4-H offers new ‘Fridays on the Farm’ summer program for students

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is
offering a new hands-on free summer learning series for
students ages 12 to 18 focused on Maine agriculture. It
includes a visit to Mulberry Farms in Raymond in July.  
SUBMITTED PHOTO

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is offering a new hands-on summer learning series focused on Maine agriculture for students ages 12 to 18. 

Participants in the free four-session “Fridays on the Farm” program will take a tour of each participating farm's operations, gain hands-on experience and learn what different farms across the state contribute to the Maine food system. This is the first in a planned series of educational programs from the Maine 4-H Agricultural Leadership Ambassador Program and program materials and instruction is entirely free for participants. 

The goal of 4-H Fridays on the Farm is to expose students to Maine and create workforce development skills through a variety of different hands-on, farm visits throughout the state. Teens may join for one session or all four to experience what different farms across the state have to offer.

Each session will include an opportunity for teens to take a tour of operations, gain agriculture hands-on experience, and consider their role in the Maine Food System.

The first session will be held from 9 a.m.to noon July 16 at Mulberry Farms, 96 North Raymond Road, Raymond. Mulberry Farms is run by the Pecoraro Family and specializes in organic fruits and vegetables.

All sessions in the series are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon. 

Other sessions in the series include:

** Sustainable vegetable grower Rustic Roots Farm,120 Vipah Lane, Farmington on July 23. Rustic Roots Farm is a small-scale farm producing sustainably grown mixed vegetables. They offer weekly farm shares and sell locally to restaurants and the public at Farmers markets.

** Seed potato developer Seed Pro Inc., 21 ME-159, Crystal on July 30. Seed Pro Inc, along with the family farm, Daniel J. Corey Farm based in Monticello, centers around the development, production and harvesting of potatoes. At their Island Falls facility, which includes a research laboratory and greenhouse, they develop seed for distribution throughout the entire East Coast.

** Visiting a 10th-generation family owned and operated dairy farm, Brigeen Farms, 278 Upper Street, Turner on Aug. 6. Since 1777, Brigeen Farms has cared for dairy cows and produced fresh, high-quality milk as part of Maine’s strong dairy industry.

The series is free and includes materials; current 4-H enrollment is not required.

For more information or to register please visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/4-h-summer-learning/fridays-on-the-farm-registration/

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please call 800-287-1471 (in Maine) to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 10 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however all requests will be considered.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Sara Conant, 207-781-6099 or by email at sara.conant@maine.edu. <