CARTHAGE — Franklin County 4-H members toured the Saddleback Ridge wind farm off Route 2 Saturday, June 2.

The development has 12 turbines. The tour started at Turbine 8, with Rebecca Howard, assistant director of government and community affairs with Patriot Renewables of Quincy, Massachusetts. She explained the development of wind turbines in Maine, the strict regulations of the industry and the process of constructing the massive 500-foot tall structures.

After the tour, 4-H members hiked to the top of Saddleback Peaks for a picnic. The field trip was the culmination of several activities 4-H members have been participating in through the winter studying wind power, engineering and designing wind turbine blades.

Anyone interested in enrolling in Franklin County 4-H may contact Tiffany Wing at the Cooperative Extension Office in Farmington at 800-287-1478 or extension.franklin@maine.edu.

Franklin County 4-H members, from left, are Bradley Smith, Joshua Mulcahy, Hannah Mulcahy, Mariah Johnson and Lucia Marble visit the Saddleback Ridge wind farm.