STATE FAIR NOTICES:

YES – it’s getting closer and now is the time to plan, promote, encourage and get on board!!

Here are some of the Human Science Programs to plan for at the 2011 Maryland State Fair:

State Purchase Power 2011

School’s OUT!! Here are our 2011 Purchase Power resources. Access them on our 4-H website – under Programs then click Human Science then you’ll find Purchase Power 2011 Resources on the Purchase Power page. Here’s the direct link http://www.maryland4h.org/Faculty%20and%20Staff/Programs/Human%20Sciences/State%20Purchase%20Power%20Program/index.cfm. If you have youth interested in having a “judging” experience this consumer skill building program is for your 4-Hers! Like the other “judging” events this program offers a group of categories to study and then make decisions/rankings based on established criterion. Get youth involved in consumer skill building this summer and culminate this learning at the Maryland State Fair Consumer Judging Contest on Saturday, August 27^th at 2:00 p.m. in the 4-H/ Home Arts Building. The topics this year are: Peanut Butter / Pots & Pans/ Kitchen Utensils – will be the ID class/ Beach Towels and finally Dairy Products – your calcium connection.

If you have questions about the Purchase Power Program – How to Judge a Class/ Scoring/etc. we have power point presentations that are on the same Human Science page with class information from former years. We had 5 counties participate last year – Carroll County has historically had a wonderful, strong, successful program – and even has a county contest – as a part of their County Fair on Saturday, July 30^th – this would be an EXCELLENT opportunity for other county/city groups to participate as a “practice” prior to the Maryland State Fair. (Contact Kathy Gordon if you want to attend the Carroll County event kgordon@umd.edu ) Hone your consumer skills – check out the 2011 Purchase Power program – plan to bring Junior/ Intermediate and Senior teams or individuals to the Maryland State Fair contest. Any questions contact Sandy corridon@umd.edu

State 4-H Fashion Revue

At the completion of each of your county Fashion Shows – please let your senior participants in both Ready to Wear and Constructed Categories know that we’d welcome them as participants in the 2011 State 4-H Fashion Revue on Monday, Labor Day at the Maryland State Fair. The top TWO (2) seniors in each of the 16 classes (see Maryland State Fair website or the link on our 4-H Human Science page to the information from the State Fair to see the total listing of classes) are invited to attend. There are 16 opportunities – 16 classes available for your senior 4-H members to have their garments judged and to model in the State 4-H Fashion Revue AND two Intermediates are again invited to come to the State Fashion Revue to participate, but NOT compete – just model in the Fashion Show and get firsthand experience for their senior fashion adventures. Help your Senior 4-Hers select the appropriate class – one of the 16 classes listed for the State Fair and plan to spend a Fashion Focused Day on Monday, Labor Day from 9:00 in the morning until the 4:00 Fashion Show in the 4-H/ Home Arts Building at the Maryland State Fair. 4-H Educators will submit the list of county/city participants on the Educator Completed Entry Forms for State Fair on July 31^st. We’d love to have 34 participates from EACH County/City unit – just image that Fashion Show!!! If you have youth/adults who would like to help with the 2011 4-H Fashion Show – we have a Fashion Revue Committee – contact Lacie Ashby (lashby@umd.edu ) or Shante' Stokes (sstokes1@umd.edu ) .

State 4-H Egg Preparation Demonstration Contest

Do you have Senior 4-Hers who excel in food visual presentations?

Do you have Senior 4-H Poultry Project youth interested in sharing their poultry knowledge and a good poultry recipe?? The 2011 State 4-H Egg Preparation Demonstration Contest is held on Sunday, August 28^th at 4:30 p.m. in the 4-H/Home Arts Building. Check the specific information on our 4-H Human Science Page – Egg Demonstration Contest of visit the Maryland State Fair website 4-H Competition link at http://www.marylandstatefair.com/marylandstatefair/uploads/File/2011_4H_X_Special.pdf

The winner of this event represents Maryland at the National Egg Preparation Demonstration Contest in Louisville, Kentucky this fall.

State Fair 4-H Youth Workers Needed. Each year during the fair we hire our outstanding senior 4-H members to work in the 4-H Building and at Animal World. If interested - see the article below.

Out-of-State Trips – Chaperones Needed!

July 1^st is the due date for applications for the position of Chaperone/Coach for some of our Out-of-State Trips. Employees and Volunteers, if you are interested in serving as a Chaperone/Coach for any of these trips visit our 4-H website – on the Volunteer Page click Out of State Trips Positions and both forms as well as the framework for selecting volunteers is there. Please consider this opportunity!

Have you taken the challenge? Did or are you logging in your activity on the PALA website Go to http://www.presidentschallenge.net/login/register_individual.aspx In our March Update we shared the registration information – if you would like to see the original article check out the March 3^rd Update archived on our 4-H website. If you have been keeping a “paper” log of activity – contact Sandy (corridon@umd.edu ) and the data will be entered and a certificate will be issued to Active Lifestyle participants. It’s NEVER too late to engage in healthy lifestyle activities.

Tom's of Maine 50 States for Good Community Sponsorship Program
Deadline: June 21
50 States for Good is a national initiative to support the goodness behind grassroots community projects. Six organizations will share in our $150,000 sponsorship fund, including one organization that will be given $50,000! Our panel of judges will select 20 organizations doing great things in their communities to be voted on by you. http://bit.ly/iMP8DX

Net Literacy Financial Connects Contest

Deadline: Rolling through June 30, 2011
Net Literacy is a student-founded nonprofit where students comprise 50% of the board of directors. Thanks to support from State Farm, students from across the country to submit short videos that teach a lesson about the importance of financial literacy. Video entries win $100 to $500 and web-based games win $500 to $1000. We hope to give away $100,000 in prizes as students provide the content to build a national financial literacy using their words to explain the importance of being financially literate. Eligibility: all full-time or part-time students - videos and games can be developed by a student, a group of students, or a classroom project. http://bit.ly/eDkDlX

Captain Planet Environment Grants

Deadline: June 30
These grant opportunities support hands-on environmental projects that empower children and youth around the world to solve environmental problems in their communities. There are multiple awards ranging from $250 to $2,500. http://bit.ly/e9bXNd

American Dream Photo Contest

Deadline: July 4

The American Dream Photo Contest is an online initiative designed specifically to involve youth in the Opportunity Nation campaign in a meaningful way. To enter, anyone can upload two original pictures - one of their American Dream and one of their American Reality. Their images will be displayed together on a personalized web page on the OpportunityNation site, juxtaposing two visions of opportunity in America. Youth will then share their personalized link via Twitter and Facebook, sparking a dialogue with their friends and peers across the country surrounding their American Dream. The entry with the most ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ will have a chance to win great prizes, including a new Wifi iPad2 or a trip for two to the OpportunityNation national summit in New York City this November! http://bit.ly/lLjy0y

Best Buy Community Grants
Deadline: August 1
Best Buy teams across the U.S. select non-profit organizations that provide positive experiences to help teens to excel in school and develop life and leadership skills. Non-profits located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store or Regional Distribution Center may apply. Grants will average $4,000-$6,000 and will not exceed $10,000. http://bit.ly/l8gGrz

Partnering for Excellence: Innovations in Science + Technology + Engineering + Math Education Competition

Deadline: August 3

If you are a changemaker with STEM expertise and the desire to realize bold, imaginative ideas for educating young people in the United States—especially in our highest-need schools—we want to hear from you! We are seeking creative approaches to solving the country’s STEM challenge by bringing the passion and real-life skills of STEM experts to advance STEM learning in public schools. The competition is open to innovations in the United States. More than $120,000 in cash and in-kind prizes from Ashoka’s Changemakers, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Opportunity Equation, and our prize sponsors. http://bit.ly/l1Surk

Home Depot Community Impact Grants Program

Come one, come call to the Maryland 4-H Day at Camden Yards Sunday July 24, 2011! Tickets are only $13 and are located behind home plate and down first base line. Bus parking permits are available for group travel. Help us reach our goal of 1,500 4-H Friends. Youth 14 and under get to run the bases after the ball game!

Questions? See flyer for more information. Reserve your tickets for you, your family and all your friends today!

The Horsemanship Standards Monthly Learning Lessons for June, July, and August are now available at http://www.4hhorse.umd.edu/activities/Monthly%20Learning%20Lessons.html Below is a summary of the topics for each month. We hope that by sending out all three months ahead of time that this will help you to have resources when planning your summer meetings and trainings.

June – Conformation Faults, Lameness, Blemishes, Gaits and Movement

July – Bandaging (Stable Bandages, Shipping Bandages, Exercise Bandages, Boots, and Specialty Bandages)

August – Horse Handling (Leading, Quick Release Knots, and Longeing)

On June 22^nd , the winning team of the 2010 National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest will be heading to Scotland to compete in an International Judging event. The team brought Maryland its 30^th National victory, which is an incredible feat. With that honor comes an opportunity to represent Maryland at an International judging contest, provided the team was willing to put in the time and effort to fundraise $30,000 to make the trip. “Fundraising is a lot of work, but earning this trip makes it well worth the effort. I learned how to really work as a team and to interact with a lot of different people. It has been a great experience” says Kaitlyn Corbett of Washington County. The team consists of Kaitlyn Corbett, Washington Co.; Hannah Hood, Frederick Co.; Jessica Sentelle, Frederick Co.; and Jason Zimmerman, Montgomery Co. The program is coordinated by Kiera Finucane, Animal and Avian Sciences, and this year's team was coached by Jeff Semler, Extension Educator in Washington County with University of Maryland Extension.

The team will travel through Scotland, England, France, Luxembourg and Germany over the fourteen day trip. We will have the opportunity to judge cattle in multiple countries including the Royal Highland Show in Scotland and at the Luxembourg National Show, see a play in London, take a cruise down the Rhine River and so much more. The team has even been invited to lead cattle in an international cattle sale hosted by the Luxembourg Herd Book Association! Jason Zimmerman says “I’m most looking forward to visiting Luxembourg because I will get to live with a host family and help with the sale. I will have an opportunity to see how chores are done on the host family’s farm and see many cows at the sale.” These sentiments are echoed by teammate Jessica Sentelle, “I’m most excited to stay with the host families because it will be a completely different experience and it will allow us to see the different customs of the families.”

Many of you have supported the fundraising efforts put forth by the team over the past eight months. The program’s long term success and viability is possible only through the time, effort and financial support of the entire dairy industry in Maryland. “I’d like to thank all of our supporters so much. We have been working most of our 4-H careers to get to this point and we never could have made it without your help. Once again, thank you for all that you’ve done for us” says Hannah Hood. While the team and 4-H program cannot send each and every one of you a personal thank you card, we would like to invite you along on our international adventure with us. Please look for daily updates on our blog: http://marylanddairyjudging2008.blogspot.com/

For more information on the 4-H Dairy Program in Maryland, please contact Kiera Finucane at (301)405-1392 or kieraf@umd.edu.