Upcoming 4-H Calendar of Events
Date & Event |
Location |
Info or Registration |
|---|---|---|
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6/12, 5:00 PM EST 4-H Career Exploration Series |
Zoom |
Register here: |
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6/13, 7:00 PM Horse Chat |
Zoom |
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6/18, 6:30 -8:00 PM Records Judge Training |
Zoom |
Register: |
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6/22-6/23 Annual MA State 4-H Horse Show |
Three County Fairgrounds Northampton, Massachusetts |
Registration in 4honline |
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6/23-6/25 Explore UMass |
UMass Amherst |
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7/20 Hampshire County Fair |
Cummington Fairgrounds |
Deadline July 1st to enter Fairbook sent to Westrn MA counties Others can request a copy |
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7/22-7/28 Barnstable County Fair |
Cape Cod Fairgrounds
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7/26-7/28 Worcester County 4-H Fair |
Spencer Fairgrounds Spencer, MA |
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7/27, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Hampden County Fair |
Mallary Complex at the Eastern States Exposition |
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8/2-8/4 State 4-H Dairy Show |
Franklin County Fairgrounds Greenfield, MA |
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8/16-8/25 Marshfield Fair |
Marshfield Fairgrounds 140 Main St., Marshfield |
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8/17 4-H Day at the Heath Fair |
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More info coming soon! |
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8/18, 6:30 -8:00 PM Records Judge Training |
Zoom |
Register: |
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8/23-8/25 Middlesex County 4-H Fair |
Middlesex 4-H Fair Grounds Westford, MA |
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8/31-9/1 East Middleboro Fair |
East Middleboro Fairgrounds 183 Thompson St., Middleboro |
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9/7-9/8 Western MA Regional Horse Show |
Three County Fairgrounds Northampton, Massachusetts |
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9/13-9/29 Big E |
1305 Memorial Ave West Springfield, MA 01089 |
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9/18, 6:30 -8:00 PM Records Judge Training |
Zoom |
Register: |
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10/4-10/14 Topsfield Fair |
Topsfield Fair Grounds Essex County, MA |
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10/21, 6:30 -8:00 PM Records Judge Training |
Zoom |
Register: |
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10/24, 6:30 -8:00 PM Records Judge Training |
Zoom |
Register: |
Approaching Deadlines
|
Deadline |
Event or Opportunity |
Application or Info Link |
|---|---|---|
| 6/15/24 | Official Enrollment Deadline for fair eligibility | |
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6/26/24 |
Worcester County 4-H Fair Entries Due |
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7/13/24 |
Marshfield Fair Entries Due |
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7/17/24 |
Hampden County 4-H Fair Entries Due |
Massachusetts Statewide Programming & Announcements
Important Re-Enrollment Reminder
This request is being made of all UMass 4-H youth and families: Please log into 4honline to check that your enrollment status is complete. Many families think their enrollment is up-to-date only to find that it is incomplete when they try to enroll for an upcoming program. The official enrollment deadline for youth who wish to participate in any 4-H fairs this summer is June 15th. We don’t want you or your child to be disappointed if they attempt to enter into fairs and are unable to do so. Even if you think your registration is complete in 4honline, please log on and check. If you have any questions, reach our to your regional 4-H office for assistance.
Register Now! Record Book Judge Trainings
Are you a 4-H volunteer who has judged record books in the past or would like to judge them next year?
The UMass 4-H Records Program is one of the longstanding statewide programs for 4-H youth. Maintaining record books throughout the year teaches 4-H youth how to set goals, execute plans, reflect on learning, and use tools that help develop executive functioning skills to last a lifetime!
UMass 4-H Staff will be hosting a series of record book judge training sessions between now and October so that we can gather a robust group of trained judges to provide valuable feedback to the 4-H youth across the state who have dedicated their time to completing and submitting record books in October. The time commitment for this volunteer opportunity includes a one and a half hour training between now and October, a Zoom refresher training and judge orientation in November, and one to two solid days of participation in our statewide records judging events.
This amazing program is only possible with dedicated volunteer support. This is a wonderful way to engage in a short-term volunteer opportunity that has a lasting impact on youth.
Use this link to register for a Zoom Records Judge Training on one of the following dates:
- June 18, 2024 6:30-8:00PM
- August 18, 2024 6:30-8PM
- September 18, 2024 6:30-8:00PM
- October 21, 2024 6:30-8:00PM
- October 24, 2024 6:30-8:00PM
UMass 4-H Career Exploration Series
June 12, 2024
Krista Mangiardi, Foreign Service Officer, Sierra Leone, West Africa
To register: https://bit.ly/4-HCES6-12-24
Can you imagine moving to a new country every couple of years for your job? Foreign Service Officers work for the U.S. government overseas doing everything from the finances or technology at a U.S. Embassy, to managing the relationship with another country or helping American tourists get emergency passports. Massachusetts 4-H alum, Krista Mangiardi, is a Foreign Service Officer currently focused on educational and cultural exchange programs in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Come learn not only about her personal experiences in this job, but also about the day-to-day lifestyle that is a part of this unique career!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME FOR THIS CES PRESENTATION IS AT 5:00 PM DUE TO THE TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MASSACHUSETTS AND SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA.
Explore UMass 2024
Registration Closing Friday June 7th!
This program is for ages 12-16. Youth get to experience Campus Life during this 3-day, 2-overnight STEM program at UMass Amherst.
Think about what track most interests you from this year’s STEM tracks: Plant and Soil Science, Veterinary Science, Food Science, and Engineering (Cardboard Arcade project).
Registration opened March 20th in 4honline for members. Please reach out to 4-H Educator Lauren DuBois via email ldubois@umass.edu with any questions.
National Teen Leadership Trips
The selection committee is currently gathering all of the applications and letters of recommendation. We will be contacting applicants soon with the next steps related to their applications for National 4-H Congress (November 2024), 4-H Ignite Summit (early 2025), and National 4-H Conference (March or April 2025).
After a review of applications, delegates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted via email and asked to select a Zoom interview appointment during the last two weeks of June.
National Trip Application & Selection Timeline:
· June 2024: Applications Due followed by Interviews for all Three Trips
· July 2024: Delegates Invited to Participate
· Late July/Early August 2024: Signed Contracts & Family Contribution Payment Due
Please direct any questions to Kim Pond.
Animal Science Programs & Updates
4-H Dairy Program
STATE 4-H SHOW
The MA 4-H Dairy Show will take place Friday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 4th at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield, MA. Entries are due July 15th. The Show Book will be available in the next NewsBlast.
Horse Project
Horse Chat 
Are you a horse lover? Our monthly horse chats are designed to connect horse lovers with experts in the equine world. Meetings are held monthly via Zoom and feature a different guest speaker each month. Mark your calendar!
Caitlin Looney, Certified Equine Massage Therapist
June 13th at 7:00 PM
Caitlin leads Extend Equine Massage which provides a variety of bodywork services to horses across the Greater Boston and Nashua areas. Growing up in 4-H, she transitioned to riding in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association during her time at Northeastern University. Caitlin showed in the Intermediate hunt seat equitation and led the team as captain for three consecutive seasons, frequently competing at both the regional and national levels. Currently, Caitlin is focused on pursuing breed level shows in the all around events with her personal horse Trace, and in hand events with her miniature mule Petunia. Riding at such diverse levels, Caitlin appreciates all aspects of competition and equestrian pursuits from the retired school pony to the leisurely trail master to the high performing equine athlete!
Horse Chat meetings are offered via Zoom using the following link: Meeting ID: 631 794 3559 Passcode: HorseChat
Reach out to Liza at dutchessl@aol.com with questions.
STEM Programs & Updates
STEM Interest Survey
We encourage all those interested to complete a short survey on workshops, trainings, and start of a STEM Advisory. https://forms.gle/nwwZKMX2TNTJxKgr9
4-H Across the State
4-H Clover Fun Fact
Did you also know the 4-H Name and Emblem are a Federal Mark, protected by 18 USC 707? These protections place the 4-H emblem in a unique category of protected emblems, along with the U.S. Presidential Seal, and Smokey the Bear!
This means if you are using the 4-H clover as part of a club banner, fair project, or club t-shirts, you can’t change how the clover looks or remove those little letters and numbers in the bottom right corner.
Learn more!
History of the 4-H Clover
https://4-hhistorypreservation.com/History/Clover/
Short Version of 4-H Clover Use Guidelines
https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pdf-doc-ppt/4h-emblem-use_1.pdf
June 14th is Flag Day!
Want to learn more about the flag: how it is to be displayed, folded, raised/lowered and when the time comes, how to properly dispose of a flag? The American Legion Flag website has many resources on the meaning and handling of the American flag. https://www.legion.org/flag
Additional Flag Resources & Activities:
• Displaying the Flag with Images: https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/flagdisplay.pdf
• Flag Folding Activity: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/4-H/_docs/volunteer/resources-anddevelopment/civic-engagement/4-h-civic-engagement-flag-ceremonies-lesson-plan.pdf
• Flag Etiquette for 4-H Meetings: Link no longer works
https://walworth.extension.wisc.edu/files/2011/02/Flag-Ettiquette-for4-HMeetings.pdf
National 4-H News & Opportunities
4-H Military Partnership
Did you know?
- About 9% of the people in UMass 4-H have a military connected family member?
- The share of women veterans will increase from 11% this year to 18% in 2048.
- Today, 28% of veterans are younger than 50, compared with a projected 34% in 2048.
For more information on the changes in our veteran populations check out the PEW Research Center report https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/08/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/
Massachusetts 4-H Foundation
Shirley Kane Memorial 4-H Golf Tournament 
Save the Date for the 22nd Annual Shirley Kane Memorial 4-H Golf Tournament. The Massachusetts 4-H Foundation will hold the Shirley Memorial 4-H Golf Tournament, its largest fundraiser, on Monday, September 16th, 2024. Consider signing on as a tournament sponsor if you are part of a 4-H advisory council or own a company. You’ll get valuable publicity for your organization, plus support our future leaders. Visit our website to sponsor or play!
2023 Foundation Annual Report Has Arrived.
The Foundation’s 2023 Annual Report is here! Read all about the happenings in Massachusetts 4-H this year, including 4-Hrers’ successful competition at the National Avian Bowl, a Day of Ag-Cess for food insecurity 4-Hers organized, and more! Plus, see a full donorship listing. Download the Annual Report here.
Give to the Foundation
Donate today online or set up a recurring donation. Thank you for your support of Massachusetts 4-H!
4-H Partner Organizations
