Upcoming 4-H Calendar of Events
Date & Event |
Location |
Info or Registration |
|---|---|---|
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7/20 Hampshire County Fair |
Cummington Fairgrounds |
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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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| 8/1-8/2 4-H Babysitter’s Basics & CPR/First Aid Certification | Mt. Ida Campus of UMass Amherst 100 Carlson Ave., Newton, MA | See article for registration details and link |
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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 |
|---|---|---|
|
7/13/24 |
Marshfield Fair Entries Due | Marshfield Fair Info |
| 7/17/24 | Hampden County 4-H Fair Entries Due | Hampden County 4-H Fair Info |
Massachusetts Statewide Programming & Announcements
4-H Babysitter’s Basics & CPR/First Aid Certification
ALL YOUTH ages 12-18 are invited to take this dual babysitters course and CPR/First Aid certification!
This is a 2-day, overnight program.
When: August 1 – August 2
Where: Mt. Ida campus of UMass Amherst, 100 Carlson Ave., Newton, MA
Cost: $175, accommodations and meals included in addition to babysitter course and CPR/First Aid certification
Important Information:
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 24th, 2024
REGISTRATION LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4bAxYik1Z59JLQsqxFfyVuCP4BuwchWUNRLLq5jqLKfh7hg/viewform
SPACE IS LIMITED!
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:
- 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
Middlesex County 4-H Fair is open to all enrolled 4-H'ers.
https://www.4hmiddlesexfair.org/
The Annual 4-H Fair is held in late August each year. This 3-day youth, non-commercial fair showcases 4-H members livestock and static projects. Join us in August for our traditional country Fair!
The Middlesex County
4-H Fair, Inc. is a non-profit organization (501c3) run entirely by volunteers. The Fair is an agricultural, non-commercial, youth fair, and our exhibitors are members of 4-H Clubs in Middlesex County and beyond.
978-487-4623
Animal Science Programs & Updates
4-H Dairy Program
STATE 4-H Dairy 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. Please email Andrew at asamuelson@umass.edu to get a copy of the show book.
4-H Fun Fact
Did you know?
The 4-H youth development program is the youth outreach program of the Land-grant Universities’ Cooperative Extension Service. Massachusetts 4-H is the youth arm of UMass Extension which is in the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst which is a Land-Grant Institution. 4-H serves as a model program for positive youth development.
4-H National Headquarters is housed in the Division of Youth and 4-H at NIFA. Additional support is provided to 4-H by National 4-H Council (a private, non-profit organization) and conducted through Land-grant university extension offices and USDA. That is why National 4-H Conference is sometimes refered to as the Secretary's Conference and the current Secretary of Agriculture is Tom Vilsack.
National 4-H News & Opportunities
4-H Military Partnership
Since many of our National Guard and Reserve are in our community there are many 4-H clubs who have members affiliated with military service.
Volunteers may be interested in these upcoming opportunties on available resources/curriculum. The past ones are archived which is a great asset for Leaders.
Third Thursdays Together hosted by the Military Partnership
Mark your calendars and register online.
Discover 4-H Curriculum with Meggan Callister from Utah State University on July 18, 2024 at 2 p.m. EST
Created for various settings, the Discover 4-H curriculum provides resources for all ages in 4-H club programming. Learn more about the different clubs, offerings, and possibilities as you explore some of the more than 50 programs available.
Youth Voice & Understanding through Creative & Cultural Arts with Pat McGlaughlin from the University of Illinois
August 15, 2024 at 2 p.m. EST
Incorporating the arts and tapping into the creative side of youth allows young people to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of cultural differences, gain enhanced awareness that their voices matter, and identify effective ways to express themselves through the arts. Pat will share Illinois's approach to infusing creative and cultural arts and the curriculum available for the program.
STEM
Citizen Science Opportunties
July is a great time to watch fireflies, but are you aware that there are several species that vary in their light and patterns. You can learn more at the Xerces Society and you can even help with research and collect data on what species you see several North American fireflies may be at risk of extinction. This project was started and years agao at the Boston Museum of Science then was hosted by MA Audubon before landing on the Xerces website so a little MA history there.
https://xerces.org/endangered-species/fireflies
You can also check out for other citizen science opportunites on our website on urban birds, ladybugs and trees.
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!
Next Club Grant Applications Due October 31st
Did you know that ALL Massachusetts 4-H Clubs are eligible for one club grant per calendar year? These funds range from $100 to $500 depending on the size of the club, and can be used for supplies, special projects, and more! Club grant applications are due June 30th for this quarter. Visit https://www.mass4hfoundation.org/for-families-clubs/grants-and-awards/ to apply.
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
