4-H and Youth

The University of Maryland Extension Dorchester County Office will host a kids' spring fling event at the Cambridge Library (303 Gay St. Cambridge, MD) on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be spring-themed activities and a goat your kids can get their picture taken with. Come pet and get your picture taken with a goat, plant a flower, learn about bees, and more.

This event is free, and registration is not required. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in either of these UME events, please get in touch with Erica or Emily at the UME Dorchester County office at 410-228-8800 by April 19.

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

The Anne Arundel County Extension Office will be hosting their 2024 Open House on August 23, 2024. This is a free family event where you can meet the Extension Educators, tour the Demonstration Garden, visit the Urban Farm, and much more.

University of Maryland is the place to be for Maryland Day 2024! This will be the 99th annual Ag Day and this year we're excited for our very first AGNR Alumni Chill Zone in the Animal Science Courtyard!

Join us on Ag Day Avenue to visit the Campus Farm and take in a livestock show with our students. Drop by the Animal Science courtyard to see our college in full force with clubs, departments, and Extension programs. Grab a plant from the Institute of Applied Agriculture or from the Plant Science Building. McKeldin Mall will feature Maryland 4-H and there's an Extension catfish cooking demo at Hornbake Plaza.

AGNR faculty and staff are invited to the 2024 State of the College and Cornerstone Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 8 at 9:00am at the Riggs Alumni Center. The Cornerstone Awards serves to recognize an AGNR faculty or staff member or an external partner in actively promoting awareness of one of the Strategic Initiatives who demonstrates innovation, and provides a model for others in the college.

The 7th-grade students of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools are invited to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience to learn about Maryland’s number one industry, agriculture. As our population continues to grow, agriculture is crucial for our survival; therefore, a coalition of agricultural educators and professionals join together to host an educational experience for all 7th-grade students across our county.

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

Youth contestants must have an approved enrollment in 4-H Online for the 2024 4-H program year and have yet to compete in the category at the 4-H Horse Communications contest at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup (Louisville, KY) or Western National 4-H Horse Roundup.

Complete event information and rules can be found on the Maryland 4-H website at https://go.umd.edu/4Hhorse

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

Registration for this event is through 4-H Online. To access the registration, log in to your 4-H Online family profile and click on the Events tab. You can find an Event Registration “how to” guide on the Maryland 4-H website.

All event registrations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Local 4-H Educators and the State 4-H Event Manager will verify and approve registrations. Contact your local 4-H office or visit the Maryland 4-H website for more information.

The 2024 Maryland 4-H Livestock Skillathon will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 501 Perry Pkwy, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. 

Contest rules: Contest rules are available on the Maryland 4-H website at https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/animal-sciences  (under Animal Science Events and Animal Science Resources sections). 

Eligibility/fees: The Livestock Skillathon is a contest where individuals compete. There are NO team entries. There will be a $5.00 entry fee for each contestant. There is no limit to the number of individuals each UME unit may enter in this contest.

LUNCH will be on your own. After completing all stations of their respective age divisions, contestants will be released for lunch (on your own) immediately. Awards will be presented beginning at approximately 2:00 pm. 

Youth do not need to own livestock to compete in this contest; to find out more, contact your local 4-H office.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟰-𝗛 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘄𝗹

• ·Date: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰
• ·Start Time: Registration begins at 9:00 am, and the contest begins at 10:00 am
• ·Location: Plant Sciences building, room 1140, Regents Drive, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
• ·Registration Closes: February 19, 2024

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

Youth contestants and teen or adult coaches must have an approved enrollment in 4-H Online for the 2024 4-H program year. Youth Contestants must have yet to compete in the Horse Bowl contest at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup (Louisville, KY) or Western National 4-H Horse Roundup.

Complete information and rules can be found on the Maryland 4-H website at https://go.umd.edu/HorseBowl

The 2024 Maryland 4-H State Dog Skillathon event will be held on Saturday, February 24th, at the University of Maryland Animal Science Building in College Park, MD. This is a contest in which individuals compete. There will be NO team entries. There will be a $5.00 entry fee for each contestant. 

4-H members wishing to participate should contact their county/city 4-H office. Official registration for the contest must be submitted via the 4-H Online registration system by February 15, 2024. There is no limit to the number of individuals each UME unit may register for this contest. Individuals participating in the statewide contest must be enrolled as a Maryland 4-H member for 2024 in 4-H Online by February 15, 2024.

Contest rules are available on the Maryland 4-H Animal Science webpage at: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/animal-sciences

The 2024 Maryland 4-H State Dairy Skillathon event will be held on Saturday, March 23, at the Carroll County Extension Office. Registration check-in starts at 9:30 am, and the contest begins at 10:00 am. This is a contest in which individuals compete. There will be NO team entries. There will be a $5.00 entry fee for each contestant. 

4-H members wishing to participate should contact their county/city 4-H office. Official registration for the contest is submitted via the 4-H Online registration system and is due by March 10, 2024 (Registration will open February 9, 2024). There is no limit to the number of individuals each UME unit may register for this contest. Individuals participating in the statewide contest must be enrolled as a Maryland 4-H member for 2024 in 4-H Online by March 10, 2024.

Contest rules are available on the Maryland 4-H Animal Science webpage at: https://extension.umd.edu/4-h/4-h-program-areas/animal-science-resources. See the contest rules for a complete set of resources.  Additional study resources & information can be found online at https://extension.umd.edu/locations/cecil-county/local-4-h-youth-education/animal-science-information (scroll down and click on the Dairy Judging Events/Quiz Bowls/Skillathon Contests tab)

Note: A 4-H Online broadcast will go out to all families and managers notifying them of the registration on February 9, 2024, by COB.