Allegany County

Join the seed-saving movement with our first annual Seed Circle Project. This year's seed choice is Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato. We will highlight this heirloom tomato and show you how to save seeds at the end of the season, so you can return dried seeds to local seed libraries or your local extension office.

Free seeds or plants will be available and the only thing that we ask is that you pass along seeds to friends, neighbors, and donate what you can back to seed libraries across Allegany and Garrett County. 🍅 Seeds will be available while supplies last in Allegany and Garrett Counties, but anyone can come to learn about tomatoes! Locations for picking up free seeds for this project will be announced in March!

A Virtual Tomato Basics Gardening Class will kick off our seed saving year on, February 23rd at 12:30pm!

Register here: https://go.umd.edu/2026SeedCircleProjectRegistration

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Maryland Extension, and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host three one-day workshops on Jan. 13th in Mountain Lake Park, Jan. 27th at the Central MD Research and Education Center, and Feb. 11 at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, in the English Room. The Farm Succession and Estate Planning workshops will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm.
The free program will assist Maryland farm families in starting the estate planning process, including creating a successful succession plan, having difficult conversations, and health insurance options for farmers. A grant funds the program through the Northeast Risk Management Education Center.

Topics include:
Scouting/Field Assessment Technology
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
Pest Management
Animal Waste Technology
Irrigation & Drainage
Livestock Management

Wondering when to start thawing your turkey, how long leftovers are safe to eat, or how to bake safely for a crowd? Food safety experts will include  Dr. Shauna Henley of the University of Maryland, and Dr. Julie Garden-Robinson of North Dakota State University. Ask your toughest culinary questions so you can cook with confidence!

This interactive workshop for 4-H youth will allow you to discover the essentials for starting your own bee colony. Fun activities will be included.  

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the University of Maryland Extension Office - Allegany County at 301-724-3320 by October 21.

Contest Rules:
•Open to Allegany County 4-H Youth (ages 5 to 18 as of Jan. 1, 2025)
• Entries can use the following decorating techniques - Painted, Carved, or Mixed Media (Paper, yarn, glitter, flowers, etc.)
• Create a design on only one side of the pumpkin.
• Submit a photo of one pumpkin. 4-Her should not be in the photo.
• Include your name, 4-H age, and primary 4-H club in the email.
• Entries must be submitted by October 24, 2025, to jparrish@umd.edu.One inner from each age group will receive a fall-themed prize. (Clover, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior)
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the University of Maryland Extension Office at 301-724-3320.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Winners will be announced on October 31 on our Facebook page( https://www.facebook.com/UMEAlleganyCo4H/) and in an email announcement to Allegany County 4-H members.

🎪Join us for an evening of fun at this 4-H Open House Carnival. There will be games, prizes, snacks, and many opportunities to learn all about 4-H in our county and resources for finding your spark in 4-H! Questions? Call 301-724-2230 or email jparrish@umd.edu

June 10: Health Insurance Management, build up your skills to better understand, manage, resolve, and avoid health cost conflicts.
June 17: MIND Diet, nutrition for better brain health
June 24: Emotional Grief, managing grief and loss through narrative
July 1: Kitchen Eye Spy, learn best practices to save food and maintain your health

Note: One Zoom link will cover all four sessions.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact the educator, Dr. Henley, on or before May 8th, 2025, at shenley@umd.edu

This is a contest in which teams compete. Youth and coaches who wish to participate should contact the county/city 4-H office for information about team selection. Team members selected for statewide competition must be registered using the 4HOnline system and approved by their county/city 4-H office. Entries are due by November 17th. For more information on the structure of teams, please refer to the section entitled, “Teams”. 

The contest will feature Junior, Intermediate, and Senior age divisions. Registration for the event will open soon in 4-H Online and will be due by November 17, 2024.

The rules and regulations for the 2024 contest are posted on the Maryland 4-H webpage at: Dog Bowl Rules and Information

Contact Ashley Travis at ashley90@umd.edu or Chris Anderson at canders2@umd.edu if you have questions