Newsletter
Talbot County ● 28577 Mary’s Court, Suite 1 ● Easton, MD 21601 ● (410) 822-1244
Tom Hutson, 4-H Educator, thutson@umd.edu Pat Murphy, 4-H Program Assistant, pmurphy3@umd.edu
Talbot County 4-H Youth Development
4-H is a community of young people across America
who are learning life skills, communication, leadership, and citizenship.
Fall 2014
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, September 16
Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
4-H Ambassadors meeting, 5 – 6 p.m.
and 4-H Council meeting, 6 – 7 p.m.
Pet Event: All about Animals!
UME Office, Easton
Tractor Supply Company will be hosting a
day of animal-themed educational
activities. All 4-H members are invited to
give talks or demonstrations and set up
exhibits about animal AND non-animal projects. This is
a great opportunity to do communication activities and
public exhibits related to your projects. You may take
your pets and livestock to the event. (Ms. Karen Callahan
will let us know about any special animal health
requirements.) Clubs are also invited to sell food and
drinks as fundraisers. Note: Health Department food
permits may be required. Register with the UME Office
by September 15 if you plan to give a talk or set up an
exhibit and September 12 if you plan to sell food.
4-H Ambassadors—From now through
2015, we will work on leadership
development and investigate upcoming
promotional, teaching, and service
opportunities. Ambassadors will receive log sheet to
help with keeping track of leadership activities.
4-H Council—This committee provides
guidance for 4-H programs and events.
Clubs are asked to send designated
representatives who report about recent
club activities and take important information back to
share with other members. Talbot 4-H Council
meetings are open to everyone: Members of the public
are welcome to attend.
Tractor Supply Company, Easton
Saturday, October 4
September 19 – 20
TrappetoberFEST and 4-H Promotion
4-H Wildlife Education Program (WHEP)
and Contest
Town of Trappe
Contact the UME Office if you are interested
in learning more about this annual project
and program that introduces 4-H members
to wildlife species and habitats. We will
connect you with Mr. Jim Serfass who coordinates the
program. He can give you additional information.
Each year, the town of Trappe holds a
festival that offers a wide variety of
activities for children and families. Talbot
4-H usually offers educational and
promotional activities there too. Check
online at www.trappemd.net for event information.
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October 5 – 11
National 4-H Week!
Every year, the second
week in October is set aside as
National 4-H week. Across the
country, 4-H programs are asked to help people learn
about the opportunities that 4-H provides for young
people. Your club may want to make posters about 4-H
and display them in public, teach students in your
school about 4-H, perform a community service
project, or think of an even better promotional idea.
This is also a great time of year to thank your club
volunteers for the time, effort, and care they invest into
creating learning opportunities for you.
Wednesday, October 8, 3 – 6 p.m.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION
TALBOT COUNTY OPEN HOUSE
2014 is the 100-year anniversary of the
national cooperative extension system.
Extension has been educating Maryland
residents and helping them learn new
skills for a century! UME Talbot will hold
an open house for local residents and partner
organizations. Our goal is to increase public awareness
of extension and its high-quality educational programs.
Volunteers, ambassadors, and other members are
welcome to help us give visitors a better understanding
of 4-H clubs and programs. (We are also hoping to
recruit some new members and volunteers.) Please
contact us if you would like to be a part of this event.
October 8 is also 4-H National Youth Science Day, so
we will highlight science education for our visitors.
October 8 – 19
projects. If you know people who will be shopping at
the Easton store during the promotion, please
clover to be
encourage them to buy and sign a $1
displayed in the store.
Friday, October 10, 6 – 8 p.m.
Halloween Happening!
Caroline County 4-H Park
This year we are offering a fun regional
autumn event for Caroline, Dorchester,
and Talbot 4-H members. This is your
chance to make new friends from another
club or a neighboring county. Consider
bringing a friend who is thinking about joining 4-H as a
way of welcoming him or her to the program. The
evening will include games, food, learning activities,
and a costume contest. (Costumes are optional.)
Register with your county UME office by Friday,
October 3 so we know how many people to expect.
Please provide your name, phone number, e-mail, and
number of youth and adults who will be attending.
Sunday, October 12
Harvest Hoedown—4-H Promotion
Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Easton
This annual community event features a
variety of fun family activities coordinated
by Pickering Creek and its community
partners. The Harvest Hoedown usually
has many visitors. Sign up with the UME
Office by Tuesday, October 7 if you would like to help
us lead 4-H educational activities, share information
about your projects, and promote 4-H to the public.
4-H Promotion & Paper Clover Fundraiser
Monday, October 13 or 20 (date to be determined)
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Tractor Supply Company, Easton
4-H Health Science Club Meeting
Tractor Supply Company is a great supporter
of 4-H. This fall, the Easton store will be
promoting our programs and selling paper
clovers as a 4-H fundraiser. Members and
clubs are invited to set up project displays and exhibits
and/or do demonstrations during the promotion
period. Contact the UME Office or Ms. Karen Callahan
to sign up. This is another fun way to complete
communication events or do a public exhibits for your
UM Shore Medical Center (Easton Hospital)
Health care is the number one employment
sector in Talbot County. This project club
introduces members to health careers by
allowing them to interact with medical
professionals. New members are always welcome. If
you know of a medical professional who could be guest
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speaker or a medical facility we could visit, contact Tom
Hutson.
environmental-themed activities for visitors. The
festival schedule and other information can be found
online at www.waterfowlfestival.org .
Sunday, October 19, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Harvest Festival!
and 4-H Promotion
Talbot Ag. & Ed. Center, Easton
Each year, the Ag. Center holds a
harvest-themed event to highlight
traditional and modern agriculture
and Talbot County’s rural lifestyle.
The event includes educational
activities, game booths, and yummy food options. This
is one of the main fundraisers for the Ag. Center.
Proceeds help to pay utility bills and cover repairs and
maintenance. The Ag. Center is valuable to 4-H because
it gives us a location to hold activities including club
meetings, workshops, and the county fair. Therefore,
we ALL need to give back to the Ag. Center because it
gives so much to us. The Ag. Center is asking each club
to run a game booth and to donate a basket of items
for the silent auction. For more information and to sign
up for a game booth, please contact 4-H volunteer
Debbie Dudrow. THANK YOU for your support of and
contributions to the Ag. Center.
Saturday, October 25
Tuesday, November 18
4-H Ambassadors meeting, 5 – 6 p.m.
and 4-H Council meeting, 6 – 7 p.m.
UME Office, Easton
Please mark this meeting on your calendar. (See the
September meeting entry for details.)
November 20 – 23
Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum
Conference Center at U of MD in College Park
In place of the usual Volunteer Forum in
Ocean City, this year Maryland 4-H will
host a multi-state forum for volunteers
and teens from the Northeastern U.S.
Consider attending this fun event that will offer a
variety of workshops, field trips, and other learning
experiences. You may register as a part-time or fulltime participant. For more information and to register,
go to www.mymaryland4hfoundation.com and click on
the Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum banner.
Tuesday, January 20
4-H State Shotgun Match
4-H Record Books are DUE
Prince George’s Trap & Skeet Center, Glen Dale
to the UME Office
Attention, Claybusters members: If you
are planning to participate in the State
Shotgun Match, please speak with your
club’s organizational leader, Ms. Jo Anne
Roe, or instructors Mr. Clem Hathaway and Mr. Martin
Hembree for help with registration. Good luck, and
thanks for representing Talbot 4-H.
November 8–10
Waterfowl Festival and UME Promotion
Town of Easton
The Waterfowl Festival is attended by local
residents as well as people from all over
the country who “flock” to Easton at this
time each year. The Extension Office
usually has a booth at the festival and offers
Each year, record books are due the day after Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day. If you would like to be recognized
for your project work at the March 2015 achievement
program, please be sure to keep your record book up
to date and submit it on time. NOTE: This year we will
be using a score sheet that doesn’t assign a numerical
score but instead allows extra room for helpful judge
comments and suggestions. Senior resumes will still be
judged using the state score sheet.
January 24, 31, & Feb 7, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Introduction to Quilting: Project Series
Easton (exact location to be determined)
Do you think quilts are fascinating? Are you
between the ages of 8 and 18? Would you
like to try quilting for the first time or learn
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how to improve your quilting skills? If so, this is the
class for you. Spend three Saturday mornings with 4-H
volunteer Ms. Lou Diefenderfer and Ms. Jo Verne of the
Bayside Quilt Guild. They will guide you through the
process of making a quilted wall hanging that you can
enter in next year’s fair. Materials will be provided at
no cost to participants. The Quilt Guild plans to give
special awards to selected quilt entries at the fair.
Consider bringing non-4-H friends to the class so you
can introduce them to 4-H sewing projects. Children of
ages 8, 9, or 10 need a parent stay and supervise your
work. If you have questions, please call Lou
Diefenderfer at (410) 924-1764. Please register with
the UME Office by January 10 to give us time to
prepare materials. Tell us your name, phone number,
e-mail, and age, and let us know if you will be bringing
your sewing machine or if you need us to provide one.
Animal Projects Update
Congratulations to the following members who participated in animal shows at the Talbot County Fair!
As always, we are proud of you for the quality of care and showmanship you demonstrate as you represent Talbot
4-H to the public. Special thanks go to all members who completed the required Animal Husbandry and Quality
Assurance Training AND turned in all of your required animal project paperwork on time!
Swine
Superintendent:
Susan Behrens
Brianna Boyle
Emma Boyle
Jacob Boyle
Carlee Eierman
Hannah Harrison
Alex Heinsohn
Hayden Hutchison
Kara Hutchison
Ellie Morris
Goats
Superintendent:
Susan Behrens
Josh Cherry
Dogs
Superintendent:
Karla Cherry
Josh Cherry
Dairy Cattle
Superintendents:
Terri, Sonny, and
Ryan Snow
Emmy Foster
Erica Foster
Kara Hutchison
Sam Pearson
Megan Thornton
Poultry
Superintendent:
Karla Cherry
Josh Cherry
Ashton Milhollan
E.J. Milhollan
Brian Milhollan
Pippa Milhollan
Selinde Roosenburg
Rabbits and Cavies
Superintendent:
Tresa Hutchison
Laurie Alltop
Abigail Meadows
Horses
Superintendent:
Shannon Dill
Elisabeth Toby
Catherine Toby
Animal Project Leaders are Valuable Resources!
Please be sure to THANK the adults who devote time to teaching about animals and planning/supervising animal
projects and events.
Animal Project Records are Available
There are special animal science project records you may use instead of the regular 4-H project record? These forms
give you space to keep track of details that are specific to your animals. They are available online at
extension.umd.edu/4-h/4-h-program-areas/animal-science-resources.
Livestock Auction
As always, we are grateful to Mr. Tom Reilly and the other members of the Livestock Auction Committee for their
leadership. NOTE to 4-H livestock exhibitors: The auction rules specify that (except for NEW livestock project
participants) livestock project participants who plan to sell animals at the livestock auction MUST submit a 4-H record
book with a satisfactory livestock project record during the same year. If you plan to sell animals at the 2015
livestock auction, be sure to turn in a record book by January 20, 2015 to ensure that you are eligible.
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Talbot County Fair Indoor Exhibits
Indoor Exhibits Superintendent: Ms. Linda Brown.
Thanks, Ms. Linda, for doing such a great job coordinating all of these departments!
Congratulations to Talbot 4-H members who exhibited indoor entries this year. More than sixty members entered
approximately 800 exhibits for fair visitors to view. Indoor exhibit champions and reserve champions are listed below.
J = junior I = intermediate S = senior C = champion RC = Reserve Champion
Ag. Products
Hayden Hutchison
Carlee Eierman
Alex Heinsohn
Kara Hutchison
JC
JRC
IC
I RC
Vegetables & Fruits
Karli Abbott
Josh Hrynko
Alex Heinsohn
Julianna Burns
Megan Thornton
JC
JRC
IC
IC
SC
Crafts
Josh Hrynko
Autumn Redman
Selinde Roosenburg
Eric Milhollan
Megan Watts
Brianna Boyle
JC
JRC
IC
IRC
SC
SRC
Woodworking and Electricity
Josh Hrynko
JC
Tyler Redman
JRC
Sam Harrison
IC
Eric Milhollan
IRC
Megan Thornton
SC
Photography
Jessi Watts
Karli Abbott
Julianna Burns
Brad Duley
JC
J RC
IC
IRC
Megan Watts
Kendall Gant
Food Preservation
Jason Blades Hrynko
Josh Hrynko
Selinde Roosenburg
Lilly Catlin
Megan Thornton
Callista Catlin
Baked Foods
Karli Abbott
Karli Abbott
(cookies)
Billy Haufe
(bread)
Pippa Milhollan
(cakes)
Lilly Catlin
Laurie Alltop
(cookies)
Elizabeth Tefft
(bread)
Julianna Burns
(cakes)
SC
SRC
JC
JRC
IC
IRC
SC
SRC
JC
JRC
JRC
JRC
IC
IRC
Brianna Boyle
SRC
Clothing
Elise Lankford
Jessica Hammond
Lilly Catlin
Laurie Alltop
Kendall Gant
JC
JRC
IC
IRC
SC
Flowers and Plants
Josh Hrynko
Autumn Redman
Heather Principe
Jessica Meadows
Brandon Dudrow
Sam Pearson
JC
JRC
IC
IRC
SC
SRC
Record Books
Jason Blades Hrynko
Brian Milhollan
Eric Milhollan
Rebekah Lankford
JC
JRC
IC
IRC
IRC
IRC
Home Furnishings and Child Care
Karli Abbott
JC
Ashton Milhollan
JRC
Kara Hutchison
IC
Isabella Fiorenza
IRC
Megan Watts
SC
Displays and Collections
Rebecca Brault
JC
Ashton Milhollan
JRC
Katelynn Cherry
IRC
Megan McCulley
SC
Clover Participants (ages 5 – 7)
Skylar Blades
Ava Brown
Emma Brown
Fashion Show champions – way to go!
Ready to Wear
Rebecca Brault JC, Jessica Watts JRC, Isabella Fiorenza JC, Rebekah Lankford JRC, Callista Catlin SC
Constructed
Karli Abbott JC, Elise Lankford JRC, Rebekah Lankford IC, Laurie Alltop JRC, Callista Catlin SC
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Out-of State-Trip Applications
4-H Seniors, if you are interested in
applying for a national trip be sure to
update your existing senior portfolio or create a new
one if you haven’t done one before. Contact Tom
Hutson or Pat Murphy if you need help creating your
first portfolio. A portfolio consists of a brief 4-H resume
that resembles a job resume and (if you plan to apply
for a trip) an essay that addresses a specific question
about your 4-H experiences. National 4-H
Conference—Applications are to be uploaded to the
Maryland 4-H Center’s online portal, and supporting
documents are due by October 15. All Other National
Trips—Applications are due January 15. Go online to
http://extension.umd.edu/4-h/youth-families/awardsrecognition for more information.
Diamond Clover Level 6 Projects
4-H seniors, if you are thinking about
working on a Diamond Clover Level 6 service
project in 2015, your proposal is due to the
Maryland 4-H Center by September 15.
(There isn’t much time!) This means you will need to
have it mostly written by September 1 so there is time
for your project committee to meet and review it. 4-H
volunteer Ms. Deb Urry is our Diamond Clover
specialist. If you are just getting started, contact us
IMMEDIATELY so we can connect you with Ms. Deb
right away and help you get your proposal ready.
Maryland 4-H Foundation News
Supporting the Northeast Region Volunteer Forum
As mentioned previously, Maryland 4-H will be hosting
a forum in College Park this November for volunteers
and 4-H seniors from the Northeastern U.S. states. The
Maryland 4-H Foundation is holding several fundraisers
to offset costs of the program and reduce registration
fees for participants. We appreciate your support of
and contributions to any of these fundraisers. Thank
you in advance. This section contains information about
a few of the fundraisers. For more information, contact
the UME Office or the Maryland 4-H Foundation.
Quilt Raffle—the 4-H Foundation is raffling off a
beautiful quilt with squares that represent every
Maryland 4-H program. Many 4-H parents and
volunteers have seen the quilt and had a chance to bid
on it at Talbot 4-H events. If you wanted to buy tickets
and didn’t get a chance, contact the UME Office or
Amanda Clougherty.
Adirondack Ski Chair—Eric Milhollan of the Bay
Hundred Blue Crabs Club generously donated the
Adirondack chair he built out of skis to be used as a
fundraising item following the state fair. Thanks a lot,
E.J. It’s a cool chair!
November 1 – 20 4-H Online Auction—The 4-H
Foundation is soliciting donations for an online auction
that will be run through BiddingforGood.com. Donated
items may be delivered to the Talbot County UME
Office or the Maryland 4-H Center. We need all items
by October 20 at the latest.
Maryland 4-H in Action!
The Delmarva Farmer newspaper is once again putting
together a 4-H in Action supplement. This is an
excellent opportunity for 4-H members to showcase
the Maryland 4-H Program through their own eyes. The
supplement will be written, edited, and designed by
members who are interested in media and writing. A
share of the advertising sales will go to the Foundation
and will eventually aid youth who attend national trips.
Members who are interested in writing articles should
contact Amanda Clougherty, akbrown@umd.edu.
Would you like to learn more about the role
of the Maryland 4-H Foundation in
supporting youth development?
Go online to mymaryland4hfoundation.com
or speak to Ms. Amanda Clougherty, Talbot County 4-H
Volunteer AND Director of the 4-H Foundation.
FYI: The electronic version of the 4-H newsletter often
has additional information compared to the printed
version because of our copier’s page limit. If you
receive a printed 4-H newsletter in the mail, you may
occasionally want to look at the online version at
extension.umd.edu/talbot-county to see extra details.
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Recent Talbot 4-H Activities
Diamond Clover Projects Keep on Giving
For the past two years, 4-H seniors Maria
and Megan McCulley have helped Talbot
4-H offer exciting summer programs for
younger members. Even though their Diamond Clover
Level 6 projects have been officially completed, Megan
planned another three-day event, and she and Maria
carried it out from June 30 – July 2. The participants had
a blast. Thanks, Megan and Maria. You are amazing.
Teens Explore Agricultural Careers
Talbot and Caroline 4-H contributed to the
University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Ag.
Discovery Program by coordinating a day
that featured visits to a Maryland Century
Farm (Pop’s Old Place in Hurlock) and an alpaca farm
(Outstanding Dreams in Preston). The twenty-five
teens from seven states learned about careers in
Maryland agriculture. They also learned about water
pollution prevention and performed water quality tests
on samples taken in Maryland and Delaware.
4-H Spa Day is a Big Success
Bay Hundred Blue Crabs Members
Learn Woodworking and Perform Service
Members of the club are learning about woodworking
through everything from visiting a lumber yard and
seeing how and where lumber is made to touring
Lowe’s and seeing the retail business. They also took a
tour of Willow Construction and learned about the
many job fields in construction/contracting. The group
built two benches for Pickering Creek from start to
finish. Each 4-H member gave a short presentation to
the Pickering Creek staff and board members regarding
construction of the benches.
As one of the Talbot County Free Library
Summer Programs, 4-H Spa Day served 34
youth with interactive learning activities
covering fitness, self-defense, hair & nail care,
nutrition & food preparation, self-esteem,
yoga, and artistic expression. Activities, focused on the
4-H Up for the Challenge curriculum aimed at
strengthening self confidence and wellness as students
begin a new school year. Presentations by three local
business partners plus assistance by ten 4-H volunteers,
combined with nearly $200 worth of gift cards and in
community kind-donations, made Spa Day possible.
Other Programs Taught by the 4-H Staff
Around and Beyond Talbot County
Reading with Mr. Peake is another Bay Hundred
community service project. It has given members the
opportunity to collect books and distribute them in
stores, laundromats, hospitals, doctor offices, etc. This
way, when kids are with their parents running errands
they may choose to pick up a book and read it or even
take it home. The club also made a seven-foot paper
mache mascot, Mr. Peake, to promote the project this
fall in parades and at other local events.
This summer, within Talbot County we
offered nutrition and fitness programs at
Magnolia Meadows, Critchlow Adkins
Children’s Centers, and at a variety of
festivals and other community events. We also taught
Chesapeake Bay and water quality education at
Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers and helped to
provide LEGO robotics classes at YMCA summer camps.
Assisted by several 4-H members and volunteers, we
led a variety of educational activities at the Talbot
County Fair.
Outside of Talbot County, we held educational
programs
at
numerous
locations
including
environmental engineering classes at Maryland 4-H
Engineering Camp in Harford County, Chesapeake Bay
education in Queen Anne’s County, environmental
science at Queen Anne’s County 4-H Camp, hearing and
vision safety at Caroline-Dorchester Fair, and
hearing/vision/chemical safety at Worcester Fair.
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Increase Your Physical Activity – Walk MD
The U. S. Surgeon General spoke about physical
inactivity during a special visit to the 61th Annual
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual
Meeting. Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak boldly delivered
a statement that resonated strongly with Americans
who are interested in promoting physical: "Physical
inactivity is THE major public health issue in this
country."
Physical activity can be fun. Here is an interactive
project idea that encourages physical fitness among
Maryland residents: Participate in the Walk MD
Program. Encourage your club members and
volunteers to participate as a group. Challenge one
another to get active, get healthy, and get moving. The
Walk Maryland website highlights places of interest
across the state. "Walk" from place to place locally, and
connect your mileage to a virtual walk across our
beautiful state. Log in and enter your miles walked,
then do an activity whenever you reach each milestone.
Log onto https://extension.umd.edu/walkmd to find
out more about the program.
Promote the HEALTH "H," and get walking!!
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4-H is Open to Everyone!
University of Maryland Extension
programs are open to any person
and will not discriminate against
anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual
orientation, physical or mental disability, religion,
ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic
information, political affiliation, and gender
identity or expression. If you require special
assistance to participate in Extension programs,
please contact the Extension Office in advance.
Would you like to become
a 4-H volunteer or start a club?
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming
a volunteer or starting a club, contact the 4-H Office at
(410) 822-1244. We will be glad to talk with you and
help you become a part of our program.
Important 4-H Websites
Maryland 4-H Program Information
extension.umd.edu/4-h
U of MD Extension Talbot County/4-H
extension.umd.edu/talbot-county
Order 4-H Project Books & Supplies
4-hmall.org
National 4-H
4-h.org
University of Maryland Extension – State
extension.umd.edu
Talbot County Fair
talbotcountyfair.org
Maryland State Fair
marylandstatefair.com