FARMINGTON — The University of Maine Cooperative Extension held a very successful youth entrepreneurship program called Money Can Grow on Trees (MCGOT) on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the UMaine Extension office, 138 Pleasant Street.

The purpose of the class was to teach youth about the science of balsam fir, including identification, taxonomy and sustainable harvest. The children then made holiday swags, then learned how to price, market and sell swags as an example of small business. Ideas for marketing included selling at a roadside stand, at a barbershop and to relatives.

“MCGOT is a great way for children to learn about Maine’s heritage of using sustainable forest products to create jobs in Maine and to experience the joys of creating a beautiful holiday decoration that can bring in some money for the holidays,” said UMaine Extension instructor Dave Fuller.

Other instructors were Judy Smith, 4-H Community Education Assistant and Debra Kantor, 4-H Extension Educator.

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in the state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.