Massachusetts 4-H
April is National
Volunteer Month
4-H Thanks our
2452 Volunteers
and Collaborators!
4-H volunteers serve as
club leaders, short term
program facilitators
and teachers, Advisory
and Program Council
members, judges,
fundraisers, food booth
coordinators, chaperones,
coaches and more!
Through these volunteers
we were able to reach
over 21,000 youth last
year with positive youth
development programs.
4-H is taking this
opportunity to say “thank
you” to each and every
one. Without you, there
would be no 4-H!
S TAT EW I D E NE W SL E T T E R
Spring 2015
Joanne Brown, Middlesex County Volunteer
Selected as the 2015 Salute to Excellence Northeast
Regional Outstanding Lifetime 4-H Volunteer!
Congratulations to Joanne for being selected by national 4-H Council for this
honor! Joanne has served as a club leader for several clubs, New England
Center coordinator for the MA 4-H delegation, the Chair of the State Clothing
Committee, Middlesex County Advisory Council Treasurer, Coordinator for the State
Photography Contest and the State Performing Arts Contest, just to name a few of
her roles. We are so proud of Joanne and happy to have her as a MA 4-H Volunteer!
She is representative of our many outstanding MA 4-H volunteers. As one of four
regional winners, Joanne is now eligible for the National Outstanding Lifetime 4-H
Volunteer award.
Calling All Photographers!
All 4-H members are encouraged to enter the State 4-H Photography Contest.
Photographs taken since last July may be entered and are due to the Waltham
4-H office by July 1. Go to http://mass4h.org/forms/contest-forms and click on
Photography Contest for complete guidelines and instructions.
4-H Club Grant Opportunities
Be sure to check out the 4-H Foundation
website for 4-H club grant and funding
opportunities. All clubs requesting grant funds
should have a bank account. New this year –
grant funds for 4-H clubs that have a garden
and donate the produce to food pantries and
shelters. Go to http://mass4hfoundation.org/
index.php/programs/grants. Members of Belchertown 4-H clubs harvest
produce from their garden for donation to
Belchertown food pantries and the Senior Center.
www.mass4h.org
Performing Arts Contest
Thanks to all Who Contributed to the
State Community Service Project!
There will be a Performing Arts Contest on
May 9th beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Norfolk County
Agricultural High School in Walpole. Performances
will be selected for the New England Center stage at
the Big E. Details and registration information will be
posted on the 4-H website in April; pre-registration
is required.
82 clubs reported their results via our Survey Monkey
survey. Here is a brief summary:
• 57% collected a total of 13,354 pounds of food and
$12,435 and donated to pantries
• 25% collected care items, food and $2558 and
donated to animal shelters
• 10% donated clothing, gift cards and holiday gifts to
shelters
Operation Military Kids Program
• 11% sent care packages to military members and/or
thank you cards to military children
The OMK program ended on March 31. We are now
prohibited from using the name Operation Military
Kids. That said, 4-H will continue our important work
with youth from military families. We are now calling
our programs a “4-H Military Partnership.” For more
information on these programs click on “4-H Military
Partnerships” on the home page of the 4-H website.
• 56% reported on projects they conducted in
addition to the statewide project including
community beautification, toy drives, baking for
residents of shelters, and projects benefiting hospital
patients and nursing home residents
We are looking for ideas for next year’s statewide
project so contact your local Educator if you have
some ideas!
It’s Time to Think About Summer!
Don’t Forget to Register for 4-H
Camp!
Register soon as the most popular weeks fill up
quickly!
• Camp Farley in Mashpee: www.campfarley.com
• Camp Marshall and Horse Camp in Spencer:
www.campmarshall.net
• Camp Leslie in Georgetown: www.campleslie.org
• Camp Middlesex in Ashby: www.campmiddlesex.org
• Camp Howe in Goshen: www.camphowe.com
Opportunity to Facilitate 4-H
Impact Programs
4-H Impact programs are short term (6-8 sessions)
programs usually delivered in collaboration with
libraries or community groups that serve youth.
Our most popular 4-H Impact program is the 4-H
Babysitters Training course. We are looking for adults
who would be willing to facilitate and/or teach some of
these courses; stipends are available. This would be
a great opportunity for college students to earn some
money during the summer. If you are interested contact
your 4-H Educator for details.
UMass Extension
The Barnstable County Creative Hearts 4-H Club
made pillows to donate to Hospice.
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Massachusetts 4-H STATEWIDE Newsletter - Spring 2015
www.mass4h.org
National 4-H Congress
Join Us at Our Summer Science
Programs on the UMass Amherst
Campus!
November 27 – December 1st, 2015
This event provides a tremendous opportunity for
Massachusetts 4-H members, ages 15-18, to meet
and interact with 4-H members from across the
country while taking part in an exciting educational
experience. It is designed to address the needs and
issues of youth while helping to develop capable,
competent citizens. Being selected to attend is
one of the highest achievements a 4-H member
can reach. For additional information, visit
www.national4-Hcongress.com. To apply for this
honor, submit your application packet by May 18,
2015. This year we will also be accepting applications
electronically. The application materials are found at
www.mass4h.org. Go to Programs, then Leadership.
Volunteers interested in judging application packets
should contact Kim Pond at kima@umext.umass.edu.
More information and registration information will be
on the 4-H website at: www.mass4h.org.
What are Your Teens Doing
this Summer?
Why Not Send Them to College?
Animal Science:
Exploring Veterinary Science Academy – June 6 & 7
Open to youth ages 13-18
UMass Amherst invites motivated high school
students to apply for Summer Pre-College. There are
more than a dozen programs running from June 28
through August 8. Residential students will live in the
brand new Commonwealth Honors College Residential
Community, enjoy 3 meals a day in the award-winning
dining halls and may participate in an array of extracurricular activities. For details and application
information go to www.umass.edu/summer/precollege.
Beef & Dairy Academy – June 13 & 14
Open to youth ages 9 and older
NEW - Goat Day – June 13
Open to youth ages 9 and older
Summer of Science Program:
June 28-30
The main tracks will focus on Veterinary Science,
Robotics, Solar Cars and Movie Making.
Open to 4-H’ers ages 12-16, or in grades 6-10
for the 2014-2015 school year.
Join us this Summer for
Science, Engineering and
Technology Days
The Regional 4-H Horse Show
Save the date! This program will be offered twice for
your convenience; July 22 in Walpole and August 4
in Hadley.
July 31 – August 2
Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton, MA
New classes to be offered this year!
• Morning Session: Science & Engineering Fair
NEW – The youth who collects the most in
sponsorships will be eligible for the $200 cash prize!
Special thanks to our sponsor Tognarelli Plumbing
& Heating in Greenfield, MA. Banner and Class/
Championship Sponsorship Forms are located at
https://mass4h.org/programs/horses.
• Afternoon Session: Solar Car Competition
So, plan to recycle those Visuals and Science Fair
projects – or plan an entirely new one, it’s up to
you! Check out the website this summer for more
information and registration materials.
UMass Extension
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Massachusetts 4-H STATEWIDE Newsletter - Spring 2015
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Massachusetts State 4-H Dairy Show
Massachusetts 4-H wants you to be
a Maker!
July 31 – August 2
Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield, MA
Are you creative and
inventive? Like to recycle
materials? Maker classes
are coming to some of
the 4-H fairs so check out
your fair premium book or
speak to your local 4-H
Educator for details.
2015 Entry Book is located at https://mass4h.org/
programs/beef-and-dairy
UMass Livestock Classic
Saturday, April 11, 2015 (All day) – UMass Horse
Farm, 111 North Maple Street, Hadley, MA
Each year students of the UMass Pre-Veterinary and
Animal Science Club organize the Baystate Livestock
Classic, a livestock show founded in 1938 in which
students and faculty take part. “The Classic” occurs in
April and is open to the public. Fun, food, and activities
are provided for kids of all ages. Student participants
spend a good portion of the spring semester training
and fitting the animals that they have chosen to show
during the Classic. The event culminates with the
selection of the “Premier Showperson.” We hope to
see you at the Classic!
Tufts University Cummings School
of Veterinary Medicine Adventures
in Veterinary Medicine
Do you know an aspiring veterinarian? Adventures
in Veterinary Medicine (AVM) is a fun and engaging
career exploration program for middle and high school
students interested in pursuing a veterinary career.
For more information about the program including
dates, eligibility and tuition visit the AVM website:
https://vetsites.tufts.edu/avm
Livestock Verification Forms Due
If you plan to exhibit a leased animal at any 4-H fair
and/or the Big E, you need to submit a Livestock
Verification Form to your local office. Forms are due
May 1 for Dairy and Beef animals and June 1 for
Goats, Sheep and Alpacas. The forms are available
on all livestock animal program pages of the 4-H
website www.mass4h.org.
Join the 4th H for Health Movement
in Massachusetts!
Nearly 200 4-H’ers in
Massachusetts, Maine
and New Hampshire have
completed the 4th H for Health
Challenge and your club can
join them! To complete the
challenge and earn the 4th H
for Health pin, set an example
of healthy eating habits and physical activity at your
club meetings. You can request FREE pins, while the
supply lasts! Visit www.HealthyKidsHub.org/4H to get
the 4th H for Health Challenge Leader’s packet, which
includes resources to help you bring three healthy
practices to your meetings. Healthy Kids Out of School
is an initiative of ChildObesity180 at Tufts University.
UMass Extension
Food for Thought!
Top 5 Highest Paying Degrees of 2015
1.Engineering
2.Computer Science
3.Math and Science
4.Business
5.Agriculture and Natural Resources
Source: U.S. Today, January 31, 2015
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Massachusetts 4-H STATEWIDE Newsletter - Spring 2015
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2015 Massachusetts Animal Health
Regulations
Big E Information
Visual Presentation
Big E Quality Ribbons
Check out the 2015 regulations, found on the animal
program pages of the 4-H website.
Youth who received a Big E
Quality Ribbon at County VP Day are eligible to
participate in the New England Center at the Big E
but must first attend an orientation session to learn
about what is required and submit all the required
paperwork by July 15. For more information go to
http://mass4h.org/programs/public-speaking-andvisual-presentations and click on “Big E Winner –
What to Expect.”
We Are Raising Money For You!
The Foundation has two major fundraisers this summer.
Won’t you help us make them a success? In 2014, the
Massachusetts 4-H Foundation provided over $300,000
in direct support to Massachusetts 4-H. These funds
helped to send delegates to National 4-H Congress and
Horse Round Up; provided support to leaders and clubs
in the form of curriculum, new club kits, matching grants,
publicity grants and club grants; and supported major
programs such as Visual Presentation Day. The
Foundation also partially funds the salaries of the four
Regional 4-H Educators.
Big E 4-H Packets – Soon to be
on-line for Dairy Cattle, Dog, Goat,
and Sheep
The entry packets for the Big E New England 4-H
Show will soon be on-line on the new Big E website.
NOTE THERE IS A NEW PROCEDURE! We will still
have selection processes for the Beef, Goat and Dairy
Cattle 4-H Shows but youth will now submit their
own entry forms on-line and send the original
signed copies to the 4-H Office by August 20th.
Packets will be located at http://www.thebige.com/
competitions/agriculture/4-h/packets/. Now is the time
to start looking over the packets to prepare for the
September Big E. All participants must be at least
12 years old as of 1/1/15. The deadline for
on-line entries has not been determined yet so
watch for details. Questions about the Beef, Dairy,
Goat or Sheep programs should be directed to
Carrie Chickering-Sears at 413-549-3257 or
ccsears@umext.umass.edu. Questions about the
Dog program should be directed to Nancy Searle
at 413-253-7721 or nsearle@umext.umass.edu.
Shirley Kane Memorial Golf
Tournament, Holden Hills Country
Club, Holden, MA on Wednesday,
July 14. We are looking for sponsors,
players, and raffle items. For more
details visit, www.mass4hfoundation.org.
All proceeds from this event will benefit 4-H programs and
activities throughout the state.
Massachusetts 4-H Foundation Online Auction will be held
from July 1–14. Right now we are collecting auction items.
• Would you donate a gift certificate to your favorite
restaurant, tickets to a Boston sporting event or concert, a
vacation home?
• Do you have a home or garden service you could offer?
• Would you help us secure auction items from your
favorite vendors (hair and nail salons, spas, grocery or
restaurant chains?
Thanks in advance for your support. Items can be
sent to Massachusetts 4-H Foundation,
22 Eliot Street, Ashland, MA 01721 or contact
Laurie Flanagan, Executive Director at (508) 881-1244,
lflanagan@mass4hfoundation.org.
Youth Working Steer Program at the
Big E
www.mass4h.org
The show packet for the Youth Working Steer Program
is located on the Big E site at http://www.thebige.com/
competitions/agriculture/youth-working-steer/.
UMass Extension is an equal opportunity provider and
employer, United States Department of Agriculture
cooperating.Contact your local Extension office for
information on disability accommodations. Contact the
State Extension Director’s Office if you have concer ns
related to discrimination, 413-545-4800 or see
www.umassextension.org/civilrights.
Please contact Carrie Chickering-Sears at
ccsears@umext.umass.edu or (413) 549-3257 for
further details on the show. Youth must be age 12 by
1/1/15 in order to participate.
UMass Extension
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Massachusetts 4-H STATEWIDE Newsletter - Spring 2015