Oh YEA! 4-H Youth Engaged in Agriculture

A youth development initiative in Maine and Vermont, sponsored by the USDA-NIFA.

Oh YEA! 4-H leads to a reimagined youth development outreach system that will prepare young people for careers in agriculture and food sciences, and support youth programs like 4-H. This project will produce future leaders and advocates of food production and healthy living regionally, nationally, and internationally. The research data will inform Extension and other youth development professionals how to better include all youth and adults. 

The University of Maine, in partnership with:

• Somali Bantu Community Association, Androscoggin County, Maine
• Khmer Maine Cambodian Community, Cumberland County, Maine
• Mano en Mano, Washington County, Maine

The University of Vermont, in collaboration with 

• SEA (Student Education Assistance), at Brattleboro Union High School, Windham County, Vermont
• AALV, Chittenden County, Vermont

provides experiential learning, practical knowledge and life skill development to hundreds of youth. 

The University of Maine was awarded a grant to support Oh YEA! by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America program. Other grantees are centered at North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, and Oregon State University. For more information about other programs, visit the YEA National Coordinator Website.

To contact UMaine or UVM staff about projects at specific sites:

Androscoggin County, Maine
Margaruette Seguin
Community Partner: Somali Bantu Community Association

Cumberland County, Maine
Dana Dotson
Community Partner: Khmer Maine

Washington County, Maine
Jason Palomo
Community Partner: Mano en Mano

Chittenden County, Vermont
Jacob Holzberg-Pill
Community Partner: AALV, Inc.

Windham County, Vermont
Camille Kauffman
Community Partner: Student Education Assistance