Maryland 4-H Volunteer and Teen Forum
Save the date, more information is forthcoming...
Volunteers and 4-H members ages 13-18 are invited to join us for a 4-H packed weekend November 4-5 at the Maryland 4-H Volunteer and Teen Forum in Ocean City at the Holiday Inn on 65th Street. Programming will include:
- Volunteer and teen workshops to strengthen leadership skills
- Youth classes for 4-H members attending the conference with their parents
- Volunteer and teen connection session
- State Council youth connection/ updates
Animal Husbandry & Quality Assurance (AH&QA)
AH&QA is open and closes July 31. All 4-H members enrolled in alpacas, beef, dairy, goats, horse and pony, llamas, poultry, sheep, swine, and rabbits must complete the training to be eligible to exhibit their project animals annually in Maryland 4-H County and State Shows. Members may access the AH&QA program at: https://ahqa.umd.edu/.
AH&QA Technical Tip: if you cannot locate the “Register New User” or “Retrieve Passcode” links on the AH&QA home screen, this can usually be remedied by the user adjusting the Zoom level on the internet browser being used.
Junior 4-Hers must complete one session. Intermediate/Senior Level 4-Hers must complete two sessions:
- Part 1 is general animal information.
- Part 2 contains specific information for each animal species. Members will need to complete Part 2 of the program for each different species project they are enrolled in/wish to exhibit.
Anne Arundel County Fair
----- Anne Arundel County Fair is September 13 - 17, 2023 -----
Start collecting your indoor entries. School projects, art, hobby projects, planting, practice cooking... can all help you be more prepared for entry day. Plan now to save time later.
Special Notes:
- *** VERY IMPORTANT: When doing online fair entries for 4-H, you must use the 4-H catalog entry system to be registered in 4-H competitions. Confirm all your entries are in the 4-H Divisions (not open) and in the correct Departments/Classes. ***
- Registration is July 14 - September 1, 2023. No late entries are accepted.
- Your '4-H member/volunteer card' is required to enter the fair as a 4-H member/volunteer. If you are not registered in 4-H Online as of 6/1/23, you will not receive your card (and will need to pay the public admission each time you enter fair).
- The Anne Arundel County 4-H Fair Book is published and on our 'Events' webpage.
- A complete '4-H Schedule of Events' can be found on page 4. Entries, Shows, Auctions, Contests, Socials, and Events are all listed. Please put these important dates/times in your calendar now so you don't miss all the fun!
- While at the fair, please support our 4-H Foundation by bidding on Auctioned Baskets (indoor exhibit area) and baking a cake for the Cake Auction (page 65).
- The popular Ice Cream Social (page 64) sponsored by our 4-H Foundation will be held Friday 9/15 at 7pm
- AAC 4-H Judging and Contest Awards (page 66) will be held Sunday 9/17 at 3pm.
- Don't forget to order your FREE 4-H Fair shirt (page 63), compliments of the 4-H Foundation. Additional t-shirts can be purchased for $10 - bring checks payable to "Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation" when you pick up your shirts at the fair.
Judges Needed -MANY HANDS MAKES LIGHT WORK!
On Monday, September 11, 2022, we need adults (minimum 1 hour) between 2 - 8pm to assist in judging youth 4-H projects at the Anne Arundel County Fair. Bring only yourself, instructions & materials will be given to you when you arrive.
We are also looking for adults to help with 4-H project indoor entry set-up between 2 - 8pm on Tues, September 12th. Again, a simple 1 hour commitment can make a huge difference!
***Please rsvp for a time on either day (and if judging, please indicate what category you would be interested in) by contacting Joy Sim at jsim@umd.edu.
The Roger Westphal 4-H First-time Fair Exhibitor Award (page 35): $50 cash will be awarded to the outstanding AAC 4-H member participating for the first time in the 4-H Department at the Anne Arundel County Fair. The recipient will be selected based on the highest overall points earned in the following categories:
- award-winning 4-H Projects/Demonstrations in individual indoor exhibits
- participation in 4-H Contests and Skill-A-Thons
- demonstrating a helpful, positive attitude before and during the fair
No application necessary. This award is sponsored by the Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation and will be limited to Anne Arundel County 4-H exhibitors only.
Summer Camp
***Applications will be accepted until June 29, 2023.***
🚶♀️4-H Healthy Living - 2023 “Step into Spring” 5K Fun Walk 🚶♂️
The Freestate Happy Wanderers (FHW) is sponsoring a 5K (3.1 miles) and 10K (6.2 miles) walk on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, in Millersville. The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation invited 4-H members to join in this "Step into Spring” event by paying the $3.00 walk fee for any 4-H member or certified 4-H Volunteer who participated. The event was well attended and included several 'scavenger hunt-like' activities while you traversed the beautiful KFP! Thank you to Mary and the Foundation for their support.
National Horse Judging Contest qualifier Summer M
On June 10, Summer M attended the State Horse Judging and Hippology contest and placed 1st overall in the senior judging category!!! She now has the opportunity to participate in the national-level horse judging event, at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-Up, sponsored by the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). 🐴 Congratulations, Summer!! 🌟
Maryland State Fair
The Maryland State Fair will span three weekends again in 2023: 8/24 - 27, 8/31 - 9/4, 9/7 - 9/10. Check out the 2023 Maryland State Fair Competitions schedule posted on the State Fair website by selecting 'Get Involved' on the main menu, then click 'Competitions', then 4-H/FFA Competitions' (or simply use this link https://marylandstatefair.com/4hffa/). A few 4-H events that will be held on the third weekend of the 2023 State Fair are listed below (See the schedule for details):
4-H/FFA Alpaca/Llama Show
4-H/FFA Dairy Goat Show
4-H Dog Show
4-H Engineering Events (Bicycles, Lawn Tractors, Small Engines, and Electricity/Energy)
Exhibits at the 4H/FFA Home Arts Bldg (Exhibits remain on display for all three weeks)
The Maryland State Fair Blue Ribbon Entry System is now open! The Maryland State Fair Blue Ribbon Entry System will be used to enter the Division shows and exhibits listed below. The Blue Ribbon entries will be accepted through July 15th. Entries must be verified by the county/city 4-H Extension Office/FFA.
Divisions A-J (All animal exhibits except Dogs)
Divisions L-S (All indoor exhibits except Club Booths and Banners)
Some Division T exhibits (4-H Promotional Posters and 4-H Promotional Graphic Art Design)
Some Division X events (Costume Animal Parade, 4-H Photo Challenge, and 4-H/FFA Shepherd's Lead).
4-H Online will be used by 4-H exhibitors to enter the 4-H Dog Show and the 4-H Competitive Events listed below. The 4-H Online link is https://v2.4honline.com/. The 4-H Online entries will be accepted between June 15th and July 31st. 4-H Online entries must be verified by the county/city 4-H Extension Office.
Division K (4-H Dog Show)
Some Division T exhibits (4-H Club Booth & Banner Exhibits)
Some Division X events (State 4-H Fashion Revue, 4-H Presents!, 4-H Top Chef!, and 4-H Horticultural Communications Contest)
Division U (4-H/FFA Dairy Judging Contest, 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, 4-H Dairy Goat Judging & Skills Event, 4-H/FFA Poultry & Egg Judging Contest, 4-H Rabbit Judging Contest, and 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest)
Division W (4-H Robotics Challenge)
Division V (4-H/FFA Tractor Operator Safety Event, 4-H Bicycle Safety Event, 4-H Small Engine Event, 4-H Electric/Energy Event, and 4-H Lawn Tractor Event)
2023 Maryland State Fair Youth Workers - Apply NOW
The Maryland State Fair is seeking youth, ages 14-18, to work at the Maryland State Fair in the following buildings/exhibits: 4-H/FFA Home Arts Building, U-Learn Barn, and U-Learn Farm.
Available positions include:
• 4-H/FFA Home Arts Building: This is the main 4-H/FFA Exhibit Hall where non-animal exhibits are on display for the public to view. Youth workers will assist with the receipt, placement, care, and release of exhibits, and general upkeep of the building. There will be extensive interaction with the public, youth workers will be required to advocate for 4-H/FFA and lead youth activity stations.
• U-Learn Barn: This educational exhibit will connect animals and agriculture to food & fiber consumers can purchase at the grocery store. Youth workers will assist with the care and feeding of the animals on exhibit as well as the general upkeep of the facility. There will be extensive interaction with the public and animals, youth workers will be required to advocate for 4-H/FFA and agriculture and lead youth activity stations.
• U-Learn Farm: This is an educational space where the public can learn about and explore agriculture in Maryland. Youth workers will assist with the activity stations and general upkeep of the facility. There will be extensive interaction with the public, youth workers will be required to advocate for 4-H/FFA and agriculture and lead youth activity stations.
The Job Description and link to the Qualtrics Application Form can be found at the bottom of the Maryland 4-H/Get Involved/Maryland State Fair page of the 4-H website at: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/get-involved/maryland-state-fair. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
As a reminder, the eligibility dates for the state 4-H shooting sports matches are coming up! Below you will find the enrollment requirements and the dates for each contest.
- Rifle: Youth participants must be actively enrolled in Maryland 4-H and a 4-H Shooting Sports Rifle/Marksmanship project or club prior to July 1, 2023. Rifle Contest - Sunday, September 17, 2023
- Archery: Youth contestants must be actively enrolled in Maryland 4-H and a 4-H Shooting Sports project prior to July 1, 2023. The 4-Her’s Shooting Sports Instructor must certify that the contestant is proficient enough in the archery discipline to safely participate in the contest. Archery Contest - Saturday, September 23, 2023
- Shotgun: Event is open to Maryland 4-H Youth 4-H ages 8 to 18 (age as of 01/01/23), who are currently enrolled and actively participating prior to September 1, 2023 in a 4-H Instructed Shotgun Club or 4-H Shotgun Program being conducted by a 4-H Certified Shotgun Instructor. Each participant will require approval at the county and state level. At the county level 4-H Educators will work with Shooting Sports instructors for approval. Instructors must be certain that youth participants understand the shotgun games they will shoot before they come to the state match and that youth can safely participate. State match is not the day to be teaching youth the basics of trap, skeet or sporting clays. Shotgun Contest - Saturday, October 21, 2023
The Maryland 4-H Equine Art & Photography Contest is BACK!
Previously associated with the 4-H Horse Jamboree, the primary objective of this contest is to provide an opportunity for youth to demonstrate their artistic ability and showcase their equine-related art and photography in a virtual setting.
Eligibility:
Any enrolled Maryland 4-H member age 8-18 may enter this contest. Enrollment in the 4-H Horse & Pony project is not required.
Age Divisions (member age on January 1, 2023):
- Junior: ages 8-10
- Intermediate: ages 11-13
- Senior: ages 14-18
Divisions and Classes:
- Fine Arts: Entries must be equine-related and must be original works of art. No cartoon or copyrighted characters, figures, logos, etc. may be used. No paint by numbers, scratch art kits, etc.
- Photography: Photographs must be equine-related and taken in the past 12 months. Photos may be color or black and white.
- Visual Arts: Posters/Infographics must be equine-related. Posters may be of any medium and may be oriented horizontally or vertically.
Virtual Art Show:
All exhibits will be posted via a slide show on the UMD Horse Facebook page and on the UMD Horse Extension webpage. Award winners will be recognized in the slide show.
How to Enter:
-Registration for this event is through 4-H Online. To access the registration log in to your 4-H Online family profile and click on the Events tab. You can find an Event Registration “how to” guide on the Maryland 4-H website.
-Contestants will upload photos of their entries when they register for the contest in 4-H Online. No physical pieces will be submitted. Contestants are encouraged to take good-quality photos of their artwork before starting their event registration. Original image files may be uploaded for digital photograph entries.
-The 4-H Online registration accepts jpeg, png, and pdf file types. Be mindful of image file size; larger files may need to be compressed before they are uploaded.
-Once a registration is submitted, it cannot be changed. All contest registrations must be submitted by 11:59 pm on July 17, 2023. Contact your local 4-H office or visit the Maryland 4-H website for more information.
We look forward to seeing all of your creative work!
4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County Camp Scholarship Application Form
Are you a teen staff or first year camper attending the 2023 Anne Arundel County 4-H Summer Camp? If so, you are eligible to apply for this year's camp scholarship by 8/18/23. The 2023 scholarship amount is $100.00 and up to 5 scholarships may be awarded. The 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County 4-H camp scholarship selection committee will review all applications and select the most deserving recipient(s). All recipients must be enrolled in 4-H in Anne Arundel County and be in good standing. Only teen staff and first year campers are eligible to apply. Completing this application does not guarantee a scholarship award. Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County and the number and dollar amount of scholarships available each year will be based on the availability of funds. Applications will be judged using a score sheet and this scholarship cannot be applied to any other 4-H event/activity. More information and the application form can be found in our AAC 4-H Camp Scholarship folder.
2023 County Fair 4-H T-shirt Design Contest
Calling all 4-H members - The AAC 4-H Foundation is now accepting designs for the 2023 County Fair 4-H T-shirt Design Contest. The winning design will be featured on the back of the 2023 4-H T-shirt that each 4-H participant at the county fair receives compliments of the 4-H Foundation. The contest will be open to all enrolled county 4-H members. A complete design incorporating both graphics and text should reflect the general overall spirit of 4-H at the County Fair and be meaningful to most 4-H members. The theme must be tasteful and 4-H appropriate and be production ready.
The contest winner will be announced at the 4-H Cookout in August. The winner will also receive a $25.00 cash prize. See the attached entry form and flyer for details and follow the guidelines on the use of the 4-H emblem. The deadline for entries is July 12, 2023.
For further information, contact Mary Thomas at aaco4hfoundation@gmail.com. Follow this link to our webpage for more information, entry form, rules and guidelines in using the 4-H name/emblem.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s designs!
2023 Terry Cooper Unsung Hero Award
The Terry Cooper Unsung Hero Award was established in memory of Mrs. Terry Cooper, a dedicated 4-H Volunteer who worked quietly behind the scenes doing whatever was needed to support the 4-H program. This award may be given to one adult and one youth who have made a significant contribution to the 4-H program, but who have received little or no recognition for their efforts. Anyone can submit a nomination, so please nominate a deserving adult or youth. Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, July 12th - nomination form will be available on our AAC Foundation's webpage 5/2/23. If you have any questions, contact Mary Thomas at aaco4hfoundation@gmail.com.
Annual Anne Arundel County 4-H Cookout
The county-wide cookout is scheduled for Friday August 11th (rain date August 18) at Kinder Farm Park. More info to come.
Garden Clean-up at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
Please stay tuned for more information. Many hands makes light work!
From The University of Maryland Extension - 4-H Anne Arundel County
Have questions, ideas or news to share? Please email Joy Sim, jsim1@umd.edu, to be included in our UME - AAC 4-H monthly newsletter. Programing questions, please email Gretchen Sumbrum, UME - AAC Educator, gsumbrum@umd.edu.
Website: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/anne-arundel-county/4-h-youth-development
Location: 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD, USA
Phone: 4102223900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACO4H
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.
