The UVM Extension 4-H Youth Farm Safety Project will sponsor the overnight camps, which will run from June 20-21 for 14- and 15-year-olds and June 26-27 for 12- and 13-year-olds. The $25 fee covers all activities, dorm accommodations and all meals. Scholarships are available. Campers are asked to supply their own sleeping bag or linens.

Youths will learn how to stay safe around tractors, chainsaws, equipment, all-terrain vehicles and livestock as well as how to handle farm emergencies and provide first-on-the-scene first aid.  They also will have a chance to experience college and participate in fun games and activities.

Priority will be given to first-time participants. To register, visit www.uvm.edu/extension/4-Hevents for a downloadable registration form. Or contact UVM Extension Youth Farm Safety Coordinator Kristen Mullins at (802) 656-2034 or (800) 571-0668 (toll-free in Vermont) or by e-mail at kristen.mullins@uvm.edu.

Registrations will be acknowledged within one week. To request a disability-related accommodation to attend, please contact Mullins by May 30 for the June 20-21 camp or June 5 for the June 26-27 camp. All registrations or requests for financial assistance must be received two weeks prior to the camp session.

Teens will have the opportunity to participate in educational workshops, network with natural resource professionals and make new friends as they learn more about Vermont's forests, wildlife, water ecosystems and environmental issues. The weekend also includes plenty of time for traditional camp activities including swimming, fishing, canoeing, shooting sports and evening bonfires.

The academy, which is sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, is open to any high school student in Vermont and neighboring states including graduating seniors and anyone who is entering ninth grade in the fall. The all-inclusive fee is $90, due by June 28.

The fee covers two nights' accommodations in rustic cabins, meals, a camp t-shirt and all activities including workshops on trail building, orienteering, invasive species, energy and the environment, water rescue, outdoor survival, fly fishing and herbal first aid kits. The workshops will be led by natural resources experts and include field study, discussions and hands-on recreational and educational experiences.

Interested teens should log onto http://www.uvm.edu/extension/4-Hevents for the registration brochure and online registration. For more information, contact Lauren Traister, UVM Extension 4-H Teen and Leadership Program Coordinator, at (866) 260-5603, ext. 402 (within Vermont) or (802) 888-4972, ext. 402, or by e-mail at lauren.traister@uvm.edu. Anyone needing a disability-related accommodation to participate, should get in touch with Traister by June 28.

The academy will conclude on Sunday afternoon with a cake and ice cream social and graduation ceremony. Family members are invited to attend both activities at no extra charge.

At the botanic gardens you will have the opportunity to view more than 30 outdoor specialty gardens, 11 themed exhibition greenhouses, the Japanese garden and bonsai collection, the Insectarium and the Chinese garden with its spectacular display of hundreds of hand-made silk lanterns in all different shapes, colors and sizes including some over 10 feet tall.

You also can visit the Mosaicultures Internationales Montreal 2013--Land of Hope, which features two- and three-dimensional works of living plants created by top horticultural artists from several countries including the United States, France, Japan, China and Turkey. The competition, which began in Montreal in 2000, is held only every three years, and this year, after its world travels, it returns to Montreal.

The $65 fee covers admission to the gardens, Mosaicultures and exhibition greenhouses; transportation by luxury motor coach; educational commentary and gardening tips by the tour's hosts and on-board refreshments and videos of the Montreal Botanic Gardens and other well-known gardens. The fee does not include lunch, which may be purchased at the gardens or brought from home.

Sign up by June 30 for the early-bird discount of $59. UVM Extension Master Gardeners and members of Green Works--the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association also pay $59.

Registration ends Aug. 30 or when all spots are filled. Early registration is advised as the trip is expected to fill up quickly. For tour details and registration information, log onto http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/mbg913an.pdf.

To register, send a check, payable to the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association, to Leonard Perry, Plant and Soil Science Department, Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405. Please include name(s), address, e-mail and phone number.

Confirmation and additional information will be provided prior to the tour, which departs from the UVM Horticultural Research Center on Green Mountain Drive in South Burlington at 8 a.m. and returns by 7 p.m. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, e-mail leonard.perry@uvm.edu by June 30.

You will need a passport, passport card or enhanced driver's license to cross the border into Canada. If you need to obtain any of these, be sure to allow at least four to six weeks for a passport. You can obtain an enhanced license from the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles more quickly.

The tour is sponsored by UVM Extension; the King's Garden at Fort Ticonderoga and Green Works--the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association. If questions, please contact Leonard Perry at leonard.perry@uvm.edu.

In June 2012 gardeners began noticing that their tomatoes and other broadleaf plants were showing severe foliar curling and stunting. In some cases, seed germination was affected. After confirmation of the damage by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, followed by several weeks and thousands of dollars of laboratory testing, two persistent herbicides, clopyralid and aminopyralid, were found to be present in very minute amounts in the bulk compost used by all the gardeners.

More than 500 gardens, mainly in Chittenden County, were affected. The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD), where the compost was purchased, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture have worked diligently, testing dozens of samples, to understand this complicated problem and propose solutions to address this contamination.

Clopyralid, which will break down during the normal compost curing process, is an endemic problem and appears to be present in most compost and likely has been for many years. The amounts found in CSWD compost (and other Vermont composts that were tested) were below the 10 parts-per-billion (ppb) threshold, a level generally regarded as necessary to harm or cause symptoms in plants.

The amounts found also were too low to cause human health concerns. The presence of aminopyralid is more problematic because it is active at a lower concentration causing plant damage at levels above .2 ppb. This is the persistent herbicide linked to the plant damage seen in gardens last year. It is believed to be associated with horse manure, a common component of many commercial compost products.

Aminopyralid has the ability to remain in compost for up to a year but will breakdown more readily when mixed with soil. Last year many of the affected plants had begun to grow out of the damage. Soil microorganisms, sunlight and precipitation all contribute to the breakdown of the herbicides.

Unfortunately, checking each batch of compost for possible persistent herbicides is costly and unfeasible. Bioassays (plant growth tests) are the best means to assure the quality of compost.  Most commercial composters incorporate these tests into their production protocols to help ensure that their products do not contain levels of the persistent herbicides that would cause damage to plants.

However, no test can be 100 percent representative of an entire batch of compost. Diluting compost is a good strategy to protect sensitive plants. To apply compost at a minimum 80 percent dilution rate, mix one bucket of compost with four buckets of soil.

Gardeners also can do a simple bioassay before using compost or planting in gardens that may contain contaminated compost.  To do this bioassay, collect samples from garden soil where the compost was applied or from the actual compost pile. Mix the compost 50:50 with potting mix.

Put in clean pots or flats and plant indicator seeds like tomatoes, peas or beans. Grow the plants under lights or in full sun for four weeks to see if any twisting or curling symptoms emerge. Before purchasing compost, ask your compost suppliers if they have done their own bioassay.

Although problems such as gardeners experienced last year are rare, they do occur. But don't let that keep you from buying Vermont-made compost. Using compost in your garden is still a good idea.

What Are Herbicides?

Herbicides are a class of pesticides that kill unwanted plants. Some herbicides are designed to remain active and effective in the field for up to a full growing season. A group of these herbicides are used to control broadleaf weeds and can be present in human food (vegetables and grains) and food waste and grass clippings, livestock feed crops (hay, molasses, sugar beets and oats) and livestock bedding (straw).

These herbicides can pass through animals into manure, urine or bedding and can remain unaltered after the grasses have been eaten. These herbicides are used legally in other states and the products containing the herbicides may be shipped to Vermont in animal feed.

The wide use of these herbicides, as well as the lack of a tracking system or chain of custody for the products, makes it difficult to determine how these herbicides enter a particular composting system. Therefore, many farmers do not know which herbicides have been used on purchased feed or bedding materials.

A smaller group of these herbicides can withstand the heat and moisture in the composting process. These herbicides remain intact and are called persistent herbicides. They have a significant impact on sensitive garden plants at a very low parts-per-billion concentration range in finished composts. The four primary persistent herbicides that can impact compost operations are clopyralid, aminopyralid, picloram and aminocyclopyrachlor. All are registered for legal use in Vermont but have been classified as "restricted use," making them only available to licensed applicators.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture now requires a special permit to apply these herbicides. Applicators must follow a list of guidelines developed by the state to ensure the proper management of the crops that have been sprayed with the materials including any manure generated from ingestion of the sprayed crops. Fortunately, all four of these persistent herbicides have very low toxicity to mammals, fish, amphibians and fowl.

If your impatiens died early last year, it is likely that this new disease was the cause. The first symptoms of the disease are yellowing in the leaves, often with the leaf margins curling downward. An obvious white downy-like coating will appear on the leaf undersides when conditions are cool (60 to 73 degrees F) and moist or humid.

This coating contains sporangia of the fungus, which are easily dislodged and can be moved by splashing rain and for longer distances, sometimes hundreds of miles, by wind. When sporangia germinate, they release thousands of swimming spores called zoospores. These spores can swim in moisture on the leaf surface and infect tissue.

If conditions are dry, new infections will not occur. The pathogen also can cause plant stunting and flower drop, leaving bare stems.

Impatiens downy mildew has been found in U.S. greenhouses since 2004, but it was not until the summer of 2011 that the disease was found in landscape plantings. It was widespread in Florida in winter of 2012 and by the end of that season, the disease had been confirmed in 33 states, including four new England states--Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine.

The pathogen has the ability to withstand cold winters by producing an overwintering structure called an oospore. As the infected plants decompose in the landscape, the oospore is released into the soil. It germinates in the spring, producing more sporangia and leading to a reoccurrence of the disease when conditions are cool and moist. It is important to clean up and destroy infected impatiens so these overwintering structures are not introduced into the soil.

Although the disease can be managed with fungicides in the greenhouse, this is neither practical nor recommended in home landscapes. Avoid replanting impatiens where they were planted the previous season.

Due to the pathogen's ability to produce sporangia that travel long distances, the best management strategy is to avoid the disease entirely by choosing plants that are resistant to downy mildew. Several excellent choices are available including New Guinea impatiens, begonias and coleus. Your local garden center or greenhouse can recommend suitable plants for your area.

For more information on the disease and photos, go to http://www.uvm.edu/mastergardener.

David Gringeri, West Haven; Summer Colley, Colchester; Alexis Walker, Essex Junction and Holly Weglarz, Hartland, placed first through fourth in the Senior Division (ages 14 and up). They will head to Louisville, Ky., in November to compete at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-up.

They were among the 53 4-H club members from eight counties who participated in the University of Vermont Extension event held at two Castleton locations, Horse Amour (judging) and Castleton Elementary School  (oral reasons).  Each competitor provided written placements for each class, which were scored against placings by the official judge. All 4-H'ers age 12 and older also were required to present oral reasons for their placings.

Other top 10 finishers in the senior division, listed fifth through tenth place, included Katelyn Patenaude, Holland (state team alternate); Kira Clokey, Jericho; Bridgette Charlebois, Jericho; Mariah Palmer, Hartland; Morgan Quimby, Underhill; Miranda Wright, St. Johnsbury.

Three individuals competed in the Novice Senior Division, open to teens 14 to 18 years old, who are either new to 4-H or first-time competitors in this contest. They are not eligible for the state team. Winners in order of placement were Amanda Reardon, Essex Junction; Samantha Turgeon, St. Johnsbury, Karly Lekberg, Brandon.

Winners in the Junior Division, ages 12 and 13 years old, were Catherine Thrasher, Rupert; Kassidy Wyman,Cambridgeport; Lexy Brooks, Whitehall, N.Y.; Audrey Teague, Jeffersonville; Chelsea Carcoba, Danville; Hannah Lang, Essex; Julia Donlevy, Jeffersonville; Arin Kenyon, Chester; Connor Jenny, Essex Junction; Bridget Webber, West Burke.

Taking first through tenth place in the Junior Division for ages eight to ten were Madison Bentley, Richmond; Faith Ploof, Essex Junction; Bella Joly, Essex Junction; Brittany Webber, West Burke; Eva Joly, Essex Junction; Allie Cloutier, Barton; Carly Jenkins, Jericho; Olivia Suker, Shrewsbury; Emma Cushman, Barre; Lauren Bentley, Richmond.

Assisting at the event were Allison and Jessica Bachmann, Ira; Jen Carp, Colchester; Bethany Demuynck, Underhill and Kaelyn Jenny, Essex Junction. All five 4-H'ers competed nationally as members of the state 4-H horse judging team in previous years.

To learn more about the 4-H horse project and horse events, please contact Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator, at (802) 656-5418 or toll-free at (800) 571-0668, ext. 2 or by e-mail at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.

The workshops, offered by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension in collaboration with the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link (RAFFL), will be held in the third-floor conference room at the RAFFL Office, 67 Merchants Row. Individuals are welcome to attend one or both workshops, but must register for each separately. Dr. Londa Nwadike, UVM Extension food safety specialist, will teach both sessions.

The Food Safety Regulations for Food Producers and Processors workshop, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, will help small-scale food processors understand current federal (U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture) and Vermont food regulations for all types of food products, including low-acid, acidified and high-acid foods. In addition, it will cover the proposed FDA Food Safety Modernization Act rules and the steps, including the necessary paperwork, to obtain a scheduled process, which ensures the safe production of canned, shelf-stable food products. The fee is $10.

The afternoon workshop, which costs $15 to attend, will offer an introduction to HACCP. Producers and processors will learn about prerequisite programs; how to conduct a hazard analysis, identify critical control points and monitor procedures and establish critical limits and corrective actions. Verification and record keeping procedures also will be discussed.

Registrations will be accepted online until June 9. To register for the food safety regulations workshop go to http://foodregsr.eventbrite.com. Register for the HACCP workshop at http://haccprutland.eventbrite.com. Anyone requiring a disability-related accommodation for either or both sessions, please call Rose Crossley at (802) 223-2389, ext. 201, by May 21.

The workshops also are open to food producers and processors from neighboring states. Although some of the regulatory information is specific to Vermont, much of it is applicable in  other states.

Questions? Contact Londa Nwadike at londa.nwadike@uvm.edu or (802) 223-2389, ext. 216.

Vermont's Forest Pest First Detector Program, a partnership between University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and several state and federal agencies, will offer free training this month, which includes online modules and a day in the field on May 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the NorthWoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston. Rain date is May 19.

You will be trained to monitor trees in your community for the first signs of the Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer and hemlock woolly adelgid, pests that can cause serious damage to forests once they get a toehold in an area. The training will cover pest biology, impacts and identification; survey protocol and tools and responding to screening calls about various pests.

Once certified as a First Detector, you will receive a special toolkit containing a manual, sample collection supplies and other tools and reference materials. You will have opportunities to assist foresters and agricultural staff with site visits and sample collection as well as gain access to National Plant Diagnostic Network's resources and participate in other trainings and research projects.

In addition, you will be asked to help increase public awareness of these pests by setting up displays, writing newspaper and online articles and giving presentations at meetings. A two-hour commitment per month for a year is expected.

Contact Caitlin Cusack, Forest Pest First Detector Program coordinator, at (802) 656-7746 or caitlin.cusack@uvm.edu by May 15 to register or request a disability-related accommodation to participate. Ask about continuing education credits for both the online and in-person training.

A separate training will be offered in the Rutland area on June 8 (rain date June 9) at Merck Forest and Farmland Center, Rupert. Registrations will be accepted for that location through May 15.

To learn more about Vermont's First Forest Pest Detector Program, a joint initiative between UVM Extension; the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, go to www.vtinvasives.org/tree-pests/first-detectors/program

Burlington--The year's Vermont 4-H Teen Congress promises participants plenty of fun while learning. Highlights include a Lake Champlain cruise and dance party, community service project, choice of workshops and a talk by motivational speaker Shannon Oleen.

The June 19-21 conference, which is co-sponsored by UVM Extension 4-H and the Vermont State 4-H Foundation, is open to all youths ages 13 to 19 (as of Jan. 1). Membership in 4-H is not required and non-4-H'ers are especially welcome to attend. It will be held on the UVM campus with accommodations in dormitories.

The all-inclusive cost is $190 (includes a Congress T-shirt). Teens may register online at www.uvm.edu/extension/4hevents. The deadline for registration or to request a disability-related accommodation is May 24. For the latter, call the UVM Extension Office in Morrisville at (866) 260-5603 (toll-free) or (802) 888-4972.

All participants may sign up for five workshops on topics including public speaking, entrepreneurship, energy and the environment, healthy snacks, youth farm business ownership, car buying tips, introduction to American sign language, wilderness survival, designing and building bottle rockets and bicycle maintenance, among others. Oleen, a former professional National Football League cheerleader, will teach a workshop on the basics of cheer and dance movement.

In addition, on the first night of Congress she will present an inspirational keynote talk on how to achieve goals and dreams through hard work, passion and a positive attitude. Oleen, a Kansas City, Mo., native is a former Missouri 4-H'er and 4-H State Council alumna.

The teens also will participate in a community service project to prepare birthday bags, which contain all the supplies needed for a child's birthday party, to donate to the Vermont Foodbank. Other activities include a Lake Champlain sunset cruise and DJ dance party, an ice cream social and barbecue, swimming and games at Oakledge Park in Burlington.

Funding for this event was provided by the Karlson Family Foundation and the Vermont State 4-H Foundation. For more information, contact Lauren Traister, UVM Extension Teen and Leadership Program Coordinator, at (866) 260-5603 (toll-free) or (802) 888-4972, ext. 402, or lauren.traister@uvm.edu.

Because spring is a time for renewal, there is no better time to start taking control of your health.  Consider trying some new, healthy recipes. Commit to a fitness routine, try out a new sport or simply explore the outdoors. Choose activities that are right for you. Here's why.

Approximately one-third of youths and two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese in this country. Instances of overweight and obesity are correlated with numerous health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. This trend can be prevented by increasing the amount of time engaged in physical activities, reducing the amount of time spent in sedentary activities and eating a balanced diet, including lean sources of protein, whole grains, reduced fat dairy products and plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Being active on a regular basis offers health and wellness benefits for everyone, such as increased strength, improved mobility and enhanced mood and longevity. How much we need depends on our age and other factors.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity for children and adolescents and at least 30 minutes for adults five or more days a week. Even 10-minute bursts of this kind of activity can add up to your daily total.

Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's SuperTracker web site at www.supertracker.usda.gov for your personalized nutrition and fitness plan as well as tips to stay on track. Be sure to check with your doctor or healthcare professional before starting an exercise program.

Here are some ideas for getting active this spring:

• Form a walking group with friends, neighbors or workmates.
• Challenge yourself to hike as many local mountain peaks as you can.
• Ride a bike on some of the region's many trails, recreation paths and back roads.
• Plant a home or community garden.
• Do yard work including raking life back into the lawn.
• Join a community sports league or just get outside for some active play with the kids.

Try to choose activities that are accessible and fun for you. That way you are more likely to stick with it.

To learn more, check out "Physical Activity--It's Essential," a University of Vermont Extension publication at www.uvm.edu/extension/food/pdfs/in-your-hands/physical-activity.pdf.

Here's a spring salad adapted from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (http://snap.nal.usda.gov) web site to start you on your way to eating healthier:

OUTTASIGHT SALAD

• 2 cups spinach/mixed salad greens of your choice
• 1 cup chopped carrots/vegetables of your choice
• 1 cup fresh strawberry, orange or apple segments*
• 1/4 cup Dynamite Dressing (recipe below)
• 2 Tbsp. raisins or dried cranberries
• 2 Tbsp. chopped pecans or other nuts

Fill a large platter or salad bowl with spinach/mixed salad greens. In a large bowl mix together the chopped vegetables and fruit segments. Add dressing to vegetable/fruit mixture and stir. Spoon mixture over salad greens. Top with raisins or dried cranberries and nuts and serve.

Vary the recipe by adding seasonal greens, vegetables and fruit. When fresh fruit is not in season, substitute mandarin oranges, pineapple or other canned fruit (in juice).*

DYNAMITE DRESSING

• 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. white vinegar

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate in a tightly covered container for up to one week.

Nutrition information per 1-cup serving: 350 calories; 3 grams (g) total fat; 50 mg sodium; 12 g total carbohydrate; 3 g dietary fiber; 7 g sugars; 2 g  protein. Yield: 4 servings.

All the action takes place at the Municipal Auditorium at the Barre Civic Center, beginning at 9 a.m. with an opening assembly and ending with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m. The University of Vermont Extension event, which is free and open to the public, highlights a variety of action exhibits, stage presentations, demonstrations, illustrated talks, a photo gallery and more, all winners at state regional events.

From 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. 4-H'ers, ages 8 to 18, will present action exhibits followed by a fashion revue and stage presentations of song, dance, music, skits and comedy acts. Communication presentations, including individual and team demonstrations and illustrated talks, will begin at 10 a.m.

Throughout the day, visitors may tour the photo and poster galleries, check out the homemade quilts on display and view PowerPoint presentations, videos and video games developed by 4-H'ers. The event also features tabletop displays created by 4-H clubs and individuals illustrating a wide range of topics such as foods and nutrition, beekeeping, horses, environmental issues, wildlife and uses of wool, among others.

At the awards ceremony, winners of the stage presentations, action exhibits and poster and photography divisions selected to represent Vermont at Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield, Mass. in September will be announced. All the fashion revue participants chosen for State Day also will model their outfits at the Big E along with 4-H'ers from the five other New England states.

The Washington County 4-H Foundation will sell food and beverages at State Day. In addition, young spectators and their parents may work on art projects at an unstaffed arts and crafts table during the event.

For more information, contact 4-H Program Director Sarah Kleinman at (800) 571-0668 (toll-free) or by e-mail at sarah.kleinman@uvm.edu.

The University of Vermont (UVM) Extension event, held at Essex High School, featured more than 100 youths, ages 5 to 18, from Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. They participated in action exhibits, stage presentations, clothing revue, illustrated talks and other activities.

In addition to earning ribbons, many of the participants, ages 8 and up, were selected to perform again at 4-H State Day, May 18, at the Barre Civic Center in Barre. They include, alphabetically by county, the following individuals and clubs:

ADDISON:

ACTION EXHIBIT: Whiting Cloverleaves, Whiting (Rabbit Care)

FASHION REVUE: Andrea and Nicole Palmer and Hailey Quenneville, all from Weybridge; Colleen Bernier and Siri Swanson, both from Orwell

PHOTOGRAPHY: Brooklyn Currier, New Haven; Eliza Kurth, Bristol

POSTERS: Sydney Minnerly, Lincoln; Bethany Orvis, Middlebury.
Alternate: Katelynn Ouellette, Vergennes 

STAGE PRESENTATION (GROUP): Sky Riders 4-H Club, Brandon  (zumba dance); Whiting Cloverleaves, Whiting (acting)

STAGE PRESENTATION (INDIVIDUAL): Elizabeth "Rose" Jones, Whiting (drama-singing); Anna Willenbaker, Ferrisburgh (singing)

CHITTENDEN:

ACTION EXHIBIT: Flying Hooves, Colchester (Treat Mania); Green Mountain 4-H Club, Williston (Wonderful Wire Baskets); Midnight Riders, Hinesburg (Wrap It Before Germs Attack It); Whispering Pines 4-H Club, Jericho (Twisted Tails)

FASHION REVUE: Riley Janeway, Sally Matson and Eva Paradiso, all from Burlington

PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtney Banach, South Burlington; Kira Clokey, Jericho; Caraline Flaherty, Essex Junction; Mary and Rachel Guyette, both from South Burlington; Caroline Hobbs, Hinesburg; Meaghan Hughes, Jericho; Natalie Kedzierski and Grace Parks, both from Essex Junction; Aidan and Morgan Quimby and Emi Schweikert, all from Underhill; Malachy and Ruth Snow, both from Burlington;  Sofia Troland, Milton

POSTERS:  Jennifer Dickinson, Colchester; Mariah Hanson, South Burlington; Carly Jenkins, Jericho; Hannah Lang and Faith Ploof, both from Essex Junction; Ruth Snow, Burlington. Alternate: Alexis Walker, Essex Junction

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Summer Colley, Colchester (Giving from the Heart)

STAGE PRESENTATION (GROUP): Prancing Ponies, Shelburne (skit, dance)

STAGE PRESENTATION (INDIVIDUAL): Tiffany Couture, Milton (singing); Mary Guyette (piano solo) and Grace Senecal-Albrecht (dance), both from South Burlington; Audrey Teague, Jeffersonville (member of a Chittenden County 4-H club; singing). Alternate: Rachel Guyette, South Burlington (violin solo)

TABLETOP EXHIBITS: Hannah Carroll, Colchester (Breeds of the World); Flying Hooves, Colchester (Take a Hike!); Mary Guyette (Beekeeping) and Rachel Guyette, both from South Burlington (Butterfly or Moth?); Victoria Pruss, Colchester (Friesians); Morgan Quimby, Underhill (A Helping Hoof); Matthew Guyette, South Burlington (Why Knot);
Alternates: Annika Cooper, Colchester (Egg Colors); Bella Joly (barn design) and Faith Ploof, (Chincoteague Ponies), both from Essex Junction

FRANKLIN:

POSTER:  Lindsay Westcom, Enosburg Falls

GRAND ISLE:

ILLUSTRATED TALK: Audrey Chairvolotti (Parts of a Fish and How to Fit a Bike Helmet Properly), Jackson Chairvolotti (Meat Rabbit Breeds) and Madeline Chairvolotti (Judging a Hen's Past Production), all from Grand Isle; Addi Dodgson (Lambing/Uses of Wool) and Samuel Valin (Hatching and Caring for Ducks), both from South Hero. 

POSTERS: Audrey, Jackson and Madeline Chairvolotti, all from Grand Isle; Samuel Valin, South Hero

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Madeline Chairvolotti, Grand Isle (Bicycle Safety)

STAGE PRESENTATION (INDIVIDUAL): Morgan Marckres, Grand Isle (singing)

TABLETOP EXHIBITS: Addi Dodgson, South Hero (Uses of Wool)

TECHNOLOGY (PowerPoint presentation): Madeline Chairvolotti, Grand Isle (Yeast Bread Basics); Jackson Chairvolotti, Grand Isle (Parts of a Small Engine)

To learn more about the UVM Extension 4-H program, visit www.uvm.edu/extension/youth or call the State 4-H Office at (800) 571-0668.

University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources' Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Forests, Parks and Recreation have teamed up to host the event, which will be held May 31–June 2 at Stillwater State Park in Groton. Deadline for registration is May 17.

"It is very important for kids, as well as adults, to develop a connection to the outdoors, and the activities offered during the weekend provide a fun avenue to make that connection," says Ed O'Leary, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Director of Operations. "The weekend is designed to give people an opportunity to simply have fun in the outdoors, meet new people and learn new skills that they can use for their entire lives."

Highlights include a Saturday night potluck supper, evening bonfire, bottle rocket making and launch and a paddleboard demonstration. Campers also may participate in three expert-led workshops.

Among the more than 40 options are sessions on nature photography; native wildlife and plants; shooting sports, including archery, muzzleloading and air pistol; recreational activities such as kayaking, geocaching and fishing; and outdoor survival skills including fire starting, herbal first aid, wild woodland edibles and outdoor wild game cooking. Workshops on leaf art and damselflies and dragonflies, a nature scavenger hunt and storytelling nature walk will be offered for younger campers.

Families will have full use of the park, located on Groton Lake in the 28,000-acre Groton State Forest, including its hiking trails, boat launch and other facilities. The park offers tent, lean-to and RV sites on a first-come, first-served basis.

The registration fee per family (up to eight people) is $175 and includes the campsite, workshops, use of most equipment, the Friday night ice cream social and potluck supper. Each family will need to provide their own camping gear and food along with a dish to share at the potluck, which will feature hot dogs, hamburgers and moose burgers.

Log onto www.uvm.edu/extension/outdoorfamily for registration information, program details and workshop descriptions. To request a disability-related accommodation, contact Gail Makuch at (800) 278-5480 (toll-free in Vermont) by May 17.

The youths, ages 8 to 18, demonstrated skills and knowledge learned through University of Vermont Extension 4-H projects. They competed individually and in groups in various categories ranging from action exhibits and tabletop displays to stage presentations, clothing revue, posters and photographs.

The top exhibitors in each category qualified for 4-H State Day, May 18 at the Barre Civic Center in Barre, which will feature talented 4-H'ers from throughout the state. Individuals and 4-H clubs selected to represent the Northeast region include:

CALEDONIA COUNTY:

ACTION EXHIBITS: Water Tower Riders, Marshfield (Pallet Gardening); Ryegate Trailblazers, Ryegate (How to Make Butter)

PHOTOGRAPHY (DIGITAL): Jaime Wood, Waterford

PHOTOGRAPHY (TRADITIONAL): Abby Bliss, St. Johnsbury; Samantha Turgeon and Miranda Wright, both from St. Johnsbury; Jaime Wood, Waterford; James, Lindsey and Madison Wood, all from South Kirby

POSTER: Brookelyn Dennis, Ryegate; Nadia Fraser, East Ryegate; Savannah Largent, Sheffield

STAGE PRESENTATIONS: Monica Colbath, Woodsville, N.H. (member of a Caledonia County 4-H club; singing)

TABLETOP DISPLAY: Abby Bliss, St. Johnsbury; Aiden Bogie, Lyndonville

ESSEX COUNTY:

DEMONSTRATION (INDIVIDUAL): Andrea Elie, Lunenburg (Flower Pressing Techniques)

PHOTOGRAPHY (TRADITIONAL): Chris Girard, Lunenburg

POSTER: Mandy Carr and Chris Girard, both from Lunenburg; Savannah Nelson, Gilman.

TABLETOP DISPLAY: Chris Girard and Tara and Tyler Thomas, all from Lunenburg

LAMOILLE COUNTY:

ACTION EXHIBIT: Leprechauns 4-H Club, Johnson (CPR)

PHOTOGRAPHY (TRADITIONAL): Ian Biasini and Shelby Biasini, both from Morrisville; Sadie Ellner, Morristown; Hope Ferris, Jeffersonville; Ellie and Hattie Moriarty, both from Stowe

POSTER: Adele Biasini, Morrisville; Josje Bonnett, Waterville

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Ramona Bilodeau, Essex Junction (member of a Lamoille County 4-H club; talk on Malala Yousafzai)

STAGE PRESENTATIONS: Ramona Bilodeau, Essex Junction (clarinet solo). Alternate: Hope Ferris, Jeffersonville (karate demonstration and flute solo)

ORLEANS COUNTY:

CLOTHING REVUE: Meaghan O'Meara, Irasburg

DEMONSTRATION (GROUP) Madeleine Nadeau, Holland and Meaghan O'Meara, Irasburg (Moo Who?); Emma Nadeau, Holland and Cora Nadeau, Derby Line (Very Berry Merry Muffins); Julia Paul, Newport and Maverick O'Meara, Irasburg (Sink or Swim).  Alternates: Mackayla O'Meara, Irasburg and Molly Patenaude, Derby Line (fruit pizza); Olivia Lemieux, Holland and Ryanne Nadeau, Derby Line (Cut Wrap Wear)

PHOTOGRAPHY (DIGITAL): Sophia Cannizarro, West Glover

PHOTOGRAPHY (TRADITIONAL): Brianna Bergh, Morgan; Emma and Olyvia Fortin and Julia Paul, all from Newport; Demara Mosher, West Charleston; Cora Nadeau and Ryanne Nadeau, both from Derby Line; Madeleine Nadeau, Holland; Jada Rosemark, Sheffield.

POSTER: Lincoln Michaud, East Hardwick; Ryanne Nadeau, Derby Line; Jada Rosemark, Sheffield

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Alternate: Kate Patenaude, Derby Line (Horse Traveler)

STAGE PRESENTATIONS: Border Livestock Plus 4-H Club, Holland (singing); Sophia Cannizarro, West Glover (guitar and singing); Joyful Noise--Sophia Cannizarro, Dante and Fintan, all of West Glover (fiddle duo and guitar) SpecTackulars-- Emmalee Fogle, Irasburg and  Jada Rosemark, Sheffield (singing duo); Joyful Noise---Sophia Cannizarro, Dante and Fintan, all of West Glover (comedy)

TABLETOP DISPLAY: Maverick O'Meara, Irasburg; Jada Rosemark, Sheffield; Emma Spring, Jay. Alternates: Jacob Patenaude, Derby Line; Olivia Schneider, Albany.

To learn more about 4-H in Caledonia and Lamoille Counties, contact Lindsay Jones at (802) 751-8310, ext. 357. For Essex and Orleans Counties, contact Lindy Birch at (802) 334-7235, ext. 481.

The symposium was held April 12-14 at the Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport Hotel in Windsor and the University of Connecticut (UConn) equine facilities in Storrs. More than 50 teens from across the country representing 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Future Farmers of America, National High School Rodeo and other youth organizations participated.

They discussed animal first aid, cowboy ethics and horse judging in breakout sessions as well as watched demonstrations on dressage, competitive trail riding and the versatility of Morgan Horses. In addition they learned about body condition scoring and participated in equestrian Olympics and a Horse Smarts Roundup.

In the latter event, the teens were asked to identify horse-related items such as equipment, forages and parts of the horse, earning points for every correct answer. Jen Carp of Colchester placed second overall, only one point behind the winner, and received a $150 cash prize. Bethany Demuynck of Underhill took third and won $100. Both teens are members of the Whispering Pines 4-H Club in Jericho, led by Mary Fay, a long-time 4-H leader.

Other Vermont 4-H'ers who attended the symposium were Kaelyn Jenny, Essex Junction; David Gringeri, West Haven; Morgan Quimby, Underhill; Kyle Scott, Milton and Bridgett Webber, West Burke. They are among the more than 600 young people enrolled in the University of Vermont Extension 4-H horse project.

Adult 4-H leaders and volunteers included June Banks, Richmond; Marsha Cloutier, Barton; Deb Danforth, Castleton; Mary Fay, Westford; Nancy Jenny, Essex Junction; Cathy Leathersich, Underhill; Kristin Quimby, Underhill; Andrea Scott, Milton; Lori Tumpowski, West Haven and Julie Webber, West Burke. They participated in sessions on teaching and learning theories in horse riding instruction, being a horse show parent, feed management, communications in difficult situations and the pitfalls and rewards of live animal events, among other topics.

Prior to the event the Vermont delegation toured Lionshare Farm in Greenwich, the home of Peter Leone, a silver medalist in the 1996 Olympics, and Whitney Ridge in Higganum, an equestrian facility that specializes in training and showing American Quarter Horses. They also visited High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme, a therapeutic riding center.

UConn hosted the AYHC Symposium, now in its 36th year. The 2014 symposium is planned for Minneapolis, Minn.

A total of 93 competitors from clubs in nine Vermont counties competed at the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H event held at Wishful Thinking Farm, New Haven (horse judging) and Vergennes High School, Vergennes (written tests, slides and identification stations). The 4-H'ers were evaluated on how well they judged and placed horses in two classes as well as their overall knowledge of breeds, feeds and forages, tack, animal nutrition, anatomy, confirmation, horse care and other equine science topics.

Scores for each event at the competition were combined for an overall score. Rosette ribbons were presented to the top ten finishers in each age group.

The senior division for youths ages 14 and older attracted 42 competitors who vied for one of the four coveted spots on the state horse hippology team that will compete at the New England Regional 4-H Horse Contests in Massachusetts in October and the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-up in Kentucky in November. Seniors earning the highest overall scores, in order of placement, included Allison Bachmann, Ira; Alexis Walker and Kaelyn Jenny, both from Essex Junction, and Emily Campbell, Montpelier.

Other seniors who finished in the top 10 for this age group were Emma Pearson, North Hero; Meaghan Hughes, Jericho; Bethany Demuynck, Underhill; Ashley White, Northfield; Courtney Bronson, Shoreham; and Nicole Webster, Florence.

Katina Boise, Middlebury and Kayla Welch, Shoreham, took first and second, respectively, in the Novice Senior Division, which was open to all teens 14 years old and up who are either new to 4-H or the hippology contest. Competitors in this division were not eligible for the state team.

In the Junior Division, ages 12 and 13, the high scorers, in order of placement, were Lexy Brooks, Whitehall, N.Y.; Hannah Lang, Essex; Catherine Thrasher, Rupert; Kendra Stearns, Brandon; Julia Neeld, Williston; Kathryn Morin, Essex Junction; Claudia Bearman, Essex; Madaline Schmidt, Colchester; Audrey Teague, Jeffersonville; and Olivia Schmidt, Colchester.

Winners of the 10 and 11-year-old age group included Faith Ploof, Essex Junction; Shea Tomlinson, Colchester; Olivia Suker, Shrewsbury; Alexis Marnellos, Lincoln; Madison Bentley, Richmond; Eva Joly, Essex Junction; Hannah Carroll, Colchester; Kimberly Gibson, Bristol; and Sydney Minnerly and Charlotte Willis, both from Lincoln.

Ten 4-H'ers, ages eight and nine, competed in horse hippology this year. Listed from first through last place, they were Emma Cushman, Barre; McKenna White, Whiting; Chloe Barewicz, Jericho; Bella Joly, Essex Junction; Carly Jenkins, Jericho; Lauren Bentley, Richmond; Connor Lang; Essex; Brittany Webber, West Burke; Katie Heath, Bristol and Makayla Swan, Middlebury.

Jessie Bachmann, Ira; Jen Carp, Colchester; and Emi Schweikert, Underhill, assisted with the event. All three 4-H'ers previously represented Vermont at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round Up in the horse hippology contest.

For more information about the 4-H horse program, contact Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator, at (802) 656-5418 or wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.

If you plan to sell at farmers markets this year, you will need to follow food safety best practices and produce and process your food products according to the rules and regulations set by the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Not only will this guarantee that products are as safe as possible, it also will assure your customers that your business, as well as the entire farmers market, has product quality and safety in mind.

University of Vermont Extension has published a series of "Food Safety for Farmers Market Vendors" factsheets, which help to clarify the various regulatory requirements, and also list the recommended best practices to ensure the safety of the various types of food offered at farmers markets. These are available at www.uvm.edu/extension/food. Click on "Food Safety for Producers and Processors," then "Publications."

Some of the key best practices for food vendors selling at farmers markets include the following:

--Cook, transport and hold foods at the proper temperatures to prevent rapid bacterial growth. Hot prepared foods must be held at 135 F or higher, cold perishable foods from 32 to 40 F and frozen foods at less than 15 F.

--Reduce possible cross-contamination, which can transfer bacteria from one food to another. For example, be sure that raw meat does not contact ready-to-eat food or fresh produce.

--Practice good personal hygiene such as clean clothes and hands to prevent transferring bacteria to your food.

Vermont does not currently have any regulations for offering product samples. However, if you do hand out samples, be sure to do so in a sanitary manner. Only put out small amounts at a time and always keep perishable foods hot or cold, as appropriate.

In addition to following the practices listed above, farmers market vendors must comply with certain key regulations including that all products sold must follow proper labeling and temperature requirements. In addition, ingredients or foods used to prepare food for market must be from safe sources.

You also might be required to have a license, depending on the products you plan to sell, your annual sales or where you prepare the food. Here are some points to keep in mind:

--Regardless of the size of your operation, if you are preparing foods at the market to sell, you will need a temporary food stand license from the Vermont Department of Health. This will require you to have a hand-washing station in your stand.

--If preparing ready-to-eat food at home to bring to the market packaged and ready for sale, you are required to have a home or commercial caterer license.

--To sell red meat or inspected poultry, you will need a farmers market retail license, which is available from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture.

--Selling more than $6,500 of baked goods annually? Then you will need to have a home bakery license.

--If selling jams, jellies, canned foods and all other types of processed foods at farmers markets, you must obtain a food processors' license from the Vermont Department of Health if you sell more than $10,000 worth of products per year.

Following these best practices and recommendations will help to protect this valuable outlet for Vermont's local products and ensure that everyone has a pleasant and safe farmers market season.

Dates for the four-session course, which will be held at the North Country Technical Career Center (NCTCC), are April 25, April 27, May 4 and May 11. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.

The certification course, sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H and NCTCC's Agriculture and Natural Resources program, is open to all teens, 14 to19 years old, from Vermont and neighboring states. The fee is $60, which covers all sessions, lunches, materials and the testing fee for the certification exam. Scholarships are available.

To register, contact Liz Kenton, UVM Extension Youth Agriculture Project Coordinator, at ekenton@uvm.edu or (802) 257-7967, ext. 308, or toll-free at (800) 571-0668 (Vermont calls only). If requiring a disability-related accommodation to participate or to request financial assistance, please call by April 19.

The course will provide hands-on instruction for operating tractors over 20 horsepower and other farm equipment as well as cover general agricultural safety and how to recognize and correct potential hazards on the farm. Teens must attend all four sessions and pass a 50-question written knowledge exam and a skills and driving test in order to receive their National Safe Tractor and machinery Operation Program certificate.

That's why early detection is so vital, and why this spring Vermont's Forest Pest First Detector Program, a partnership between University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and state and federal agencies, is offering free training for anyone interested in becoming a certified First Detector. Trained volunteers will assist with site visits and sample collection and help increase public awareness through community outreach efforts such as newspaper articles, meetings and informational displays.

To become certified, individuals must complete seven online modules prior to participating in one day of on-site classroom and field training. The latter will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 18 (rain date May 19) at the NorthWoods Stewardship Center, East Charleston, and June 8 (rain date June 9) at Merck Forest and Farmland Center, Rupert.

To register or to request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Caitlin Cusack, Forest Pest First Detector Program coordinator, at (802) 656-7746 or caitlin.cusack@uvm.edu by May 1. Continuing education credits are available for both the online and in-person training.

Instruction will be offered on pest biology, impacts and identification; survey protocol and tools and how to respond to screening calls about various pests. Certified First Detectors will receive a toolkit containing a manual, supplies for collecting samples and other tools and reference materials and will be invited to participate in other trainings and research projects. They also will be granted access to the National Plant Diagnostic Network's resources.

A commitment of at least two hours a month for a year is expected. Local federal and state agency personnel will be available for technical assistance and support, including providing regular updates on forest pests threatening Vermont's forests.

Although the emerald ash borer has been found in New York and Quebec not far from the state's borders, so far only the hemlock woolly adelgid has been reported in Vermont. Initially detected in Windham County in 2007, the insect was subsequently discovered in Bennington County by Michael Rosenthal, an Arlington resident and certified First Detector who spotted it on the underside of a hemlock branch in Pownal last summer.

Vermont's First Forest Pest Detector Program is a joint initiative between UVM Extension; the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service with funding from the U.S. Forest Service. For more information, go to www.vtinvasives.org/tree-pests/first-detectors/program.

For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, outside every sleeping area and in every bedroom. Smoke alarms should be mounted on ceilings or high on walls, about four to 12 inches from the ceiling, and tested monthly by pushing the test button.

It's also important to replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year unless they are 10-year lithium batteries. If your smoke alarms are hard-wired, they still have batteries in case of a power outage. Be sure to replace these batteries, too.

One good way to remember to change the batteries in all your smoke alarms is to do it when you set your clocks back in fall or ahead in spring. You also need to replace the battery if you test the unit and don't hear the alarm or anytime you hear a "chirp," which indicates low battery power.

Smoke alarms sensors do not last forever. The maximum life span is eight to 10 years. After that time, the entire unit should be replaced.

Check the manufacture date on the back of the unit.  If there is none, definitely replace the entire unit now. Or if the unit does not respond properly when tested, replace it immediately.

Most hardware stores carry both battery-operated ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms for about $10 to $25 apiece. Ionization alarms are triggered by smoke and respond quickly to heat and flames. Photoelectric alarms detect smoke from a smoldering fire before it spreads rapidly. It's recommended that you have both types in your home.

Smoke alarms containing these two types of sensors in the same unit also are available at many outlets. Or consider replacing your alarms with the newer combination smoke and carbon monoxide type units.

Regardless of what you choose, always look for the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or other recognized testing laboratory label. And remember to write the date of installation inside the alarm's cover as a reminder of when you will need to replace the unit.

Don't take chances. The cost of a new battery or new smoke alarm--and a few minutes of your time a month to test the alarm--is a small price to pay for your family's safety.

The overnight camp, which is sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension's Youth Farm Safety Project and the Women's Agricultural Network, will be held at Spring Brook Farm. The $40 per person registration fee covers all meals, workshops, activities and accommodations in five-person dorm rooms.

Hands-on workshops, led by female farmers and safety professionals, will focus on farm safety from the perspective of a woman farmer. Topics include tractor and machinery safety, farm first aid and what to do in an emergency, farm fire safety, ergonomics, working safely outdoors, self-defense and woodlot safety.

Participants also will tour Spring Brook Farm, a traditional Jersey dairy farm and artisan cheese maker. The farm is home to Farms For City Kids, a program that combines classroom studies with firsthand farming experiences to provide urban kids with an introduction to agriculture and an understanding of how what they learn in school applies to real life situations.

Farm safety camp registrations will be accepted until April 20 or the camp is filled. Only 20 spots are available, so early registration is advised.

To download the registration form, go to www.uvm.edu/extension/4-Hevents. Confirmation and additional information will be sent within one week of receipt of payment.

For questions, contact Kristen Mullins, UVM Extension youth farm safety coordinator, at (802) 656-2034 or kristen.mullins@uvm.edu. If requiring a disability-related accommodation to attend, please call by April 12.

University of Vermont (UVM) Extension hosted the event at Vermont Technical College. The competition consisted of a written test and several rounds of oral questions with the combined scores from each used to determine the winners in each age group.

In an unusual turn of events, the winner of the senior division (ages 14 and up), Maggie Kirby of East Montpelier, is ineligible for the 2013 Vermont Dairy Quiz Bowl Team because her birthday falls after the cutoff date for eligibility, making her too young to compete nationally. Instead the team will be made up of the second through fifth highest scorers in the senior division.

They include Jake Senecal, Bradford; Shelby Biasini, Morrisville; Levi Vaughan, East Thetford; and Tim Carson, Newbury. First alternate is Kelli Jerome, Leicester. Second alternate is Devin Mitchell, Richford. The team will represent the state in quiz bowl competition at Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield, Mass., in September, and the North American Invitational 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest, Louisville, Ky., in November.

Junior division winners, by age group, and in order of placement were:

8 to 9 years old--Caroline Kirby, East Montpelier; Peter Thornton, South Royalton; Sadie Ellner, Morrisville; Michael Plouffe, Bridport.

10 to 11 years old--Isabel Hall, East Montpelier; Chandra Stanley, Enosburg Falls; Lucy Kelley, Morrisville; Adele Biasini, Morrisville.

12 to 13 years old--Lilli Seward, East Wallingford; Maddie Nadeau, Derby; Andrew Seward, East Wallingford; Will Ringey, Brandon.

For more information about the Vermont 4-H dairy program, contact Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator, at (802) 656-5418 or wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.

These meetings, offered by University of Vermont Extension and participating agencies, are designed to help town managers, select board members, librarians, town clerks and other town officials do their jobs more effectively. Sites include the Hilton Burlington Hotel, Burlington (April 3); Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee (April 17); and the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center, Killington (April 24).

Registration is $70, with a $10 discount if registering online, and covers lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and a choice of five concurrent workshop sessions.  Registration information can be found at www.uvm.edu/extension/toec. Or call (802) 773-3349.

On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. with the program ending at 3:30 p.m. Concurrent workshop sessions focus on a broad range of topics including new and updated tax laws, disaster relief, grand lists and current use, new technologies, managing public access to documents, implementation of actions in town plans, civic engagement and other matters of interest to town officials.

In addition, participants will learn about effective communication, both within town offices and between town governments and residents, at the keynote session, which also covers ways to use technology to manage information more effectively.

If requiring a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Sally Cleveland at (802) 773-3349, ext. 271 or (800) 281-6977 at least seven days in advance of the conference date.

In Vermont, Operation: Military Kids (OMK), a program of University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H, will host several activities during this month for, and in honor of, the state's 4,000 military kids. They are among the more than one million kids nationwide under the age of 18 who have one or both parents serving in the National Guard or armed forces.

Some of the planned events include:

APRIL 1--MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD POSTER CONTEST. OMK will announce the winners of this annual poster contest for students, ages 5 to 18. Posters reflect the theme that April is the Month of the Military Child and that children of military families serve, too.

April 15--PURPLE UP! FOR MILITARY KIDS DAY. Vermonters are asked to show their support for military kids on this day by wearing purple, the official color that represents all military branches. Anyone who dresses in purple on this day is invited to send a photo or two as an attached file to OMKVermont@uvm.edu to be posted on the Vermont OMK Facebook page.

April 20--THE OMK CHALLENGE. OMK and Norwich University will host a free day of outdoor games and activities, including parachute games, juggling, hula hoops and more for military kids at Norwich University in Northfield.

April 23--STATE HOUSE CELEBRATION OF MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. Military kids will be honored at the Vermont State House in Montpelier with a special proclamation signed by Gov. Peter Shumlin and recognition by the House of Representatives during their morning session. Participants in the OMK school vacation camp in Colchester will visit the State House during the day. Winning entries in the Month of the Military Child poster contest will be on display.

For more information about these and other planned celebrations and activities, visit the Vermont OMK web site (www.uvm.edu/extension/omk) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OMKVermont). Or contact Stephanie Atwood, OMK coordinator, at (802) 656-0346 or by e-mail at OMKVermont@uvm.edu.

The second annual OMK Challenge, a free event for military kids ages 6-17, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the new Shaw Outdoor Center at Norwich University in Northfield. Younger military kids, ages 3 and up, also may participate if supervised by a parent.

Norwich University athletes and OMK staff will organize various age-appropriate games and activities such as parachute games, hula-hoops, juggling, Frisbee golf, jump roping and other active outdoor games. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors.

In addition, Hero Packs will be handed out to any participant who requests one. Non-military youths and community groups fill these backpacks with items to help military kids connect with their deployed parent(s). Depending on the recipient's age, the Hero Packs typically include connection or communication tools such as a disposable camera, photo album, scrapbook or journal and pen as well as fun items such as stickers, a stuffed animal or Frisbee plus locally donated items and a handwritten note of appreciation.

To register, go to http://omkchallenge.eventbrite.com/#. Registrations are limited to the first 30 kids to sign up and will be accepted up until the day of the event, space permitting.

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, please contact Stephanie Atwood at (802) 656-0346 by April 5.

Vermont OMK partners with community organizations throughout the state to provide activities and support for 4,000 military kids. It operates in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National 4-H program and U.S. Army Child, Youth and School Services.

For information about upcoming activities, including other Month of the Military Child events, visit www.uvm.edu/extension/omk or www.facebook.com/OMKVermont.