This year is absolutely flying by

(Editor’s note: Sarah Beale, 15, will be a high school junior this fall and is a 4-H member in St. Mary’s County, Md., who recently launched a newsletter for 4-Hers through the county.)

What a beautiful year this is turning out to be, although it is absurd how quickly the time is passing.
It seems January was only yesterday, and it can be hard to distinguish the months with the ever-fluctuating weather.
St. Mary’s County is enjoying the warming weather, although the occasional storms can get a bit rough. Nevertheless, our agricultural community understands the value that rain has so we won’t complain too much.
The 4-H groups certainly appreciate the help of the rain. Our 4-H youth can hardly wait for the end of school and the start to summer vacation!
In 4-H news, workshops are available to prepare members for contests and projects.
The record book workshop was hosted on April 28 at the St. Mary’s County Agricultural Services Center.
The record books are extremely valuable in 4-H because they document the youth’s experiences and projects.
They hold members accountable for keeping up with expenses and documentation which is a life skill that can be helpful in the future. 
A robotics workshop was held on May 14 for members interested in competing in the future 4-H robotics contests, including one at the Maryland State Fair.
The workshop covered the rules and guidelines that must be followed, Then, participants and coaches  split into groups to learn about challenge-specific content. 
The horse projects are also getting competitive with a hippology contest. With registration that closed on May 23, contestants prepared for the event on June 11.
The contest was held at the Howard County Fairgrounds and invited members from all over Maryland to participate. 
St. Mary’s 4-H is excited and preparing for the upcoming Day and Overnight camps.
The day camp spans from June 20-24 at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Activities including baking, crafts, cooking, sewing, archery, science, gardening, and painting will be offered.
Participants will also visit animals and learn about proper agricultural practices.
The overnight camp will go from July 31 through Aug. 5 at the Maryland 4-H Environmental Education & Camping Center in Garrett County.
The camp has a large lake, obstacle course, hiking trails, shooting ranges, and sport fields.
The six-day camp is perfect for youth to connect with other 4-Hers from around the county. 
Overall, St. Mary’s County 4-H groups are excited to start the summer season and we hope that everyone reading stays safe and healthy.