New Policy for In-Person 4-H Activities, Starting June 1, 2021 Clubs do NOT have to request pre-approval for activities. A club leader is required to complete a post-activity report at https://form.jotform.com/202293358340149 after each activity and attach the attendance record within 48 hours of the activity. 4-H Activities may be held outdoors or indoors. There are no restrictions on capacity sizes as long as physical distance of at least 3 feet between participants. All 4-H activities must include at least 2 UME Volunteers who have completed the Return to In-Person Programming video and the 4-H Volunteer Refresher video (for those with 5 or more years of service). Health Pledge forms are no longer required. Instead, all youth and adult participants must affirm they are well when signing the attendance record.

All participants must wear appropriate face coverings during any indoor activity. The Maryland Health Department, strongly recommends that all non-vaccinated individuals over the age of 2 continue to wear face coverings in all outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Handwashing and disinfecting high-touch surfaces is still recommended.

4-H Engineering Events Do you enjoy working with tractors, lawn mowers, or bicycles? If so, you might want to participate in one of the engineering events. There are five separate events: Bicycle, Small Engines, Electricity, Tractor, and Lawn & Garden Tractor. Each of the contests has various components such as driving, parts identification, and visual presentations. You may enter as many of the contests as you like. If you should have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the office. The following will be held at the GEARS Building in Accident: July 22, 2021

9am to 11:30am - Bicycle

11:30am to 12:00pm Lunch Break (Bring packed lunch or purchase at a nearby restaurant)

12:00pm to 2:00pm - Electricity

2:00pm to 4:00pm - Small Engines Lawn Tractor and Farm Tractor Events are held during the fair. Registration: Please call the Extension Office at 301-334-6960 prior to July 16, 2021. If you compete in at least three (3) contests, you will qualify for the overall engineering event trophy. The Maryland State Fair hosts the statewide contests. Individuals must enter through the online registration system at www.marylandstatefair.com by July 31st for electric/energy, and small engine events. For bicycle, lawn tractor and tractor event entries are made by the 4-H Educator for the county first place

members.

Fashion Revue The Fashion Revue will be held on Monday, August 2, 2021. Interview judging will begin at 4:30 pm and the show will be held at 6:00 pm at the 4-H Building/Outdoor Stage. Information has been sent to all members enrolled in sewing projects but everyone is welcome to participate. Call the Extension Office for additional information.

“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”

4-H Partyline

June 2021

Volume 16

Issue 6

Broiler Show The Broiler Show will be held Monday, June 7, 2021. We have 14 participants this year. We will be asking only the first place winner of each division to stay for the final Grand & Reserve Champion presentation, which will follow the last show. Youth are required to be present at the event to receive an award.

Poultry Exhibitors—Testing Date All poultry, both in state and out of state poultry, must be tested for Avian Influenza within 21 days prior to entry or originate from a NPIP Avian Influenza Clean or Monitored flock. Avian Influenza testing will require 15 birds or all birds in the flock if fewer than 15 birds from the exhibitors flock. Those individuals planning to bring poultry to the Garrett County Agriculture Fair are reminded that all poultry for exhibition must meet the Maryland Department of Agriculture requirements. To assist with this process, arrangements will be made for the testing to be done on July 14th from 4:00pm—7:00 pm at the Garrett County Fairgrounds in the rabbit barn. Cost for the testing is $20.00 per flock to be paid at the time of the testing. Information needed: 1. Source of birds-hatchery, raised or other. 2. The age of the birds. 3. The number of birds in your flock. Leg bands will be affixed upon testing. Please call 301 334-6960 to register for the testing by July 9, 2021.

4-H Entries for State Fair The State 4-H office will be issuing announcements in regards to the State Fair. We will provide information once available.

Animal Quality Assurance Is Open! All 4-H members enrolled in alpacas, beef, dairy, goats, horse and pony, llamas, poultry, sheep, swine and rabbits are required to have completed the on-line training prior to July 1st to be eligible to exhibit their project animals at the 2021 Garrett County Agriculture Fair or the Maryland State Fair. The 2021 program must be completed using Firefox, Chrome or Safari web browsers. The program is not supported by Internet Explorer. The program contains two levels, a Junior-aged Level and an Intermediate/Senior-aged Level. The program automatically directs members to the correct level based on their birthdate. 4-Hers are required to complete the on-line training program:

If this is their first year as a 4-H member

When they reach each 4-H age division (juniors (8-10), intermediates (11-13), seniors (14-18) – all as of January 1 of the current year)

When an Intermediate or Senior 4-H member chooses to show a new species since last completing the program within their age division - they must return to the program and complete it for the new species area (The Junior program does not have species specific sections like the Intermediate/Senior program does). Passcodes issued in 2015-2019 should still be viable for returning members. Members with passcodes issued prior to 2015 must register to receive a new passcode. Members may access the AH&QA program at: https://ahqa.umd.edu/. A guidebook has been created for more help. You can view it on our website at: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/garrett-county/4-h-youth-development/events under the Weigh-In/Shows/Fairs tab.

Fair Books The Garrett County Fair Premium Books will be distributed to the 4-H club leaders. Please contact your club leader for the book. The stall/space reservation form must be postmarked by July 1st to the appropriate Section Superintendent listed on the back of the form. Entry forms are also in the fair book. If you need more than two sheets of the entry form you may make copies.

Background Check Updates The State 4-H Office has notified us that the process to complete the volunteer background checks via Sterling Volunteers is underway. Volunteers will receive an email invitation from TheAdvocates@sterling volunteers.com. This is a legitimate email that will take you directly to the portal to complete the background check. Just a reminder there is a $15.00 fee for all club volunteers to complete the background check.

For Volunteers: Several videos are available online for 4-H volunteers to view for updates about 4-H policies and expectations.

Return to In-Person Programming video is required for all adult enrolled volunteers and outlines the process to make sure we are limiting the risks from COVID:

https://vimeo.com/527482259

Volunteer Refresher video is required for all enrolled volunteers 5 years or more of service:

https://vimeo.com/user68922404/review/413098455/71eb2bc785

Video explaining the new 4-H volunteer background check policy:

https://use.vg/IduCBz

MARYLAND DAIRY PRINCESS CANDIDATES, DAIRY MAIDS SOUGHT

After a pause in 2020, the Maryland Dairy Princess Association is building a dairy promotion team for 2021. Virtual training and a streamlined, one-day state pageant will offer candidates the opportunity to represent the Maryland dairy industry, promoting milk and dairy products.

Regional princesses will be selected to represent their county/region and will vie for the Maryland Dairy Princess title on Wednesday, July 14.

Candidates must:

Maintain residency in Maryland (they may attend an out-of-state college);

Own at least one dairy animal in a 4-H or FFA project and/or be enrolled for at least two years in a dairy-related project, including dairy foods, dairy judging, dairy bowl and/or dairy leasing programs (not dairy goats and dairy steers) OR be a daughter of a dairy farmer, dairy farm manager or herdsman or an employee in a dairy-related industry, including a farm store, cooperative, DHIA, feed supplier, veterinarian, milk inspector OR be employed herself as one of the above;

Be 16 years old or turn 16 during 2021 and must not reach her 22nd birthday by Dec. 31;and

Submit a resume upon applying for a county or regional position.

Applicants may not hold a county Farm Bureau or dairy breed queen/princess title that would cross over for more than three months.

The association is also looking for Dairy Maids, a program preparing future princesses and providing promotional opportunities for younger dairy enthusiasts. Young ladies with similar eligibility between the ages of 13 and 16 may become a Dairy Maid.

For more information, contact Laurie Savage at LaurieZSavage@aol.com.

Contact Us

Ann Sherrard Extension Educator

anns@umd.edu Karen Wood

Extension Educator kwood125@umd.edu

Michelle Harman Program Assistant

mharman2@umd.edu Wanda Guard

Administra ve Assistant wguard@umd.edu Roberta Cvetnick

Administra ve Assistant rcvetnic@umd.edu

Visit us on the web at

http://extension.umd.edu/garrett-county

301-334-6960

University of Maryland Extension Garrett County Office 1916 Maryland Highway, Suite A Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550

4-H - To Make The Best Better!