GARRETT COUNTY
Welcome, Mary!
Mary Helbig will be working as a Program Assistant in Garrett County for the SNAP-Ed Program. She has worked as a Business Analyst for the federal government on procurement projects and has a Bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice. She likes to spend time outdoors with her family and volunteers in the classroom at a local school. Welcome to our team, Mary.
4-H Achievement Program
The annual 4-H Achievement Program was held on April 7th at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. The program is held annually to recognize the successful completion of projects by 4-H youth and a celebration of the work of volunteer leaders. There were 264 record books that were completed by members for 2023. In addition to project awards, youth were recognized for service hours earned and received special awards for achievement.
Special thanks is extended to Garrett County Commissioners, Larry Tichnell & Paul Edwards, Garrett County Farm Queen, Piper Wilt, Stage Helpers, Cassidy Ashby & Julia Ramsey, Emcee's, Lauren Friend, Dustin DeBerry, and Jasmine Ramsey, photographer, Autumn Ramsey, Snowy Creek 4-H Club, Garrett Hoof Prints 4-H Club and Garrett County Fair Board Coordinator, Mike Kepple for their help at our program.
Pictured below are some of the award winners.
Incredible Egg Program Was EGG-CITING!
This month we had fun with 4-H exploring the incredible edible egg. Did you know spheres are one of the strongest shapes in nature?
Youth tested the strength of egg shells both on the side and on the dome. Our eggs held 8 bricks before they finally cracked under the weight. We then switched to the kitchen to learn how to carefully crack eggs, examined parts of an egg, and some kitchen safety as we scrambled our eggs for a snack.
String Art Class To Be Held
It's not too early to start thinking about indoor entries for the Garrett County Fair. Join us as we transform a simple piece of wood into a colorful piece of art. We will create a 4-H clover design using string, nails, and a wooden board during the class. Sign up today!
Nature, Gardening and Kids-Inside and Out
Educators from both horticulture and 4-H teamed up to teach at the Early Childhood Connections Conference.
Child care providers from across Maryland learned about gardening, insect collecting and how to incorporate nature with a love of reading from Ashley Bodkins, Garrett County Master Gardener coordinator. Sarah Llewelyn, Allegany County Master Gardener coordinator shared ways to incorporate composting, earthworms, and meal worms into classroom hands on education to see life cycles and creating garden fertilizer. Lacie Ashby, Garrett County 4-H Educator, led activities to get kids interested in being outside, being active, sparking creativity and focusing attention to the details of nature that often goes unnoticed through cloud viewers and focus circles using hula hoops.
Help Support 4-H Camp
We need your help with our Maryland 4-H Environmental Education & Camping Center in Garrett County!
An Amazon wish list for the MD 4-H Camping Center has been created. Please take a moment and see if you can support this effort for all of our youth campers in Maryland who come to camp.
Click HERE to see the wish list. Thank you for your support.
Master Gardeners Gardening Session with Broadford Elementary
Students at Broadford Elementary got their fingers in the soil and enjoyed learning more about growing potatoes, onions, and lettuce as well as putting together an experiment to take home and watch the seedlings grow with the help of Ashley Bodkins, Master Gardener Coordinator and Master Gardener volunteers.
"Grow It Eat It" Fun In Kitzmiller
SNAP-Ed and Master Gardeners presented "Grow It Eat It", a fun evening of learning where Kitzmiller Library Student Discovery participants experimented with "Seed in a Glove" Activity, planted containers with strawberries, onions, and lettuce to take home, interactive books, and a tasty, healthy "strawberry" s'more recipe and tasting. To make the Strawberry S'mores click HERE.
Master Gardeners Exhibit At GC Health Fair
University of Maryland Extension exhibited at the Garrett County Health Fair on April 6th. It was a great turnout with 300 Grow Bags being given out to the community! Hopefully, that means 300 families will be growing more vegetables or flowers in their landscape in 2024!
Nutrient Management Update
It has been a busy spring so far as farmers have begun applying nutrients and preparing for spring planting.
Maryland law requires all farmers grossing at least $2,500 a year or livestock producers with 8,000 pounds or more of live animal weight to follow nutrient management plans when fertilizing crops and managing animal manure.
Farmers should have a nutrient management plan written before applying nutrients to their soil. At this point in the season, any new plan inquiries will also need to supply 2025 crop plans as well. 2024 Nutrient Management Plans have been written for 8,500 acres in Garrett County so far.
If you have questions about nutrient management or are in need of a nutrient management plan for
your operation reach out to Andrea at 301-334-6960 or email at auphold@umd.edu
Growing Your Spring Garden
A family garden is a great way to help your family be active and eat more fruits and vegetables. Growing some of your own food can also help you save money on food costs. Springtime is the perfect time to begin planning and growing your garden. An added bonus is that you can use SNAP benefits to purchase vegetable and herb seeds and seedling plants.
Click HERE to learn several things to consider when your are planning your garden.
Personal Finance Seminar for Professionals Offered
Join fellow professionals for this full-day, live-stream event on May 9, 2024. Learn what’s new and important in the finance world that will help you navigate those you serve on the path to financial success.
This year's PFS focuses on ’navigating challenges and charting success.' We are mindful and emotional human beings living in an environment of rapidly changing technology. This opens a world of opportunities, but also new areas of risk for both you and the people you serve. Learn how you can use AI and other technology to support your work while also protecting yourself and helping clients avoid scams and loss.
University of Maryland Extension (UME) has a time-honored reputation for bringing together an impressive selection of presenters each year for the Personal Finance Seminar for Professionals (PFS). Be inspired by fresh ideas, new resources, and enhanced skills! We invite you to join us for UME's 2024 Personal Finance Seminar for Professionals.
Register HERE and to view the agenda and speakers.
Have You Gotten Your Free Chromebook Yet?
Families in Garrett County meeting income guidelines (200% of the federal poverty level) can receive one HP Chromebook laptop per address. The laptop is yours to keep and can be used for farm records, communication, school work, etc. Chromebooks are available at all five branches of the Ruth Enlow Library. When you go to the library, take your identification (also bring a utility bill if your ID doesn’t match your current address) AND bring one item that shows your income qualifies, such as a SNAP card, Medicaid card, WIC card, Pell grant info, etc. Full list of items and additional information is at: https://www.garrettcountymd.gov/broadband/devices
What Extension is About
From the beach to the Bay to the mountains of western Maryland, Extension is here to help Marylanders thrive. Watch the video below to find out what Extension can do for you.
Discover our programs at https://extension.umd.edu/.
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Keeping Connected
We are here to serve you in person, by phone, email, or by video conferencing. If you have questions, contact one of our experts to provide solutions.
UME-Garrett County
Email: rcvetnic@umd.edu
Website: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/garrett-county
Location: 1916 Maryland Hwy., Suite A, Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550
Phone: 301-334-6960
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 am-4:30 pm excluding holidays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4HGarrettCoMD
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the event at (301) 334-6960.