The Horsemanship Standards Monthly Learning Lessons document for April is now available at http://www.4hhorse.umd.edu/activities/Monthly%20Learning%20Lessons.html. This month’s topic is Grooming (Braiding, Clipping, Proper Attire, and Turnout). We hope that you find this resource helpful.

We are pleased to inform you that the 2011 Maryland State Fair 4-H/FFA information is now accessible on the Maryland State Fair website.

To access the information, visit http://www.marylandstatefair.com/ then from the State Fair’s home page click on the “Competition” tab and then click on the “4-H” link. From the “4-H Competition” page you can view and print each of the available 2011 4-H/FFA Premium Book Sections.

State Communications Contest:

Currently we have over one hundred registered for the 2011 State Communications Contest. If your county hasn’t sent your list of Champions and Reserve Champions – please do so today! The transmittal form is on the website – be sure to open in Adobe Acrobat. This will allow you to save the information you fill in and email it back to us. Special thanks to Garrett and Wicomico Counties – for sending their participation fee for the Champions with their forms!

Letters to Champions and Reserve Champions are in the mail asking participants to come to the Plant Sciences Building – lower level to check in and get their program for the day. (CHECK IN 9:30 – 10:30 am Saturday - April 30^th) We’ll direct them to the location for their speech and then present the Champion Trophies at 3 p.m. in the center of all the 4-H Activities on Ag Avenue. Communications is certainly one of most essential life skills. Thank you for helping our 4-H Youth develop this!!!

Health Rocks! Congratulations to Charles, Garrett, Prince George, Wicomico and Worcester Counties for successfully applying for the 2011 Health Rocks! Teaching Grants. Teams from these counties will attend the State Training held at UMES next weekend – April 15^th – 16^th .

State 4-H Team Retreat – Just a Reminder: 4-H Team Retreat – May 4-6 in College Park. If you need another copy of the RFP – so that you can share scholarly work with your colleagues – contact corridon@umd.edu. If you are ready to do your TAR – hotel rooms will be $119/single and $129/double. Registration will be $150 for the entire retreat. We look forward to meeting with our entire State 4-H Team. (Remember to register for the AGNR Awards Convocation when the invitation comes from the Dean.)

2011 National LifeSmarts Championship We have a Maryland Team at the National LifeSmarts Competition who will be defending their National 2010 Title. (You’ll see the winning Maryland team from last year on the LifeSmarts website. You’ll be able to watch the final day of the National Competition live on line visit www.lifesmarts.org on Tuesday, May 3^rd – Semifinals at noon EDT and Finals at 1:45 EDT. LifeSmarts, the ultimate consumer challenge, is an educational program of the National Consumers League that develops the consumer and marketplace skills of teens in a fun way, and rewards them for the knowledge they demonstrate.

We are having our 30^th Annual Golf Tournament in memory of Martin K. Hoff, register today to reserve your spot today. The tournament is on June 6, 2011 at Oakmont Green in Hampstead, MD. Its $125.00 for a foursome, 18 holes, lunch, dinner and more included. Come help us celebrate 30 years! Click Here for flyer and more information.

The 2011 Maryland 4-H Scholarship application is now available.

Click Here to get more information and application or visit www.mymaryland4hfoundation.com