Upcoming 4-H Calendar of Events
Date & Event |
Location |
Info or Registration |
|---|---|---|
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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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| 5/16 7 PM | Zoom | dutchessl@aol.com |
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5/17-5/18 MA 4-H Dairy Academy |
Three County Fairgrounds Northampton, Massachusetts |
|
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5/22 7 PM State Horse Show Planning |
Zoom | Zoom Link for Horse Show Planning Meeting |
|
5/25 - 5/26/24 |
Fryeburg, ME
|
Opened February 1st |
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6/2/24 Goat Tour |
Thomas Farm Sunderland, MA |
Registration coming soon in 4honline |
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6/8-6/9/24 Vet Science Academy |
Hadley, MA |
Registration open in 4honline |
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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 |
Cummington Fairgrounds | |
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7/22-7/28 Barnstable County Fair |
Cape Cod Fairgrounds | Barnstable County Fair Info |
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7/26-7/28 Worcester County 4-H Fair |
Spencer Fairgrounds Spencer, MA |
Fair book Coming Soon |
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7/27 Hampden County Fair |
Mallary Complex at the Eastern States Exposition | Hampden County Fair Info |
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8/2-8/4/24 State 4-H Dairy Show |
Franklin County Fairgrounds Greenfield, MA |
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8/17 4-H Day at the Heath Fair |
More info coming soon! | |
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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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
5/15/24 |
Volunteer Appreciation T-shirt Request |
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| 5/25/24 | Deadline for heifer registration for the Big E | Big E Packets & Registration | |
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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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| 6/3/24 | National 4-H Teen Leadership Trip Application Deadline | https://forms.gle/cBargMZdkpPaSBzo7 | |
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. The deadline to request a shirt is May 15th. 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. 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
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.
Please direct questions to Cynthia Bushey or Kim Pond
- April 2024: Applications Open https://forms.gle/cBargMZdkpPaSBzo7 Preview the application here: 2024-2025_National_4-H_Leadership_Trips_Application_Preview.pdf
- April/May 2024: Zoom Information Sessions: Last one 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
- Late July/Early 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:
- 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. https://explorevetscience2024.4honline.com. Please email Andrew at asamuelson@umass.edu if you have questions.
4-H Beef Program
Don’t forget to register your heifer for the Big E! May 25, 2024 is the deadline to submit your registration. https://www.thebige.com/p/competitions/4-h/packets.
4-H Dairy Program
SIGN UP NOW! 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! https://dairyacademy2024.4honline.com
4-H Goat Program
SIGN UP NOW! Thomas Farm, Sunderland, MA and Oak Hollow 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. https://goattour2024.4honline.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
Best of luck to all youth participating in Dog Academy this weekend!
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
Computer Science 
May 6-10th - Scratch Week
- Scratch Week is a global, virtual celebration of Scratch and Scratch Jr. MIT invites you to imagine, create, and share along with them in the Scratch online community all week long in their featured studios and daily themes. You also can check your local fair for Technology projects and the 2025 MA 4-H STEAM Festival to enter your work.
- Visit the UMass 4-H Website for more information and Resources like Chrome Books, Arduino and Makey Makey
- Opportunities to put your project in your local 4-H Fair and also the 2025 UMass 4-H STEAM Festival.
Astronomy Week
Astronomy Week May 13-19 with Astronomy Day Saturday May 18th:
https://www.astroleague.org/astronomy-day-fact-sheet/
NASA - JPL
Space Telescope Science Institute
Micro Observatory (Learn how to control a telescope, capture an image and process it):
Links for Amateur Astronomers: https://www.astroleague.org/links-to-items-of-interest-to-amateur-astron...
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
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.
4-H Military Partnership
Military Appreciation Month
Military Appreciation Month was introduced in 1999 by Sen. John McCain to encourage Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers, sailors, and all current and former military personnel. May culminates with a celebration of Memorial Day, which is set aside to honor military members who have passed away. Here is a list of sites to learn more about Memorial Day and other national holidays and celebrations:
- History of Memorial Day
- Learn more about the different holidays and celebrations here
Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Week culminates with Armed Forces Day on Saturday May 18th.
For American service members, Armed Forces Week is an occasion to remember past and present service for all branches of the service. Once upon a time there was a separate occasion for each branch of the military, later consolidated into a single remembrance.
- Armed Forces Week Information
- NBC Nightly News Kids Edition Video
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!
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
