April 4-H Newsletter

Upcoming Dates, Events & Opportunities

New Member Enrollment Deadline: April 1st
Maine 4-H Speak Up Showcase: April 5th
Big E 4-H Sheep Intent to Participate Form Due: April 15th
National Volunteer Week:  April 20-26
4-H Teen Ag Symposium: April 21-22nd (see state news)
Monthly Member Meeting: April 24th, Bridgewater Community Center
County 4-H Scholarships Due: May 1st
Spring Fling: May 3rd, Southern Aroostook Ag Museum
Maine Youth General Livestock Judging Contest: May 9th
Northeast Livestock Expo: May 16 – 18th
Maine 4-H Sheep & Goat Clinic: June 8th
Animal Approval Forms: June 30

Check the Aroostook 4-H Calendar for the most up to date event information.

County News

graphic for 4-H spring fling saturday may 3rdAroostook 4-H Spring Fling

Register on ZSuites by April 28! Registration link

We are so excited to be hosting the Aroostook 4-H Spring Fling for members again this year!  This event will allow our members to explore interests, learn something new, meet up with friends, and prepare for projects and fair activities. This is a free event for all ages, you can even bring a friend. 

Are you looking for information on completing 4-H projects, earning achievements, and other ways to be active in 4-H?  Our 4-H staff as well as many leaders will be there to answer any questions you may have. 

This truly is a DON’T MISS event! 

We have worked very hard to put together a variety of activities and workshops for our members.  The workshops will be led by local volunteers and 4-H staff.  We encourage all our members to attend, whether you can join us for the whole day or just one or two workshops. 

Join us for activities and workshops including…

  • Archery (ages 9-18): Nicole Nelson from Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Greenland Point will offer instruction on archery for our Junior & Senior members.  Shooting sports are a popular 4-H activity and we hope this will spark interest with our members to explore archery and outdoor leadership as a project option. 
  • Supper from the Soil: Miss Carrie, our Aroostook 4-H CEA & Nancy Wright with MAITC will help youth start a container garden, then head to the kitchen to explore how to turn the things we grow into a yummy meal. Container gardens can be taken home and returned to the NM Fair for the Supper from the Soil contest. 
  • Aquaponics: Tess Hureau, Hancock 4-H CEA: Did you know that we can grow many plants without soil? Learn about how aquaponics combines growing fish and plants together. Youth will use their creativity to design and engineer a mini aquaponics system with this hands-on activity! 
  • Touch Tank: Leah McCluskey, Hancock 4-H CEA:  Get up close and personal with fascinating marine creatures at our interactive UMaine Touch Tank! Perfect for all ages, this hands-on experience lets you gently explore tide pool life, from sea stars to hermit crabs. Learn about these amazing animals, their habitats, and the importance of ocean conservation.
  • Farm Safety & Experience: Aroostook Leaders Assoc: Aroostook county saw the largest number of farm related accidents and injuries last year in recent memory.  Whether youth are working/living on a farm, visiting farms, attending fairs, or just being around residential equipment (mowers,compact tractors, ect..), or animals; knowing basic safety practices and awareness is important for the safety of youth and those around them. 

Do you have a friend or family member who wants to learn more about 4-H, this is the perfect event to bring them along. Registration is required.  We are providing all materials needed for the workshops as well as lunch and we need accurate counts to ensure we are prepared. 

Register on the zsuites events (registration link) section or via phone 207.532.6548.  

Aroostook Speak Up Showcase 2025

Our members shared their sparks, skills, and interests with some incredible presentations at this year’s county Speak Up Showcase. Judges, family and friends were treated on a wide range of topics.  

How to Decorate a Trivet, Ainsley P.
How to Start Seeds, Ellie C.
How to Build a Leprechaun Trap, Finn P.
Maple Seed to Syrup, Henry C.
Hip Hop: Urban Beats & Rural Roots, Peyton H.
Milking a Cow, Austin Q.
Vocal Warms Up, Brooke Q.
Speaking for the Sea:  Our Journey with Kelp, Alice Z and Wendy H.

All of our Jr. and Sr members earned scores that qualified them for the state showcase on April 5th, which several will be attending.  We look forward to seeing them shine at the state level.

Additional Opportunities & Event Information

Maine FFA Youth Livestock Judging Contest flyerMaine Youth General Livestock Judging, May 9th, Bangor Fairgrounds

Any Maine youth in grades 6 – 12 are invited to participate in this event, being held in conjunction with the state FFA convention.  

  • Please email megan.cook@maine.edu or call 207-532-6548 if you are interested in attending. 
  • If we have enough local interest we will coordinate transportation and a learning workshop ahead of the event. 

 

 

 

 

graphic for northeast livestock expoNortheast Livestock Expo, May 16-18th 

Shows and events for beef, goat, and sheep will be held Saturday and Sunday. Any teens interested in helping at the Kid’s Day on Friday can reach out to megan.cook@maine.edu or call 207-532-6548. 

More information available on the NELE website. 

 

 

 

computer keyboard and yellow sticky pad with a 4H clover on it and the word scholarship and a penScholarships & Honor Cords for High School Seniors, May 1st

Aroostook members who are graduating high school, can apply for the Wilma Winslow and the Wild Mustangs 4-H scholarships.  Scholarship applications are due to the county office by May 1st. 

If you are interested in receiving a 4-H honor cord for your high school graduation, please complete the 4-H Honor Cord Request Form by May 1st.  

book cover farmer eva's green garden lifeRead ME Ag

Each year Maine Ag in the Classroom chooses a story book focused on agriculture to be shared in elementary classrooms across the state of Maine.  This year’s book is Farmer Eva’s Green Garden Life.  Any members or volunteers interested in visiting a classroom to read can reach out to megan.cook@maine.edu.  Reading can be done independently, with a parent, volunteer, or 4-H staff.  Elementary students love having older youth come to the classroom to spend time with them.  If you are interested in working with kids this is a great opportunity and makes for a great 4-H project.  

 

 

 

Rabbits Free to a 4-H Home

If you are interested in getting started with rabbits or looking to add more rabbits to your colony these would be a great addition. Two Holland Lop bucks both pedigreed, and a Holland Lop doe. There are also 4 kits that are 5 weeks old 3 does and 1 buck. 

The black doe’s ears never lopped, but the chesnut buck is great, show quality and the babies look to be as well. Rabbits come with pedigree papers. 

The owner is a former 4-H’er and is having to rehome them due to a move.  He would love to help a 4-H’er by gifting the rabbits to them.  Please reach out to the office and we will put you in contact with the owner. 

rabbit

 

deer tick on finger nailMaine CDC announces “Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick” Poster Contest 

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) announces the 2025 Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest. This contest is for Maine students in grades K-8th to raise awareness of tickborne disease prevention. The 2025 Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest theme is “Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick.”

Maine CDC encourages students to take tick prevention seriously. Posters should illustrate at least one of the four approaches to personal prevention:

  • Use caution in tick-infested areas
  • Use an EPA-approved repellent
  • Wear protective clothing
  • Perform daily tick checks both by sight and by touch

Maine CDC will choose one winner each from grades K-1st, 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th, and 6th-8th. One winning poster will become Maine CDC’s 2025 Lyme Disease Awareness poster. Visit Maine CDC’s Lyme Disease Awareness Month website for more information, contest rules, and consent forms. All posters must have a signed parent/guardian consent form.

Aroostook Members & Clubs

Aroostook 4-H Members Attend Ag Policy Day in Augusta

Aroostook 4-H was well represented at Ag Policy at the State House on April 18th. 

Lilah N., Ainsley P., & Julia P. were selected to participate in a cohort of ag minded teens that got a behind the scenes look at the workings of the legislature, policy committees, and met with various lawmakers.  The day ended with a seat and the cabinet table with the governor. Read more about them and their day HERE! 

group of youth at the state capital building

girl at the state capital building in augusta maine 4-H girl youth at the state capital

 

4 youth attending an event at the state capital building

 

 

 

 

 

Hannah, Ben, & Sammy C. attended Ag Policy day as part of the 4-H Page Program.  Pages play an important role in the communication between legislators during the day and help the day move smoothly. 

 

The Evergreens

Several of The Evergreen’s members attended a Paint and Sip community fundraiser in Fort Fairfield on March 15 to raise money for a chair rail lift system for special needs kids to access dance classes located on the 2nd floor of the old fire station.  We also had a special guest visit with us. 4-H’er Flat Harold has been visiting our club from Elgin, ND for the last few weeks. The Das Leipzig Kinder 4-H Club has 40 members and are learning about other areas and 4-H clubs within North America.  Flat Harold also got to visit the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, America’s First Mile, and attend horseback riding lessons with a member.

Easton After School Club

Members continued their year long Ag Explorer program last month by learning more about ag products and making some of their own.  Members used milk to make glue to complete a project and many attended the Monthly Member Meeting to make felted wool fabric. 

graphic with balloons and presents wishing our 4-H members born in April a Happy Birthday

State 4-H News
April, 2025

Save the Date – 4-H Summer Learning Series

This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – August 8. Volunteers and staff work together to provide high-quality, hands-on, experiential learning experiences via Zoom. For most workshops, materials are mailed to participants ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate! Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. For volunteers interested in presenting workshops, information will be updated in early March. Sign up for updates on our website.

Ignite Your Passion, Inspire the Future: Become a Summer Learning 4-H Volunteer!

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on young minds while sharing your expertise? Join our Summer Learning 4-H program as a volunteer and experience the joy of nurturing the next Generation! Topics could include: science, engineering, art, photography, coding, baking, and more.  Volunteers will work with a partner to design and deliver virtual programs sometime between July 7th – August 8th. Scheduling is flexible to meet your needs and availability. Learn more by visiting our presenter website or contact 4-hvirtual@maine.edu or call Sarah Sparks at 207.581.8206.

logo maine summer transportation instituteMaine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI)

MSTI is a FREE residential camp offered at the University of Maine for current 6 th – 8 th graders from July 6 – 11, 2025. The camp focuses on transportation-related activities and fields. MSTI is a week-long residential program to allow students from all over the state to participate.  This includes space, roads and bridges, ports, air, and environmental impacts. Activities include building rockets, cars, and bridges; field trips to the Bangor International Airport, Cole Transportation Museum, and Maine Maritime Academy; participating in shows from the Planetarium and the Physics Roadshow; 3D-printing activity (including a tour of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center to see the World’s largest 3D-Printer and the 3D-printed house); Soil/erosion and surveying activities; a Touch-a-truck event, and more. (Activities are subject to change based on weather and availability of funds.) Additionally, students will learn about the different career opportunities within the transportation field, including engineers (environmental, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.), technicians, communications and media, human resources, and so much more.  Visit the MSTI website for more information about the program and registration.

4-H Dairy Judging May 10th

The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on May 10th at Lambert Run Farm in Norridgewock, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2025 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. For a complete schedule for the day please visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/judging/.For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.

Maine 4-H Eastern States Exhibition Sheep Team Intent to Participate Form Now Available

The 2025 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form is now available online and must be submitted by April 15th, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Sheep Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September.  The Eastern States Exhibition (Big E) 4-H Sheep Program brings together 4-H members from six states in Springfield, MA for three days of events that showcase their animals, knowledge & skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2024 and have completed at least one year in a sheep project. Please contact Megan Cook with any questions or for more information at megan.cook@maine.edu or 207-532-6548.

two spotlights with 4-H cloverPublic Speaking Showcase

The state Public Speaking event has a new name! Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website.

 

youth at summer campSummer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove

Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps is now open! We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H experience and continue building awesome skills.  Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.  Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the  program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.  Website: www.umaine.edu/tanglewood  Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu  Phone: 207.789.5868

Open House at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center

4-Hers and families of all ages are invited to learn about the opportunities 4-H has to offer right here in Orono, Maine! There will be fun activities – making seed paper you can plant at home, engineering and testing out straw rockets, and using chemistry to create groovy seaweed lava lamps! This is your chance to meet the Center’s fabulous red-ear slider turtle, Frances, and rumor has it Coral the Seahorse will be making an appearance!  Learn all about our space, our touch tank, 4-H programs, 4-H STEM toolkits, and aquaponics.

No registration is required – just show up on Saturday, April 19 between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at 491 College Ave in Orono, Maine. If you have any questions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.

Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium!

Dates: April 21 – 22, 2025
Location: University of Maine, Orono
Ages: 14 – 18

The 4th annual 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on the University of Maine Orono campus, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state.  Youth will participate in hands-on learning experiences like laboratory examinations of parasites related to animal health, exploring cellulose nano materials from tree pulp at the Process Development Center, a fun activity with Maine Bound Adventure, and much more!

Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation may be available upon request.

Registration:
Current 4-H members can REGISTER HERE. When you are logged into Z Suites, an adult member of the household can find the Ag Symposium under events and complete the required forms.  Youth who are new to 4-H can REGISTER HERE.  For questions regarding the registration process please contact extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.  For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski, 207.622.7546; extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.

Tri-County 4-H Sampler

Do you know someone who may be interested in 4-H? Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset County staff are hosting workshops on the last Tuesday of each month from April to September. There will be different workshops for youth to attend each month; this month, it will be the Straw Rocket STEM Kit. Guardians will have a chance to talk to 4-H staff about youth enrollment and volunteer opportunities. Check back each month for the activity and location. This is a free event. Registration is required via ZSuites, for 4-H members and non-4-H members.
Location: TBD
Date: April 29, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Emily Pigeon at emily.pigeon@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.

graphic of dairy products

April Harvest of the Month is Dairy

Check out the Maine Dairy Resource Page for lessons, activities, books and more!

 

 

 

carrot bread

Mainely Dish:  Carrot Bread

Take a look at this video and recipe, give it a try.