December 4-H Newsletter
Upcoming Dates
Re-Enrollment Deadline: December 31st, returning members must re-enroll on zsuite.
County Cookie Dough Fundraiser Delivery: December 11th
Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign: November 29th – December 15thAroostook Leaders’ Assoc. Mtg: January 5th
Check the Aroostook 4-H Calendar and your club calendars for the most up to date event information.
COUNTY NEWS
Hide & Seek
Mini Ms. Megan will be hiding in each edition of our Monthly 4-H Newsletter. If you find me, send an email to emily.dow@maine.edu with a screenshot or description of my location to be entered in a monthly drawing for a piece of 4-H Swag. The winner of the drawing will be announced in the following edition of the newsletter. Happy Hunting!
Several folks found Ms. Megan Hiding in the Paint & Sip article last month. We drew a name from a hat and the November winner is… CLAIRE ELLIOT. Please contact the office to claim your prize! 532-6548; emily.dow@maine.edu megan.cook@maine.edu
LAST CALL FOR AG CHALLENGE SHEETS
As announced earlier this year, Maine 4-H is celebrating “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with the 4-H Ag Challenge. Many 4-H’ers from around the state have already taken on the challenge and been awarded their commemorative hat.
“Many members completed and turned in challenge forms at local fairs” We encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture. This is the perfect time for our 4-H members to explore the many facets of this dynamic industry. To help you do just that, Maine 4-H has launched the 4-H Ag Challenge! This special challenge is designed to guide members through an exploration of the unique and vast opportunities within Maine agriculture. To complete the challenge, members must complete activities from each section, with the number of required activities varying by age group:
– Cloverbud (ages 5-8): 2 activities per section
– Junior (ages 9-13): 3 activities per section
– Senior (ages 14-18): 4 activities per section
Download the Ag Challenge PDF at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/2025/06/10/4-h-ag-challenge/. Some of these activities you may already be doing! Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at mailto:extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to your local UMaine Extension office. As a special reward for completing the challenge, you will receive a specially designed Maine 4-H Ag Challenge hat! Prizes will be mailed to those who complete the challenge. This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, but time is running out. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity!
Paint! Sip! Share!
4-H members from all over Aroostook county gathered for Paint! Sip! & Share! Families brought their favorite treats to create treat trays to share with community members and organizations they are thankful for and created a fun piece of artwork that is a perfect visual reminder of the importance of having giving hands and a grateful heart. Huge thank you to Pathfinders 4-H Club for facilitating the activities.
Club & Member News
Bridgewater 4-H Cookie Decorating
Thank you to Miss Angie for teaching about Food Safety, & Miss Olivia for teaching about cooking and decorating cookies! We rolled our own “cookies” with clay and playdoh, then decorated some amazing cookies from Olivia! It was an informative and yummy way to kick off the holiday season.
Easton Club
4-H in Action Award
Our first 4-H in Action Award was presented to Liam after our November meeting. This award recognizes youth for showing amazing character and living up to the four H’s of 4-H. Way to Go, LIAM!
Giving Thanks
Easton 4-H Club members spent their November meeting working on identifying community groups and organizations they are grateful for and identifying possible 4-H Projects for the new 4-H year. The members decorated cookies to add to the treat trays that were distributed through the Aroostook 4-H Giving Hands and Grateful Heart activity.
National 4-H Animal Science Career Night, sponsored by the NAE4-HYDP Animal Science Working Group
December 18, 2025
7–8pm EST / 6–7pm CST
FREE for youth in grades 7–13 (ages 12–19)
Join us for an exciting evening with two incredible guest speakers from the animal science industry! Hear real-world career insights, ask questions, and explore future pathways in animal science.
Featured Speakers:
Mr. Jack Ward – Executive Vice President, American Hereford Association
Mr. Sam Cohen – Zoological Supervisor, Busch Gardens (Tampa, FL)
Register by December 17, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
visit https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/…/SV_6Jt5H9mJnKy8En4
State 4-H News
December, 2025
Deadline Extended for National 4-H Trips!
Great news! The application deadline for National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress has been extended to December 14. Youth ages 14–18 are encouraged to apply for these incredible national leadership opportunities.
Trip Dates:
– National 4-H Conference: April 10–15, 2026
– National 4-H Congress: November 27–December 1, 2026
Interviews for both trips will take place the week of December 15. Selected applicants will be contacted with their interview date and time. We encourage all interested youth to take advantage of this extended deadline and apply today!
Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club
Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats, or sheep)? How do we care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program. This is a free opportunity for youth ages 9 – 18. Virtual sessions will be Thursdays, January 22, 29th, February 5, 2026, 4:00-5:15 pm. February 12th will be an optional session for youth who intend to participate in a 4-H livestock project. The final session will be geared towards youth who are beginning their journey into raising livestock. Learn More and Register Here before January 9, 2026.
4-H Public Speaking Update
You asked, we’re excited! Performing Arts demonstrations will now be part of Speak Up, Maine 4-H the statewide Public Speaking Program. From dramatic monologues to musical performances, this creative category is your time to express yourself and share your spark center stage. Performing Arts demonstrations include:
– a spoken introduction
– your performance
– and a spoken conclusion
Specific details, including updated evaluation tools and judges’ support for all categories, will be available soon on the Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff. Stay
tuned!
Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms are Now Available
The 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate form is now available online and must be submitted by January 15, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Youth must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025 and have completed one year in a beef project prior to this year. Please contact Kristen Grondin, kristen.grondin@maine.edu, 207-581-8193, or Cathy Bartlett Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu, 207-743-6329 with any questions.
Market Beef at Fryeburg Fair
The 2026 Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair is now available for eligible youth. The animal must be owned and in the youth’s possession, and the youth must be enrolled in their county by December 31, 2025. More information and the form are available on the Maine 4-H Beef page . Online forms must be submitted, and paper copies must be postmarked by January 6, 2026.
4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips and tricks
Nurturing Sparks (Part 3 of 3)
Once you notice a spark, did you know you can actually help fuel it? 4-H volunteers support youth sparks by facilitating exploration through varied activities, fostering a supportive environment where questions are valued, encouraging exploration, and building relationships that empower youth to discover and develop their passions. Connecting youth with resources, mentors, or new opportunities is a great way to help fuel the spark. Other ideas for you as a 4-H volunteer include:
– Modeling curiosity: Showing your own excitement for learning and discovery can encourage youth to adopt a similar mindset.
– Showing genuine interest: Listening actively to the youth’s thoughts, opinions, and aspirations to build trust and encourage their self-expression can be powerful. Sometimes we all need a sounding board.
– Allowing for silence and space: Giving youth time to think, process information, and formulate their own ideas without the pressure of immediate answers can be helpful. Circling back to a topic after a few weeks, asking if they have given any more thought to something, or inquiring to see how you might help them with a next step, can help youth feel supported.
4-H Volunteer Huddle:
Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00-12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required!
Dec. 5- Delegating/Asking parents and other adults to help
January 2, 2026- Navigating 4-H Curriculum Resources Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: maine.zoom.us/j/82015703524?pwd=QkT05bDbaaDIeYAQ8aGUd4eco5c6Rd.1
Password: volunteer
4-H Volunteer Connections
January 21, 2026 Volunteer Excellence: Recognizing Achievement, Inspiring Growth 6:30-8:00pm
Connect with 4-H volunteers from states in the North East region to hear inspiring 4-H volunteer stories including those recognized through the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award. Come celebrate success, learn from peers, and strengthen your own impact. Free to attend, but registration is required! Register here!
4-H Volunteer Opportunities Calendar:
Find our 4-H volunteer training opportunities on our calendar of events here – scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe to the calendar and never miss upcoming events, workshops, and more!
Resource Spotlight
Do you work with Cloverbuds (youth ages 5-8)? If so, check out these resources! We love our friends at Ohio State University for creating an amazing collection of Click and Do 4-H Cloverbud activities! All organized by themes, there’s something for everyone! A welcoming environment is the cornerstone to a successful 4-H club meeting. Try these Icebreakers for Cloverbuds from Michigan State University! Looking for some holiday craft ideas for younger youth? Check out this Holiday Activity Guide from National 4-H Council- there is even a cookie recipe collection included!
Maine 4-H Ag Challenge Open Through 2025
As announced earlier this year, Maine 4-H is celebrating “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with the 4-H Ag Challenge. Many 4-H’ers from around the state have already taken on the challenge and been awarded their commemorative hat. “Many members completed and turned in challenge forms at local fairs” We encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture. This is the perfect time for our 4-H members to explore the many facets of this dynamic industry. To help you do just that, Maine 4-H has launched the 4-H Ag Challenge! This special challenge is designed to guide members through an exploration of the unique and vast opportunities within Maine agriculture. To complete the challenge, members must complete activities from each section, with the number of required activities varying by age group:
– Cloverbud (ages 5-8): 2 activities per section
– Junior (ages 9-13): 3 activities per section
– Senior (ages 14-18): 4 activities per section
Download the Ag Challenge PDF at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/2025/06/10/4-h-ag-challenge/. Some of these activities you may already be doing! Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at mailto:extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to your local UMaine Extension office. As a special reward for completing the challenge, you will receive a specially designed Maine 4-H Ag Challenge hat! Prizes will be mailed to those who complete the challenge. This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, but time is running out. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity! If you have any questions please contact: Megan Cook,4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County megan.cook@maine.edu 207.532.6548