The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or natural origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.

FOCUS

ON 4-H A l l e g a n y C o u n t y

UME Office Closed to Public University of Maryland Extension is currently functioning, however, our building is closed. Our employees are teleworking so appointments will be held via email and/or conference call between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. During this time, our 4-H Team will continue to be available by email. They can be reached as follows:

Lacie Ashby – lashby@umd.edu Jessica Mellon – jmellon2@umd.edu Jody Parrish – jparrish@umd.edu

4-H Events Suspended Through June 30, 2020

All in-person summer 4-H events, practices, club meetings, and programs have been suspended through June 30, 2020. For additional information, please see page 2 for a message from the University of Maryland Extension Assistant Director & Maryland 4-H Program Leader

Livestock tagging updates are on page 3.

Upcoming Events

May

May 1 - 4-H online enrollment due

May 1 - Horse registrations/leases due

May 9 - WMD District Show, CANCELLED

May 25 - UME Office Closed for Memorial Day

June

June 1 - Rabbit, Poultry, and Game Bird registrations forms due

June 1 - 4-H Scholarship applications due

Allegany County 4-H

COVID-19

News & Updates

4-H COVID-19 Updates The following was shared through 4-H Online with 4-H families by Nia Imani Fields, Ed.D., University of Maryland Extension Assistant Director & Maryland 4-H Program Leader Greetings 4-H Families, I am hopeful you and your families are doing well. We hope you are remaining safe and healthy and are staying connected to 4-H through our various virtual engagement methods. It’s been exciting to see virtual club meetings, leadership and community service challenges, online learning webinars, the clover reading corner, and virtual demonstrations through our online platforms. Maryland 4-H’s strength rests in being within and among our communities. While COVID-19 has posed a new challenge for us, we have remained nimble and responsive to our community’s needs in new and innovative ways. Experts tell us that the transition back to life as we once knew it will be incremental and there will certainly be new public health directives that shape our new normal. Some of the best 4-H moments are when youth and families come together to share new ideas, build friendships, explore the world through camp, demonstrate mastery through fairs and competitive events, engage in leadership through service, and grow empathy for the world. We love to experience these moments in person but much of this will need to be virtual this summer. The safety and well-being of our 4-H team and families has been and will continue to be our top priority. We have been in frequent communication with key stakeholders and have been guided by our governor, campus administrators, and health officials as we’ve made decisions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the health and safety of our 4-H team and families, the University of Maryland Extension- 4-H Program will suspend in-person summer 4-H events, practices, club meetings, and programs through June 30th. We will continue to re-evaluate this timeframe as additional guidance is released related to group size, social distance guidelines, and other public health directives. Additionally, we regret to share that 2020 4-H summer camps have been suspended. We realize this will bring many mixed emotions as these opportunities are deeply rooted in our 4-H history and are experiences many of us look forward to each year. Maryland 4-H will continue to identify creative ways to keep our youth and volunteers engaged and supported through the summer. Our state and local 4-H offices are working diligently to make adjustments to planned programs and will continue to keep you posted on cancellations, postponements, and/or new virtual opportunities for our summer programs. Currently, our 4-H faculty and staff are continuing to telework through May. If you have questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact your local or state office via email: https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory We know that changes to summer program plans may cause disappointment and even hardship for some of our families and 4-H team members. However, we must prioritize safety, health, and program quality above all other outcomes. We are currently reviewing guidance from key officials and stakeholders to make decisions on the remainder of our summer programs, which includes 4-H participation in fairs. We are looking to announce final decisions by mid May. In the meantime, we ask that families continue to prepare for the possibility that the remainder of 4-H in-person summer programs and events may be postponed, adjusted or cancelled. 4-H will continue to be a staple in communities across our state and country. We will still bring youth and families together this summer to build friendships, learn new skills, explore nature, and demonstrate mastery of new skills---even if this is done in new ways. 4-H will continue to make our best, better! Stay safe and healthy and we look forward to the time we can gather in person again.

Follow us on our various platforms Facebook: @Maryland4H

Twitter: @Maryland4H Instagram:@Maryland4-H YouTube: Maryland 4-H

Website: https://extension.umd.edu/4-h Regards,

Livestock Tagging updates Maryland 4-H has revised the 4-H animal weighing, tagging and identification, and registration requirements for the 2020 fair and show season based on the current response requirements to COVID-19. NOTE: These guidelines do not impact 2020 market steer weighing, identification, and registration procedures. These procedures were completed prior to implementation of COVID-19 response requirements. 4-H Project Animal Ownership Dates

MD 4-H shared that current 4-H Project animal ownership/leasing deadlines remain in effect. This means that for Allegany County Fair, the ownership deadline for all market animals and breeding animals is June 1. This means for State Fair, the ownership deadline for market animals is June 1, and breeding animals is July 1.

4-H Project Animal Registration Paperwork

MD 4-H shared that 4-H Members must still register their project animals with the Maryland 4-H Program using the correct 4-H animal registration form. This means for Allegany County fair, completed 4-H Livestock Registration Forms for Market animals and breeding animals are due June 1. This means for State fair, completed 4-H Livestock Registration Forms for market animals are due June 1 and for breeding animals are due July 1. Complete all fields of the Maryland 4-H Livestock Registration Form, except 1) the 4-H Tag Number and 2) Tag Day Weight; leave these two fields blank. For all species, record the USDA Official 840 Tag or Scrapie Tag AND all other forms of identification on the animal (i.e. barn tags, tattoos, etc.). Animals must have at least one form of identification. Do not remove any additional tags or identification until instructed. Completed Maryland 4-H Livestock Registration Forms should be submitted to the members’ County/City 4-H Office by email OR members may complete the online Livestock Registration Google Form using the link provided by your County/City 4-H Office.

Spring Weighing of Market Goats, Sheep, and Swine, and Feeder Calves

MD 4-H has announced that there will be no weighing of market animals this spring. There will be NO spring weighing of market goats, market sheep, market swine, and feeder calves for purposes of establishing eligibility for 2020 Maryland 4-H shows and classes. Rate-of-gain requirements for Maryland 4-H Market Goat, Sheep, and Swine Shows are WAIVED for 2020. As such, rate-of-gain classes at Maryland 4-H shows are cancelled.

Animal Identification–Maryland 4-H Issued Tags

MD 4-H feels strongly that animal identification is an important step in validating ownership of 4-H project animals, with MD 4-H Tags. However, NO MD 4-H taggings can occur while 4-H gatherings are prohibited. Since MD 4-H gatherings are now suspended until June 30, we will be unable to have an in person tagging. MD 4-H has also said we cannot distribute tags to members for self-tagging. On-farm tagging/validation by the committee is also not permitted. Given Allegany Fair starts July 17, our new plan for Allegany 4-H is to tag animals with a MD 4-H Tag when animals arrive at the Allegany County Fair. At this point, Allegany County Fair has not yet been cancelled. Therefore we are moving forward with in-person preparations. However, if Allegany County Fair would be cancelled, we are also brainstorming other options. Based on MD 4-H guidance, for Maryland State Fair animals: If COVID-19 response restrictions are lifted more than four (4) weeks before State fair, Allegany 4-H will schedule an in person tagging, with no weighing for state fair animals only. If restrictions are lifted less than four (4) weeks before State fair, state fair animals will be tagged when they arrive at State Fair.

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UME YouTube Channel

The University of Maryland Extension Western Cluster now has a YouTube channel. It features videos from the UME Educators in the Western Cluster (Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties). Videos cover topics such as planting a tree, embryology, healthy snacks, STEM and much more. To subscribe search for University of Maryland Extension Western Cluster on youtube.com.

Follow Us on Facebook! Check out our Facebook page for STEM challenges and other activities. University of Maryland Extension - Allegany County 4-H

Volunteer Refresher Training

Volunteers who have served for five years or longer will be asked to complete the Maryland 4-H Volunteer Refresher training. Information and access will be forthcoming. Volunteers in need of the refresher will be contacted when our office returns to normal operations.

New Volunteer Training Training for new volunteers is available online. The next training is scheduled for May 21. For more information and to register email jparrish@umd.edu or call 301-724-3320.

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STEM and Robotics Dates

Although no summer programming decisions have been made at this time, plans are underway to offer some type of 4-H robotics competition, whether in person or virtually. Please stay tuned for details. If you'd

like to receive direct information regarding the opportunity, please email Jessica at jmellon2@umd.edu

If you are interested in text reminders for all things 4-H, sign up using these directions: Text: @allegany4h To: 81010 If you're interested in text reminders for Livestock/Barn related information, sign up using these directions: Text: @4hbarn To: 81010 You may sign up for both!

Email Updates If you are not receiving our

weekly updates, email jparrish@umd.edu

Facebook

Like our page University of Maryland Extension - Allegany

County 4-H

Quality Assurance Now Open The 2020 Maryland 4-H Online Animal Husbandry and Quality Assurance (AH&QA) program is now open. Allegany County 4-H members must complete QA by July 1, 2020. NOTE: Members must be current on their AH&QA completion requirements to be eligible to exhibit animals at 2020 Maryland 4-H shows (and potential variations of Maryland 4-H shows that might be offered due to COVID-19). There is a NEW URL for 2020. Members may access the AH&QA program at: https://ahqa.umd.edu/. The 2020 program must be completed using Firefox, Chrome or Safari web browsers. The program is not supported by Internet Explorer. New members and members changing age divisions this year were notified by mail. If you are unsure of your QA status, email jparrish@umd.edu or call 301-724-3320. Passcodes issued to members between 2015-2019 should still be viable for returning members. Members with passcodes issued prior to 2015 must register to receive a new passcode.

Need 4-H help, call 301-724-3320 or:

Lacie Ashby, Extension Educator lashby@umd.edu

Contact Lacie for anything related to clubs, officers, record books, chartering, financial records, volunteering, trouble-shooting concerns, animal science, and barn area of fair.

Also if you just don’t know where to begin, ask Lacie.

Jody Parrish, Administrative Assistant II jparrish@umd.edu

Contact Jody for anything related to 4-H Online

(enrollments) and fees, club paperwork, event registrations, newsletters, email updates, record books, fairgrounds

usage, scholarships and 4-H indoor exhibits at fair.

Jessica Mellon, Extension Educator jmellon2@umd.edu

Contact Jessica, if your club is interested in a tech

workshop/activity or for STEM volunteer opportunities such as robotics, STEM, coding, Makey Makeys, Arduinos.

Joni Reed, Administrative Assistant I jreed@umd.edu

Contact Joni for 4-H marketing such as Facebook,

newspaper articles and help with club fliers.

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Cohen Baker

Olivia Campbell

Maelea Cramer

Maria Eckard

Matthew Fairgrieve

Pilot Hocherl

Nadia Hocherl

Isabella Kinsinger

Easton Mathews

Estella Nelson

Jacob Ritchie

Don’t Forget to Enroll

Go to: https://v2.4honline.com/

Even though we are not meeting in person at this time, it is important to complete your enrollment so your years in 4-H do not lapse and to receive current newsletters and important updates.

If you need assistance, email Jody at jparrish@umd.edu to set up a time to assist you via phone.

You may also call 301-724-3320 Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.