Join the Maine 4-H Foundation’s effort in 2013 to raise $100,000 in celebration of 100 years of 4-H in Maine.

For a century, 4-H, a program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, has been a leader in positive youth development, providing hands-on educational and leadership programs for nearly 30,000 youth in Maine. Since its beginning in Maine in 1913, 4-H has emphasized the importance of building the life skills needed to be successful adults. Today, 4-H also is focused on science and technology to foster interest in these areas as avenues to successful careers.

Participating in 4-H makes a difference for youth. What they learn in 4-H influences their adult lives.

“4-H gave me the confidence to become a leader among my peers and take the next step in my life to pursue a college degree.”
– Casey Hushon, 4-H Alum, Senior Account Executive for a leading agricultural marketing communications agency

“The strong sense of public service and volunteerism I learned through 4-H helped me give back to the community later in life.”
– Patrick Larson, 4-H Alum, Assistant Attorney General, Drug Task Force Attorney

In collaboration with the Maine 4-H Foundation, Maine 4-H seeks to raise $100,000 for Maine children. Be a part of this historic celebration honoring generations of children, volunteers, educators, and communities working together to help youth learn to become the young leaders we know today and the adult leaders of tomorrow.

Donations in support of this campaign would support such initiatives as:

• programs based in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math
• participants pursuing higher education
• leadership development, travel opportunities and workshop driven programs
• leadership programs in Washington, D.C.
• annual Maine 4-H Days, held during the summer at the Windsor Fairgrounds
• youth enrollment in animal science projects at the annual Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass.

Audrey Chapman, Executive Director, Maine 4-H Foundation
audrey.chapman@maine.edu or 207-356-5904
Maine 4-H Foundation
5717 Corbett Hall, Room 310
Orono, ME 04469

University of Maine, Gifts Processing Department
P.O. Box 370
Orono, ME 04473-0370
(memo line reading “4-H”)

Online donations can be made on a secure website.

(Left to Right) UMaine Extension Educator Ellie Libby, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and 4-H youth Colleen and Charlene.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s delegation to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. has returned home from a week in which 200 youth and adults gathered to share ideas and recommendations to guide future national 4-H youth development programs across the country and at home.

Maine’s delegates who attended the conference from March 24-29, 2012, include: Charlene, Cumberland County and Colleen, Waldo County.

“For almost 100 years, USDA and 4-H have partnered to produce some of our nation’s best and brightest, including farmers and ranchers who have supported the American economy and put food on our tables,” Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, which oversees 4-H programs through its National Institute of Food and Agriculture, told the conference. “You all are tomorrow’s leaders. We need you to think big, innovate and help tackle the important challenges standing between us, a stronger middle class and a stronger nation.”

Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States and a longtime educator, spoke to conference participants about Joining Forces, the initiative she started with First Lady Michelle Obama to encourage all Americans to support military families. Biden encouraged 4-H members to not only continue their longtime support of military families, but to continue to act as role models and mentors in their communities.

“These 4-H members are extraordinary role models and mentors in their communities,” Biden announced recently. “Just as our military men and women serve our country on the battlefield, these young people lead in our communities. Over the next few decades, one of the tasks that will define their generation will be their support for our returning veterans and our military families.”

Participants at this year’s conference took part in personal development experiences to increase their knowledge, resources and skills on issues, such as Veteran Affairs and Health Eating & Living, that matter most to them. As in previous years, delegates participated in roundtable discussions with partnering federal agencies about topics specific to issues affecting youth and communities nationwide and the role 4-H can play in addressing those issues. Topics for this year’s conference included alcohol and drug use prevention, youth suicide prevention, healthy eating and living, equal education for under-represented groups, integration of veteran and military families into local communities, and using science and technology to improve local communities.

Delegates also learned about a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security focused on cyber security. The Stop.Think.Connect Campaign will provide 4-H with tools and resources to help raise awareness among teens and young adults about emerging online threats and the importance of cyber security. That partnership builds on the campaign’s efforts to highlight curriculum resources available to schools and communities, as well as to promote cyber awareness and educate America’s youth about safe online practices.

Since the first conference in 1927, the National 4-H Conference — known as the “Secretary’s Conference” — continues to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity for engaging youth in creating recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program.

4-H National Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage young people in the efforts of USDA and land grant universities to enhance quality of life. Nearly 6 million young people, ages 5-19, participate in 4-H programs in all 50 states, territories and military installations worldwide.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

The Maine 4-H Foundation along with area businesses is inviting your participation in the Maine Clover Promotion October 1-31 as part of its 4-H Month fundraising campaign. The project raises money for 25,000 youths involved in Maine 4-H.

October 2-8 is National 4-H Week, and in addition, the Maine 4-H Foundation, in partnership with more than 90 businesses statewide, are raising money for 4-H youths in every Maine County during October. Local residents can visit participating businesses, their local University of Maine Cooperative Extension office or visit extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/ to donate with all proceeds supporting Maine 4-H programs. For a full list of participating businesses please visit extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/maine-clover-promotion/.

Recent findings from Tufts University’s “4-H Study of Positive Youth Development” indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Annually 25,000 youth participate in Maine 4-H, which is the youth development program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Also during National 4-H Week, hundreds of thousands of youth from all around the nation will complete a single, innovative experiment on 4-H National Youth Science Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The 2011 National Science Experiment, Wired for Wind, will introduce young people to the possibilities of using wind as a clean, widely available, and low-cost source of renewable energy.

ORONO — The Maine 4-H Foundation is inviting area businesses to participate in the Maine Clover Promotion Oct. 1-31 as part of its 4-H Month fundraising campaign.

The project raises money for 25,000 youths involved in Maine 4-H. 4-H is the youth development program of University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The foundation calls the campaign a great way for all to contribute to the youth in our state and to identify local businesses as a youth supporter in their communities.

The Maine Clover Promotion enables business customers to buy a “clover” for $1. Some businesses have hung the clovers in their stores and some have chosen to give them to customers making the donation. Seventy percent of the contributions go directly to local county 4-H programs and thirty percent goes to statewide programs such as summer camps and trips.

Last year, more than 50 businesses participated and more than 6,000 people purchased clovers. The Maine 4-H Foundation invites all businesses to help make the 2011 campaign successful one. Contact the Maine 4-H Foundation directly at (207) 356-5904 or e-mail audrey.chapman@maine.edu for more information.

We had a wonderful Maine 4-H Foundation Annual Meeting. I’m sorry if you were not able to attend. Please enjoy the pictures and see all the great highlights, like our scholarship winners, donors, and 4-H leaders. Hope to see you soon.

–Audrey Chapman, Executive Director, Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation

“4-H Making the Best Better”

(Roll your cursor over the images to see captions.)