Upcoming 4-H Calendar of Events
Date & Event |
Location |
Info or Registration |
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4/28 OR 4/30/24 7 PM Dog Academy Participant Meeting |
Zoom |
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4/30/24 6 PM National 4-H Trip Info Session |
Zoom |
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5/2/24 5:30 PM Dog Project Spring Fling |
Norfolk Agricultural High School AKC Arena |
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5/3/24 7 PM National Horse Teams Orientation |
Auburn 4-H Office |
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5/3-5/5/24 |
Big E West Springfield |
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5/4/24 10 AM – 3 PM STEM Training |
Hadley 4-H Office |
Registration in 4honline |
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5/5/24 8:45 AM Southeast Regional Horse Show |
Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children |
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5/6/24 6:30 – 7:30 PM Mandatory Dog Academy Chaperone Zoom |
Zoom |
Link will be sent to approved chaperones |
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5/10-5/12/24 Dog Academy |
Camp Farley Mashpee, MA |
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5/13/24 7 PM National 4-H Trip Info Session |
Zoom |
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5/17-5/18 MA 4-H Dairy Academy |
Three County Fairgrounds Northampton, Massachusetts |
Coming soon! |
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5/25 - 5/26/24 |
Fryeburg, ME
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Opened February 1st |
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6/2/24 Goat Tour |
Thomas Farm Sunderland, MA |
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6/8-6/9/24 Vet Science Academy |
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Stay tuned for details! |
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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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7/20/24 Hampshire County Fair |
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8/3-8/4/24 State 4-H Dairy Show |
Franklin County Fairgrounds Greenfield, MA |
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9/7-9/8 Western MA Regional Horse Show |
Three County Fairgrounds Northampton, Massachusetts |
Approaching Deadlines
Deadline |
Event or Opportunity |
Application or Info Link |
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|---|---|---|---|
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5/1/24 |
Animal Verification Forms Due (Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, and Working Steers) |
Form Links Below |
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6/1/24 |
Animal Verification Forms Due (Goat, Sheep, Llama, Alpaca, Swine, and Dog) |
Form Links Below |
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6/1/24 |
State Horse Show Registration Deadline |
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4-H Volunteer Recognition
In honor of National 4-H Volunteer Appreciation Week, we would like to honor you, our dedicated 4-H volunteers! The time and value you bring the Massachusetts 4-H program is truly immeasurable. Your dedication to 4-H is evident in the many hot summer days spent at fairs, in the long overnights spent chaperoning events, and in the countless hours spent preparing materials for club meetings and community events. Most importantly, we see your dedication in the ways in which you support and guide youth all across the state. The 4-H Staff team notices and appreciates the time you invest to ensure the Massachusetts 4-H program is a success.
This year we are ordering Massachusetts 4-H t-shirts for all enrolled 4-H volunteers. It is a small token of our appreciation for the part you play in building our 4-H community. We hope that you will wear these shirts with pride.
Please use this link to fill out a request for a t-shirt. This information also went out via email to volunteers, and we ask that each individual volunteer fills out the order form so that our t-shirt count is accurate, even if there are multiple volunteers in the same household.
Explore UMass 2024
SAVE THE DATE! 
Explore UMass 2024 is back!
This program is for ages 12-16, 4-H members and non-members. Youth get to experience Campus Life during this 3-day, 2-overnight STEM program at UMass Amherst.
Block off the dates June 23-25th and 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
Congratulations to our National 4-H Conference Delegates!
Colleen, Skyler, Davian, and Eva attended National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. from 4/19-4/22, where they worked with 4-H youth from around the country to research, develop, and present answers to challenge questions posed by various government agencies. Our delegates were able to interact directly with representatives from the Department of Labor, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency. See below for information on applying to represent Massachusetts 4-H as a delegate to National 4-H Conference and other trips next year!
Informational Sessions
Are you a 4-H teen who would like to represent Massachusetts 4-H as a youth delegate at a national leadership event?
UMass 4-H is launching its new application process for 4-H teens who are interested in attending one of the three annual national 4-H leadership trips during the 2024-2025 4-H year: National 4-H Congress (in November 2024), 4-H Ignite Summit (in early 2025), and National 4-H Conference (in March or April 2025). The delegate selection process for all three trips will happen during this timeframe even though the trips are spread throughout the fall and spring of the following 4-H year.
Timeline:
- April 2024: Applications Open
- April/May 2024: Zoom Information Sessions on 4/30 at 6pm , & 5/13 at 7pm
- including Cover Letter, Resume, and Interviewing Breakout Sessions
- June 2024: Applications Due followed by Interviews for all Three Trips
- July 2024: Delegates Invited to Participate
- August 2024: Signed Contracts & Family Contribution Payment Due
Animal Science Programs & Updates
Animal Verification Forms - MAKE SURE YOUR FORMS ARE SUBMITTED TO YOUR REGIONAL 4-H OFFICE!
Now is the time to print off your Animal Verification Forms to plan for the upcoming show season. Lease Forms are also due at the same time. Animal Verification Forms are to be completed for all livestock, dogs, and horses that you plan to show at a 4-H fair, dog academies, and/or Big E 4-H Shows. Note: Lambs and kids born after June 1st are still eligible to show based on your fair’s requirements, but you will still need to file a Verification Form on them once they are born. Verification Forms are due to your county/regional 4-H office by the following dates:
- New Date: May 1st – Horse (only if planning to show at the Sept. New England 4-H Horse Show at the Big E)
- May 1st – Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, and Working Steers
- June 1st – Goat, Sheep, Llama, Alpaca and Swine, Dog
Links to Verification and Lease forms:
- Livestock Verification Form
- Livestock Lease Form
- Beef Lease Form (Youth cannot show a leased steer at the Big E)
- Horse Verification Form
- Dog Verification Form
Explore Vet Science at UMass
On June 8th and 9th, the MA 4-H Animal Science and UMASS Vet Science will be welcoming students interested in Veterinary Science as a potential career to the UMASS Hadley Farm. Youth will be learning about the wide range of opportunities in this profession and will get TONS of hands-on animal experience. Registration is now open on 4honline. Please email Andrew at asamuelson@umass.edu if you have questions.
4-H Beef Program
Now that Workshop #1 is in the books, we are looking forward to our next event: The Big East show at the Eastern States Exposition. The remaining workshops will be held in July. Stay tuned for a bonus event coming up soon!
4-H Dairy Program
SAVE THE DATE! This year’s MA 4-H Dairy Academy will take place on Saturday, May 18th at the Three County Fair Grounds in Northampton, MA.
Youth are encouraged to come in on Friday, May 17th after 5 PM to get settled and be ready for our “mock show” and workshops! Register in 4honline now!
4-H Goat Program
COMING SOON! Thomas Farm, Sunderland, MA and The Davis Farm, Shelburne, MA will be hosting learning walks through their farms for 4-H Goat youth on June 2, 2024. Plans are being made! Registration will be available on 4honline.com.
4-H Poultry Program
The MA Avian Bowl will held in July. The details and location will be announced soon. Study materials are readily available through the 4-H Animal Science Department. Please email Andrew at asamuelson@umass.edu to get your copy.
Livestock Judging Resources For 4-H Clubs
The MA 4-H Animal Science Program has a subscription to Livestockjudging.com. This platform has TONS of virtual judging resources for all species. Interested? Please contact Andrew at asamuelson@umass.edu.
4-H Livestock Ambassador Program
Texas A+M AgriLife Extension annually hosts 4-H youth from around the country for their 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program during the month of July. “Ambassadors are exposed to various topics in the livestock industry such as reproduction, nutrition, genetics, and veterinary science. Beyond the classroom, Ambassadors get real-world, hands-on experience by visiting renowned ranches and facilities such as the King Ranch, STgenetics, and Quien Sabe Feeders.” Applications are being accepted now at https://texasyouthlivestock.com/livestock-ambassador-program/
Dog Project
Dog Academy
Dog project members who are registered for dog academy will need to have your dog evaluated by a dog leader before attending Dog Academy with it. The dogs need to be able to sleep in a crate all night without getting stressed or whining and barking all night. Once approved, checks made payable to Mass 4-H Dog Committee ($100 for overnight youth, $50 for pre-approved chaperones, $50 for youth attending just on Saturday, $25 for parent attending just on Saturday) should be sent along with all paperwork, including an up-to-date rabies certificate, to Cathy Acampora in the Plymouth County 4-H Office.
Mandatory Dog Academy Participant Zoom April 28th at 7 PM or April 30th at 7 PM. Sign up here
Mandatory Chaperone Zoom on May 6th from 6:30-7:30 PM. Zoom link will be sent out.
See the information packet here. Contact Cathy Acampora with any questions.
Dog Project Spring Fling Show
sponsored by Thunder Hill Canine Encounters 4-H Club: May 2nd at 5:30 PM in the AKC arena at the Norfolk County Agricultural High School.
R.S.V.P. to cquinnkmt@aol.com to register.
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!
- Thursday, May 16th at 7PM - Dr. Laura Parisio-Wood, Nashaway Equine Veterinary Wellness - equine chiropractic therapy
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
Upcoming STEM Trainings registration now open in 4honline
Saturday May the 4th be with you 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM:
Aerospace and Rocketry at the Hadley office.
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon: session for teens and adults
- Rocketry resources (gliders, stomp rockets and bottle rockets)
- How to run a program at your club, school, or fair (Those outside of 4-H register with Kim Pond at kima@umass.edu
- STEAM Festival Classes
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM: 4-H youth event for members and clover buds with a teen/adult helper
- Learn about the history of flight
- Make a Glider
- Explore stomp rockets and bottle rockets
4-H Across the State
City Nature Challenge
The UMass Amherst Libraries are once again coordinating efforts for Western Massachusetts’ participation in the ninth annual City Nature Challenge (CNC), a global online activity and event that encourages science and nature enthusiasts to share photographs or audio of their community’s biodiversity with audiences worldwide, by hosting a series of free online and in-person workshops April 26th-30th. See details here.
Celebrating with Joint Base Cape Cod!
Kim Pond worked with Joint Base Cape Cod to bring some fun STEM Challenges to our 4-H military youth!
Massachusetts 4-H Foundation
Give to the Foundation this Spring.
Give to the Foundation this spring ahead of 4-H horse shows, Explore UMass, and Fairs!
Donate today online or set up a recurring donation. Thank you for your support of Massachusetts 4-H!
4-H Partner Organizations
Donate at the register March 3-May 4, 2024, to support 4-H!
JOANN stores are connecting more young people to experiences where they can learn by doing, creating & making. By providing local 4‑H Clubs with resources and tools to run impactful programs, JOANN brings the 4‑H experience to more kids in need. JOANN supports National 4‑H Council through a combination of customer donations and year-round sales with the JOANN 4‑H Rewards Card and custom 4‑H fabric.
