4-H Club helps local family
4-H Club members pose behind Navy, who is very close to birthing her fifth calf. The 4-H Club put a lot of effort into a holiday fundraiser this past weekend, December 8-9. From left are Caitlyn Spear, Nicole Jewett, Lily Souza and Saoirse Bogart. Below: Goats take turns on the stump greeting visitors. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Goats take turns on the stump greeting visitors. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
4-H Club members pose behind Navy, who is very close to birthing her fifth calf. The 4-H Club put a lot of effort into a holiday fundraiser this past weekend, December 8-9. From left are Caitlyn Spear, Nicole Jewett, Lily Souza and Saoirse Bogart. Below: Goats take turns on the stump greeting visitors. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Goats take turns on the stump greeting visitors. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Alan-Dee Dairy 4-H Club youths exceeded their $500 goal to help a family have a better Christmas when they organized a holiday fundraiser last weekend at Morris Farm. The Country Christmas in the Barn event on December 8 and 9 attracted more than 100 people from surrounding towns to the nonprofit, educational farm off Gardiner Road.
“They were really excited,” 4-H Co-leader Deirdre Jewett. The group raised $789 from the event, in addition to a turkey, valued at $55, donated by Rising Tide in Damariscotta.
In partnership with the Lions Club, the 4-H group put on the event to buy presents for the family's children, ages four and two, and to provide the family with a holiday meal. Jewett said they may also buy oil or wood for the family with any remaining funds.
The group decided to adopt a family for Christmas this year as a community service project. Community service is a key element in the 4-H Club curriculum, which fosters leadership skills and volunteerism through a number of youth development programs.
According to 4-H Co-leader Candee MacQueen, the children worked very hard to put this event together, from organizing games, a bake sale, and raffles to decorating the barn. One of the main attractions at the barn is “Navy,” a pregnant heifer who is about to give birth to her fifth calf.
Lions Club member and Ship's Chow Hall owner Tina Fitzsimmons donated soup, chili and corn bread to the event. “She was fantastic,” Jewett said of Fitzsimmons, who visited the barn and spread the word about the fundraiser. “I can't thank her enough for all she did for us.”
Navy has not calved yet, but when she does someone will win a prize. Some participants cast votes as to when the cow would give birth. The person who guessed the closest date wins. The prize has yet to be determined, but word of Navy's newborn calf will be shared as soon as possible.
The barn is open to the public. Visitors can see feisty goats, fluffy rabbits and several dairy cows. Holiday decorations still grace the barn walls. The Morris Farm is at 156 Gardiner Road (Route 27) in Wiscasset. Their website is: www.morrisfarm.org.
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