Highmoor Farm, the Maine Agriculture Research Station in Monmouth.

A day-long seminar designed for producers of sheep or goats will feature Maryland Sheep & Goat Specialist, Susan Schoenian and Extension Veterinarian, Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner.The seminar may be suitable for older youth if accompanied by a parent or 4-H leader.

For more information about the seminar go to the UMaine Extension’s home page www.umext.maine.edu.

The deadline to register is October 20. However, registration will be closed at 75 participants.

A note from Sue Pierce..

A friend of mine in Freeport has a gray mare who needs a home for. They took on three extra horses because the owner could not keep them and they don't have room for this one. She is pastured with no shelter so needs to find a home ASAP. Walks, trots and canters nicely and is a willing horse with a sweet disposition. She is between 15-18 yrs old and 14.2 hands. The horse is free to a good home. To get the contact information, call the Houlton office!farmgirl@gwi.net The phone number is 865-3177. If anyone is interested they should call ASAP and ask for Liz or Caroline.

Equine Affaire

November 13-16

Eastern Sates Exposition

West Springfield, MA

“Providing a non-competitive, affordable environment where horse people can share their love and understanding of horses”.

Includes seminars and clinics from the industry’s top professionals, acres of products, competitions, fun and educational activities.

For more information call the office and ask for a flyer!

Maine's 4H Horse Teams Are Traveling!

On October 19, Maine’s three equestrian teams: Communications, Horse Judging, and Quiz Bowl will compete against other New England States at the regional competition in Burlington, Vermont. Then these same teams will travel to the Eastern National 4-H Round Up in Louisville, Kentucky the weekend of November 7 to 9, 2008. And Hooray for our very own Bri Hanington and Desi Foster! Bri is on the Quiz Bowl team and Desi is on the Judging Team!

AND... Are you wondering how you can try out for a place on one of these horse teams??

Starting October 21, study sessions will begin for any interested 4H horse club members. Study sessions will be done by video conference at various high schools throughout the state on the third Tuesdays of each month October through May from 6-8pm. The study sessions will be held at eight different high schools around the state: Hampden Academy, Lewiston HS, Sanford HS, Oxford Hills HS, Houlton HS, Nokomis HS in Newport, and Hall-Dale HS in Farmingdale. Find one close to you and come join us!

Who should attend? Anyone who would like to learn more about horses, or might be interested in the Eastern States Equestrian Team, the Communications Team, the Hippology Team, Horse Judging Team or the Horse Quiz Bowl Team. These will be interactive study sessions with other 4-Hers from all over the state!

Updates and cancellations will be on the website at http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/resources/horse/study.htm or contact Kate Slattery at slatterk@sad44.org or 836-3217.

A horse has recently died and tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Lebanon, in York County, Maine, according to a Maine CDC release on 9-19-2008. Because there is a risk of human transmission of EEE from infected mosquitoes to people in the area of EEE-positive animals, the Maine CDC is alerting health care providers to be aware of the symptoms.In humans, symptoms usually appear 4-10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito, and range from mild flu-like illness to sever central nervous symptoms, coma and death.People most at risk are: 1) residents of, and visitors to endemic areas, 2) People who engage in outdoor work and recreational activities, 3) People over age 50 and younger than age 15 seem to be at greatest risk of developing severe disease.

In horses, EEE and the clinically similar West Nile Virus (WNV) are both preventable by vaccination.Due to the high number of mosquitoes in many areas of Maine, vaccination of horses for these diseases is recommended.

The Dept of Agriculture website has more information at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/arbovirus/index.htm

Source of notice: Anne Lichtenwalner DVM PhD, Assistant Professor, Director, Maine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Dept. of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, (207) 581-2789 E-mail: alicht@umext.maine.edu.

This is the first edition of a new page in our Aroostook newsletter that will be devoted to all kinds of “e” issues. Energy of course is on everyone’s mind—how can we conserve it, reduce the cost and make sure our families and neighbors are warm this winter? E is also for Earth so we’ll collect tips and ideas and ways we can live more sustainably. (that means in ways that insure that our Earth and its resources are still available when our children’s children have children). E is also for environmental education—so learning more about how to care for our environment ties very nicely into issues of energy conservation, care of our water, air, and land, and ways to live sustainably. Finally E is for exercise, which in this case is all about the benefits of “taking it outside” for fun and exercise and about other healthy lifestyle issues such as finding and raising food locally and making sure that everyone in our community has enough to eat. So it’s a big umbrella but its all about taking action for yourself, your club, your community, and your world!!

So look on this page every month to find articles, ideas, and information related to keeping ourselves and our planet healthy. Tips for reducing energy use and keeping warm this winter. Contests, projects and volunteer opportunities. Resources to help you learn new ways to live sustainably. And most importantly, this is a page for you to use—share ideas, projects, stories. Have something you would like to give to someone else instead of throwing it away—if it’s free you can put a notice here. Have an idea for a volunteer project and want helpers? Use this page to get others on board. You get the idea…NOW GET INVOLVED!!

* Ask a farmer if you can “glean” their potato field. Share your bounty with neighbors or a local food pantry.

* Work with adults to winterize the homes of those who can’t do it by themselves

* Make fleece hats-one for you and one to give to someone who needs to keep warm this winter.

* Make a quilt or fleece blanket to give away. Remember, its harder for senior citizens and children to keep warm in cold weather.

Send your ideas for this page to Laurie or Christy for next month’s newsletter!

October is Energy Awareness Month and Maine Governor John Baldacci is calling on the State’s 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to be leaders in efforts to conserve energy. The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security and the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Efficiency Maine program are sponsoring the 6th annual Energy Saving Tips Contest for students in these grades.

Governor Baldacci is encouraging students to submit one or two tips on how to save energy in their homes or schools. He will present the winners with a solar-powered iPOD Shuffle at a special award ceremony in December.

To help you come up with ideas for the contest and to learn about the “energy hogs” found in most homes, visit http://www.energyhog.org/childrens.htm. Contest entries must be postmarked by Friday, October 31st and sent to:

Entries must include the student’s name, the school’s name, school address, teacher and grade level. There are two entry categories: 1) Tips For Saving Energy In Your Home; and, 2) Tips for Saving Energy at Your School.

Winners will be chosen on Friday, November 14th. For further information contact Joy Adamson at (207) 287-8350 or at joy.adamson@maine.gov.

A volunteer registry at the Aroostook Agency on Aging provides a link between older people in need and volunteers willing to help with snow removal. Some older people may not be able to shovel walks, steps or driveways or the paths to their fuel tanks. Aroostook Agency on Aging is inviting older youth who want to do volunteer service to contact them to register at 764-3396 or 1-800-439-1789 or email to thenderson@aroostookaging.org. There is also a need for adults with plows who might be willing to plow at free or reduced rates.

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 at

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 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:

All Maine 4-H volunteers are invited to come join the fun! The Maine 4-H Volunteer Forum will combine with the Fall Animal Science Committee meeting to offer 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 hands-on workshop sessions. A delicious lunch included and an Eco-Tour of the farm will be offered. For more information including an agenda for the day, workshop descriptions and directions to the conference center, go to www.umext.maine.edu/4h/vol/forum.htm.

Registration is required. Call the State 4-H Office at 1-800-287-0274 or 207-581-3877 by Friday, October 17th to reserve your space today!

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 $5,000.00 and terms can vary up to seven years 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 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.

Sponsored by Operation Military Kids and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Learn the survival skills everyone should know who lives in Maine! Have fun and meet new friends!

^{Program
begins 6:00 pm on Friday ,ends Monday at 1:00 pm Teachers: Sgt. Rick
Campbell, Bryant Pond University of Maine Educators and Staff}

The program will be held at the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond - Come and experience the outdoors, learn to survive in the Maine woods, build fire from a bow drill, cook over an open fire, learn water survival and what to do if you fall through the ice, animal tracking, and take part in archery, the shooting range and Kayak and canoe trips on the lake.

All Girls in grades 4th-8th are in for a day of fun! You will get an opportunity to explore the workings of a political campaign. You will meet the candidates of the red, white and blue political parties and hear what they have to say about issues relevant to you. You will then have the opportunity to take part in different sessions like television, newspaper and radio that will help you to prepare for the campaign. You will get to make banners in support of your favorite candidate to use at our political rally. We have invited many important women from our own community and you will have an opportunity throughout the day to meet with them. You will get to vote in a voting booth for your favorite candidate. This will be a fun filled day! Hope to see you there!

Sarah Standiford has served as Executive Director of the Maine Women's Lobby and its sister organization, the Maine Women’s Policy Center, since 2003. She oversees the public policy development, research, organizing, and advocacy efforts of these two multi-issue women’s organizations that have been expanding opportunities for Maine women and girls for 30 years. Sarah represents the needs of Maine women in the areas of affordable health care, reproductive privacy, economic security, and freedom from violence and discrimination to policymakers and the media. She serves on the board of Consumers for Affordable Health Care Coalition and the Maine Association of Nonprofits. Sarah is a recipient of the Maine Women’s Fund’s 2007 Evening to Honor Maine Women and Girls award. Sarah currently resides in Richmond, Maine

Please complete and return to: Wendy Viel, PO Box 491, Presque Isle, ME 04769 or call 551-1193 and leave a message!

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I, _______________________________ plan to attend the Ms. President event on November 1, 2008 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle. My parents can be reached at __________________ during this event. _____My $5.00 fee is included with this registration.

Don’t forget 4-H week! How wonderful if each club could put up a display in your local library, town office or recreation center or do some other form of publicity—a “Meet 4-H” Community Party, an article in your local paper, - anything to let people know we are here and eager for new members.

Also remember that part of 4-H Week, includes the National Youth Science Day on October 8, Even if you don’t get around to doing the experiment on Oct 8, it would be great if every club included it in a meeting sometime in October. Go to http://www.4-h.org/ to see the experiment. I have the hydrogel materials that you need for the experiment here at the office. Let me know if you club needs any help!

For anyone interested, we have several Clover Country CD’s at the Houlton Office that are for sale at a cost of $15.00 each. Each of the Artists featured on this CD are former

If you would like one, stop by the Houlton Office and pick one up!!!A split second decision I made August 12, 2008 saved my life.

We have all heard it before, read it in magazines, saw pictures, might even know someone who knew someone. But allow me to tell you first hand; this was my decision, my choice, my life it changed. I have no use for drama and no time for exaggerations so as you read the rest of this account please bear in mind it contains only facts and actual events that happened to me personally.

I got a phone call telling me the cows were out. Systematically I headed for the barn deciding whether to use horse or 4-wheeler to chase the cattle. I choose to get my horse which I'd had since he was 3 months old. I choose to ride him bareback and I choose to wear my helmet. Deciding to wear a helmet at that time was not a life saving decision, but to impress upon the young rider (who would have said something to me anyway) that helmets should be habit forming, the first thing you do after entering the barn. I hate helmets. They are uncomfortable, tight, hot and often give me headaches! But in the interest of my young assistant helping out and, admittedly, after she “reminded” me I had forgotten to put it on I reluctantly went back to the barn and grabbed the nearest one I could find.

We headed for the woods and were met by 12 Angus running straight for us. Needless to say our horses took off running and my baby boy (now 6) decided to execute a turn on the haunch, a few bucks and I think a jump; I can not be sure as this was about the same time I lost consciousness.

After an ambulance & life flight ride, a few cat scans, a day of vomiting and one heck of a headache that lasted for days I was able to look at the helmet that I had reluctantly placed on my head at the last minute. The helmet's styro-foam has a crack (1/8 inch) all the way through from the base to the center top with hairline cracks throughout the hat. It did not take an EMT, Doctor nor Nurse to tell me my hap-hazard decision saved my life; although all of them were quick to agree; the helmet saved my life as I know it know it now. We all agreed the helmet saved me from a vegetative state if not death itself.

The next time you find yourself heading to the barn, let the following questions run through your mind:

Remember the question is not about how the accident affects you, but the people around you. Is the decision not to wear a helmet worth the suffering others will have to bear ? It took the look in the eyes of my loved ones to realize the decision to a helmet is not about me, but about the ones around me.

If I'm "preaching to the choir"...GOOD… keep wearing your helmets and let me be the

reminder! If talking to someone who believes in free choice, you are right! You have made a choice, now ask yourself if your exposed independent head is worth your loved ones potential suffering. I still have a hard time realizing the weight & affects my split second decision made. Thank God I made the right one!!

Animal Science Committee Nominations DEADLINE OCT. 15! T 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 15, 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.

Citizenship Washington Focus was an amazing experience for me. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I could be more thankful to everyone that made it possible for me to go. I send many thanks to all of the people at the University of Maine extension office, The Maine potato Board, the Leaders Association, The Pine Tree State Foundation, and of course my 4-H club, the Wild Mustangs of Linneus. I’d especially like to that our county extension leader Christy Fitzpatrick for encouraging me to go, and helping with all of the things it took to prepare for it, because there was a lot of preparation. I have to say that I would encourage everyone in 4-H or people that would like to join 4-H to attend this trip.

Not many people get the opportunity to see our senate in action, so I took advantage of what I saw. But I think I learned more about how it actually works by putting in into action. After our day on Capitol Hill we split into groups and discussed issues such as, the farm bill, gun control, separation of church and state, energy conservation, and the all popular topic of gay marriage. It’s really important that people learn to listen to other people’s opinions and respect them for it. That’s the only way our society can make things work and get things accomplished. During our own congressional session our citizenship abilities were put to the test. People had the opportunity to say what they thought and what they believed without making a personal attack on someone else. Proving that 4-H is home to outstanding citizens we pulled out a perfect score.

Even though seeing Congress was amazing, the part that touched me the most was touring the memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. Over the years I have become extremely patriotic and the meaning of each memorial really touched home plate. Our troops and our country mean the world to me and I am so grateful for the opportunity that was given me to tour the memorials and the cemetery dedicated to our troops. The true meaning of each of them didn’t really sink in until I was standing in front of them. They aren’t just something you read about it a history book. They represent real people that put their lives on the line for perfect strangers. really hit me that someday there is going to be a memorial for the war in Iraq, and it will have even more meaning because people I know and love have lost their lives, and some are still fighting today.

During the tour of Arlington we were given the honor of watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. Some of the delegates from other states didn’t take it seriously, and I had a hard time understand how people couldn’t take it seriously. The moment you stand in front of the memorial and the guard this feeling comes over you and you realize how dedicated they are and the significance of their job, as well as, the significance of the memorial. This was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever encountered. It brought of this feeling of pride that was so strong it brought tears to my eyes.

After we went to Arlington we had the chance to go to the Iwo Jima Memorial and hear the story behind it. This memorial really touched down to the very core of my soul do to the fact that a few of my close friends have joined the Marine Corps, but also that the soldiers that fought in the Vietnam War were around the ages of 18 and 19. When we actually stop to think about it, those boys were around the same age as we are. While we were there we had the opportunity to talk to a few marines that were going to be performing in the silent drill team later that night. It was a really emotional experience, but at the same time it was really nice to be able to talk to the brave men and women of our country and thank them for their service.

Having the opportunity to meet people from all over the country was life changing. It gives you the chance to see what people our age from other parts of the country like to do fun, and how their culture is different from ours. But I think the coolest thing about meeting people from around the country is seeing how 4-H has influenced their lives and how it has its similarities and differences throughout the different states.

CWF was a great experience. It inspired me to get involved with my government after serving at least 20 years in the Coast Guard. I would like to someday run for Senator or even President. I think I could do a good job solving many issues involving economy, global warming, and war. CWF let me meet my Senators and Senator Snowe helped me want to become involved. She told me she came from a family that didn't have much but followed her dreams and got what she wanted. I aspire to go to the Coast Guard Academy and major in government. I want to pursue this dream. Also in CWF we did sight seeing and made a bill we had to get passed by other 4-Hers. Many different states were there and I made friendships with people that will last forever. I am looking forward to applying to go to Conference and Congress so I can broaden my view on the government. I highly recommend it for anyone. I got funds to go from different organizations so it wasn't that much money and could be made possible by a little effort. The only thing that wasn't that great was the bus ride.

This past June we told you about the Celebrate Urban Birds! project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It's an easy, fun way for city-dwellers to get to know their birds, enjoy the outdoors, and contribute information that scientists can actually use to study urban birds. Now we want to tell you about our "Little Green Places" contest.

We want to see your photo, drawing, or video of a Little Green Space that's good for birds. Have you noticed a spot that birds like because it provides shelter, food, or water? It could be an ivy-covered wall, flowers next to the stoop, a windowbox, a container garden on a rooftop or balcony, your school garden, or the potted plants by your library entryway.

Send a photo, drawing, or link to your video to urbanbirds@cornell.edu . We'll send the first fifty entries a copy of the new "Celebrate Little Green Places" poster and there will be other great prizes, including a $100 gift certificate from Johnny's Selected Seeds.The deadline is October 31.

Information about the Little Green Places contest can be found on our web site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration/temporary/little-green-places-photo-video-contest
(Make sure to watch our video about the contest!) We're also attaching a flyer that you can post on a bulletin board, if you wish. Please feel free to modify this information for use in a newsletter or in any other way that helps spread the word.

We can't wait to see your Little Green Places!

Best wishes,

Karen Purcell, project leader
Celebrate Urban Birds!
www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org
kap7@cornell.edu

Are you looking for recipes that you can make with your kids? I have been “surfing” the web and have found several sites that have a lot of kid-friendly recipes. Instead of giving you one recipe in this newsletter, I thought I would include a listing of websites that you can visit with your child and find something that you would like to make together! Family time is the best time of any week. Spend some time with your kids in the kitchen this month cooking up some wonderful autumn recipes.

For more information on educational programs in your area, contact your county Extension office.