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4-H on the Move
A Newsletter for 4-H Families

WANTED! 4-H Volunteers and 4-H Family Members!

Due to the success of the Waldo County 4-H web site, we invite you to recommend two new web site changes to help volunteers and 4-H family members get the information they need. How can you help?

• View the Waldo County 4-H web site either in September, October or November 2007 at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H   

• Submit two web changes to jweaver@umext.maine.edu  

All ideas for web changes need to be submitted no later than Monday, December 3, 2007. Ideas for web changes will be posted by January 1, 2008.

Thank you for your time and consideration “To Make the Best Better” using our Waldo County 4-H web site.

4-H Leaders Association Meeting

Wednesday, September 5, 2007 6:00 PM

at the Waldo County Extension Office

Early Bird 4-H Enrollment Drawing

Be watching for your enrollment packets for the 2007-2008 year!
For those Waldo County 4-H Club leaders returning 4-H annual forms

on or before October 12th,

your name will be entered in a drawing for an opportunity to win a
Gift Certificate
to purchase materials to be used for 4-H projects during the coming year.

Welcome New Volunteers!

Angelia and Rob Thomas have recently completed the UMCE 4-H Volunteer training. The Thomas’ are a new home schooling family. When asked “Why do you want to be a 4-H volunteer here in Waldo County?” they shared, “We want to work hand in hand with our kids to give them a well rounded education and 4-H can provide that.

As a result of our 4-H volunteer work we want to see us grow together as a family. We want our children to learn to be confident, responsible and even more caring about the people and world around them than they already are. 4-H has such wonderful values and we want to be a part of that.”

Welcome to 4-H, Angelia and Rob!

Equine Affaire Copies

Copies of the Equine Affaire have arrived here in the Waldo County Office. For detailed, continuously–updated information on Equine Affaire, you can go to www.equineaffaire.com. The Equine Affaire will take place at the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, on November 8-11, 2007.

4-H County News

At the May, 2007, 4-H Volunteer Recognition Night, one of the activities involved answering… What is one question you have about your role as a 4-H volunteer? We commit to answering these questions in the 4-H newsletter for all volunteers and families. The date indicates the month we anticipate providing a short article about each question.

•  June       What trouble will I get in if I don’t notify you if we’re going on a field trip?

•  June       What is a “Field Trip”?  Is it the same thing as going to a fair or state 4-H activity, like state dairy judging?

•  July        From CE’s perspective, how important or what difference does it make if we’re Independent vs. Club? 
                     Is it better number-wise, for the state records, to be a club?

•  August    Why don’t kids participate in more activities outside of the county?

•  August    Why are there so many deadlines associated with livestock?  (ESE steer, ESE lamb, Windsor Fair, approval forms, etc.)

•  Sept        What is the best answer for how to judge 4-H project record sheets?

•  Oct         Does my car insurance cover 4-H trips?

•  Oct         Whose insurance covers me if I get hurt while doing a 4-H activity?

•  Nov         How many kids should a volunteer work with in a club?

•  Nov         Why do 4-H members have deadlines, but state administrative or leadership groups can seemingly change
                     the date deadline for their own work?

•  Dec         What good is it to complete the portfolio?  My story?

THIS MONTH

What is the best answer for how to judge 4-H project record sheets?

The Individual:
Project records are judged individually. If a youth has a development disability, 4-H Project Leaders may attach a note on any record notifying the judge of the circumstances. For example, the child may be ten years of age, but works at the development level of an eight year old; therefore, the judging committee will know, if notified in writing, to judge at the appropriate youth development level.

Years in a Project:
The number of years in which a 4-H member has been enrolled in a project is a way for judges to evaluate goals and skills learned. If a 4-H youth has been in a project for a period of time, then the goals should reflect critical thinking and learning to learn skills. For example, if a youth works with a project animal for more than two years and lists a generic goal of learning how to take care of my animal—this goal is too vague and needs to reflect specific areas gaining new knowledge, like “I want to learn types of feeds for horses and disease prevention”.

Youth Responsibility:
Youth are responsible for their own project work in the 4-H Youth Development Program.

4-H Members

• Are responsible for all the hands on learning, “the doing piece”

• Complete their own project work and project records

4-H Volunteers and 4-H Project Leaders

• Keep youth safe

• Provide the encouragement for youth to complete their own project work and project records

• Support youth with development disabilities or medical situations and provide written notification to 4-H staff if necessary

Neutrality:
The ideal judging committee recruits judges who are neutral. Best practices that may demonstrate judging with neutrality:

• Not giving the impression of favoritism

• 4-H staff recruit judges (current 4-H volunteers, other community members who might want to learn what 4-H is, UMCE/4-H alumni, Extension Committee members, other UMCE volunteers, Extension Educators)

Judging committee annually reviews established norms and behaviors such as:

• Judge project records submitted by non-family and non-club members

• Judge project records in areas different than personal project leadership. Example: being neutral means that if you are a dog project leader or you have youth submitting dog project record sheets, you would judge projects like dairy, dance, community service and so on. It is natural to want to judge records in an area in which you provide leadership. See this as a way to role model using critical thinking skills to assess goal setting, decision making, critical thinking, etc., in a different area.

• Judge written and visual work only, unless with prior permission

• Using the no cross talk dialog technique means being neutral which requires judges who have family members, club members or youth they know personally be aware that clarifying and advocating for their 4-H youth puts other 4-H youth who do not have an advocate (4-H leader/volunteer) to represent them during the judging process at a disadvantage. Project work is solely the work of the 4-H member, therefore is judged on written project record information only.

• Each project record is judged by two judges

• Submit project records for further recognition consideration (make recommendations for awards)

• Seek assistance from 4-H Staff if the judged project record scores are not in agreement with a recommendation for a ribbon, medal or other recognition (gift, participation ribbon, certificate), and 4-H Staff will elicit support of a third judge (perhaps even from another extension office).

• Submit recommendation results to 4-H Staff:

  • Youth’s name, project, recognition: ribbons, certificates, medals, other (gift)

  • Request that the Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association order recognition items.

  • Request that the UMCE Waldo County office purchase project medals.

4-H Year Pins

Volunteers who would like to give 4-H members their yearly membership pins need to contact the Cooperative Extension Office at 1-800-287-1426 and request pins for club or independent youth. The pin would be for 4-H work through September of the current (2006-2007) year.

The New 4-H Year Means

• It’s time for members to finish up Project Records and get them to their leader or advisor. (4-H members are encouraged to submit project record sheets for recognition of their accomplishments, contributions and community service for everyone involved in 4-H.)

• 4-H Leaders turn signed Project Record Sheets into the UMCE office on or before Monday, October 1st!

• It’s time to re-enroll member and volunteer memberships. (Enrollment packets will be mailed the week of September 10, 2007, to Organizational Leaders, Independent Members and Independent Volunteers. If 4-H families have not received your enrollment packets, please call your organizational leader or here at the Extension Office.)

• Enrollment packets for previously enrolled members and volunteers are due on or before December 1st.

• New members can join anytime during the calendar year, however, if a youth plans to exhibit livestock animals, check out the 4-H Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Manual.

  • www.maine4h.umaine.edu  - Click on volunteers and then click on Maine 4-H Policies, Procedures and Guidelines), Table of Contents, 4-H Member Policies & Procedures, Section C.1.7 Regulations for 4-H Animal Shows at Maine Agricultural Fairs for current eligibility showing requirements.

4-H Volunteer Check-Ins

As a result of 4-H Volunteer check-in meetings with Joyce Weaver, our 4-H Aide, we would like to thank volunteers who are providing feedback for changes and new resources. A new resource that will be available soon on our 4-H website is How to Solicit Money and Products from Businesses. We appreciate all the feedback for changes and resources and commit to supporting all our volunteers in the great work they do.

Keep those suggestions flowing!

4-H Fair Headlines!

Little Sprouts 4-H Volunteer, April Turner, shares much excitement about how their family is having fun fair experiences!

William Turner and the Tin Man at Union Fair

We had a great time at Skowhegan! Westley caught a pig!  William was in the pig scramble but didn't catch one.  Our neighbor

 did, though, and the two boys would like to know what they need to do to show their pigs next year.  We got a sow and Colby got a boy ( I forget what they are called when they have been cut).  I also entered the frying pan throwing contest and got third in my division.  Aunt Merrily also entered and got second place in her division.   We have followed Auntie to Union and are having an awesome time there as well. Wes and William both entered into the 4-H exhibit hall. Westley did a poster on his go kart racing and William did a flower arrangement.  Both boys received blue ribbons.   We also entered vegetables, baked goods, photos and I made a scarf.  William got a second place ribbon for his chocolate chip cookies.  I think that we got ribbons on almost everything we entered.  The boys are all excited for  Blue Hill or Windsor now - they keep trying to come up with new ideas for exhibits.  Its great to see their minds at work!

Regional, State and National 4-H News

What does it mean to be a Cloverbud?

Did you know that in some states, you can’t join 4-H until you are nine years old? That’s because the basic 4-H program has always been planned for youth ages nine and older. Over the past 15 to 20 years, some states have added programs for five to eight year olds. It wasn’t that long ago that Maine had “Pixie” members who did different activities than their older brother and sisters. About 15 years ago, the National 4-H program named the five to eight year olds “Cloverbuds” and, using child development research from our land grant university partners, created a set of policies appropriate for children of these ages. Over the past couple of years, these policies have been defined in more detail and this definition has shown that Maine needs to make some changes in the things our five to eight year olds do. We want to make sure that our program is as safe and age-appropriate as it can be for our youngest members. Making the program safe and within the national guidelines means less chance of injury to any child and less liability for our staff and volunteers. Participation, safety, personal development, learning, and fun in a cooperative, non-competitive setting are the priorities of the Cloverbud program.

Currently we have a committee made up of staff and volunteers who are looking at the feedback received from a survey sent out to all volunteers across the state. While we are required to follow the basic guidelines of the national policy, we asked for ideas that would help us implement the policy in the way that created the most fun for kids and the least stress for volunteers. In the next couple of weeks, we will be meeting to look at the survey results and to draft a Cloverbud policy for Maine. This will be ready as the new 4-H year begins in October. As this will be our first year under the policy, it will be a draft and will be reviewed after the year to see what might need changing.

Maine 4-H has been through changes before and there is no doubt that this change, while uncomfortable right now, will also result in a program that kids will find fun and engaging. Young children follow the lead of the adults and older kids in their lives- approach this as a positive change and they will also see it that way. In fact, let them take the lead – you may be surprised to see that they don’t mind the change at all. A positive outlook and involvement with families and kids will lead to the best way for your group to implement the policy.

The new Cloverbud policy will be available at the start of the 4-H year on October 1. Clubs that are making plans for the upcoming year and recruiting new members during September should make their volunteers, families and members aware that some parts of 4-H will look different in 2007-2008. Over the next year the Maine 4-H program will be making available curriculum resources, training, ideas and events that will help build our Cloverbud skills. We will work to design county activities including fair events that will involve our Cloverbuds in a positive way. Our goal is to give clubs the tools they need to make this transition successfully.

Animal Science Committee Nominations

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Maine 4-H Animal Science Committee (ASC) is Saturday, November 3, 2007 in Waterville. 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.maine4h.umaine.edu/manual/attach/ascmemresp.htm to learn more about serving in this position. You can find nomination and re-nomination forms at http://www.maine4h.umaine.edu/manual/partb/b18.htm 

Membership to the Animal Science Committees is gained by a nomination and re-nomination process. Nominations can be made by any member of the committee, including the current Activity Coordinator and occurs prior to the Fall ASC meeting. Nominations must be submitted by October 15 to the committee's Staff Liaison. The Staff Liaison reviews the nomination, consults with the Extension educator or Extension professional in the county in which the volunteer is enrolled and if approved, submits it to the current members of the committee at the Fall ASC meeting.

Teenage Members:
It is recommended that teenage 4-H volunteers be given seats on the Animal Sciences committees.  Teen members will follow the same membership procedures as adults, except for background checks. If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact

Michaele Bailey at mbailey@umext.maine.edu or Donna Flint at dflint@umext.maine.edu 

   4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

Maine 4-H Youth Development Mission

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.

Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine

A Member of the University of Maine System

Last Modified: 11/01/07
These pages are currently being maintained from the
Waldo County Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
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If you are a person with a disability and will need any accommodations to participate in a UMCE program, please contact your county office to discuss your needs. For assistance via a TTY line call 1-800-287-8957.