• University of Maine Cooperative Extension offers educational support statewide for Somerset County’s 86 maple syrup producers who together produced 219,778 gallons of pure maple syrup valued at 5.34 million dollars. Somerset County is the largest maple syrup producing county in the United States.
   
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners have received in-depth horticultural training from university educators and industry experts. In return, they volunteer time to their communities.
  • In 2007, 19 UMaine Extension Master Gardeners volunteered over 600 hours.
  • As a result of participation in the program, UMaine Extension Master Gardener trainees have developed their own part- or full-time landscaping or horticultural businesses and they work in local horticultural businesses.
     
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Senior Companion Program encourages volunteerism among limited-income seniors. In Somerset County 23 Senior Companions spent 19,000 hours with 89 clients. Over 8,500 visits were made, providing companionship, information and respite to caregivers.
   
• Over 170 Extension Homemakers in eight groups volunteered 3,917 hours in community service projects and gave $17,959 in donations (including $4,825 for Newborns in Need) in their Somerset County communities.
   
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Eat Well program staff provides nutrition education to limited-income citizens, including food stamp recipients, throughout the state. Participants learn—in small groups, in schools, in their homes or through correspondence courses—strategies for expanding their food dollar and eating well on low budgets.
  • In Somerset County, 283 family members have improved their lives through nutrition management, food budget management and food safety. More than 250 children participated in school programs and summer nutrition camp activities.
     
• 4-H is the youth development program of University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
  • In Somerset County there are more than 30 volunteers and 130 youth that learn life skills and participate in community service activities in 16 towns: Anson, Athens, Cornville, Fairfield, Hartland, Madison, Norridgewock, North Anson, Palmyra, Pittsfield, Rockwood, St. Albans, Skowhegan, Smithfield, Solon and Starks.

Return to state map