By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Recently, Tractor Supply Company on the North Road received recognition for supporting the local 4-H program in its annual fund-raising campaign. The Houlton store received the Class Champion Award for outstanding performance during the fall Paper Clover Campaign.
4-H and TSC have begun the third year of a three-year national Paper Clover Promotion partnership. Through this partnership, 45 states are able to take advantage of various opportunities for local and national 4-H programs to raise funds and visibility in their communities.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
RECEPIENTS — Tractor Supply Company of Houlton received the Class Champion Award for achieving the company goal of percentage of transactions of $1 paper clover donations during 4-H’s annual fundraising campaign. At the presentation were, from left, Josh Green, TSC employee; Tanner Goff, with bunny Holly; Michaela Goff with her bunny Charming; Roy Sanders, TSC manager; and Sandy Woollard, TSC employee.
Customers at Tractor Supply Company had the opportunity to support 4-H in more than 1,000 communities by purchasing paper clovers for $1 or more at the checkout. Sixty percent of the funds raised locally stayed in the County and are used to support Aroostook County 4-H youth development activities, while 10 percent goes to support statewide 4-H educational funding, and 30 percent goes to the National 4-H Council, explained Linda Trickey of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension administers the 4-H Program in Maine. There are 14 4-H clubs in Aroostook County with more than 150 youth and 60 volunteers enrolled.
“Since its beginning in Maine in 1913, 4-H has emphasized the importance of building the life skills needed to become successful adults,” said Trickey. “This year marks 100 years of 4-H in Maine.”
“Through this highly-impactful community event, we have been able to raise funds nationally over the past two years for thousands of 4-H youth across the country,” said Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “We are more than pleased with the success of the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign, and we are even more honored to continue the tremendous partnership that drives support for 4-H clubs and programs in the communities.”
In just two years, the Tractor Supply Company 4-H Paper Clover Campaign has provided more than $1.6 million to 4-H. The effort has provided direct support for local camps, after-school programs and other activities, and has granted scholarships to these events that allow youth to explore their interests in everything from animal science to robotics.
The Houlton Tractor Supply Company was the fifth highest store to earn money in the state, with Presque Isle being the top out of 16 stores.
Funds raised by TSC for Aroostook County 4-H programming were over $1,200.
“Our Paper Clover efforts are one of the key ways our stores can give back to the community,” said John Wendler, senior vice president of Marketing for Tractor Supply Company. “By providing essential funding for hundreds of thousands of 4-H young people, we are able to support local 4-H organizations that are so important to our youth. We’re proud to help improve the many communities in which we have stores through our partnership with 4-H. That is what Tractor Supply is all about.”
If anyone would like more information on 4-H programs in Aroostook county, contact Trickey at the UMaine Extension office at 25 School St. Houlton, 532-6548, or e-mail cesas@umext.maine.edu.
