February 4-H Newsletter
February 4-H Newsletter 2025
Upcoming Dates & Events
County 4-H Pop Up Meeting: February 13th, 4:00 pm at the Easton Rec Hall
Aroostook Speak Up Showcase: March 15th, 10:00am, Houlton Extension Office Showcase Zsuite Registration
Maine 4-H Ag Ambassador’s Spring Cohort Begins: March 4th (register via zsuites)
County 4-H Pop Up Meeting: March 25th, 6:00 at the Presque Isle Office
State 4-H Speak Up Showcase: April 5th
4-H Teen Ag Symposium: April 21-22nd
Spring Fling: May 3rd
Check the Aroostook 4-H Calendar for the most up to date event information.
County News
Opportunity Spotlight!:
Explore Veterinary Science & Animal Science Cattle Academy with UMASS
UMass 4-H is inviting Maine 4-H members to participate in two weekend workshops for animal and veterinary science.
The Explore Vet Science will take place on Saturday, June 14th and Sunday, June 15th at the UMASS Farm facilities in Hadley, MA. Participants will get hands-on animal experience, working with UMASS faculty and staff, to learn about the work of the veterinarian and career opportunities in animal and veterinary science. There will be an overnight dorm option available. This program is for youth ages 13-18.
The Animal Science Cattle Academy will take place on Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 22nd at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Northampton, MA. This event is for any 4-Her with a dairy, beef, or working steer project. Participants will learn fitting, showing, and other aspects of their project from several experts from across the northeast! Youth are invited to bring their projects to the academy. However, we may have a local dairy farm to provide dairy heifers this year!
Maine 4-H’ers interested in these events should complete the appropriate interest forms below to receive additional information and registration information once schedules have been finalized.
Explore Vet Science: https://forms.office.com/r/Wec5U3Bnca
Animal Science Cattle Academy: https://forms.office.com/r/5TNYM5wjwh
Aroostook 4-H Pop Up Meetings
County pop up meetings are held monthly (location varies), and open to ALL Aroostook County 4-H’ers. These meetings are a fun way to learn more about 4-H, meet other members, and try something new.
February Pop Up Meeting Agenda
6:00 pm: Opening & Pledge
6:15 pm: New year, New Project Record
6:30 pm: 4-H Pillar Activity- FELTING FUN
- When thinking of wool we often think about knitted or crocheted items like sweaters or mittens, but wool fabric or FELT is used in countless applications such as clothing, insulation, and musical instruments. Join us to learn more about the wonderful world of wool felt and make a piece for yourself.
- Great 4-H Project or exhibit hall item.
7:00 pm: Q&A and closing
Please reach out if you plan to attend via zoom, and we will send you the link.
* Cloverbud members (age 5-8) must be accompanied by an adult.
* Members must have completed enrollment forms.
* If you plan to attend virtually and need materials for the activity, please let us know 5 days prior to the meeting so we can mail or arrange pickup of materials.
Speak Up Showcase
Do you have a talent, interest, skill, or information to share? Maine 4-H is ready to hear our members SPEAK UP!
4-H Public speaking is open to members of all ages and interests. It’s a fun way to get comfortable communicating and presenting, as well as a great way to build life-skills that serve youth well in various aspects of their lives and futures.
Aroostook 4-H Speak Up Showcase: March 15th, 10:00 am, Houlton Register HERE!
State 4-H Speak Up Event: April 5th, UMaine Campus (open to qualifying junior & senior members)
Aroostook 4-H Spring Fling
Save the Date: May 3rd, 2025
Aroostook 4-H members and families are invited to join us for a day of fun learning opportunities aimed toward helping youth ignite new sparks and develop skills within the 4-H Program. Workshops will be held throughout the day on a variety of topics and staff and volunteers will be available to answer any questions. We will once again be hosting Spring Fling at the Southern Aroostook Ag Museum in Littleton.
Plans are being finalized, and more information will be available soon.
State 4-H News
February, 2025
Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors-Spring 2025
Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2025 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 14-18 who are interested in any aspect of agriculture. Youth spend time getting to know each other and learn both online and in-person in sessions facilitated by UMaine 4-H Staff and community partners. Sessions will focus on career exploration, exploring the Maine Food System with farm and production visits around the state, and building relationships with industry professionals. This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Mook Sea Farm and Aquaculture and the anaerobic digester at Stonyvale Farm (one of the largest in the US!). Check them both out! Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request.
In addition to the multi-week session, youth will serve in their ambassador role with Maine 4-H for at least 1 year. Youth will pick an agricultural area to focus on (ex. livestock, ag literacy/food systems, environmental stewardship, ag and health) during their term and explore leadership opportunities locally, statewide, and even nationally. Register today! To register visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/ag-leadership. For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or 207.622.7546.
Spring 2025 dates
Online: March 04, March 11, March 25, April 1 & April 15
In-person: March 22 and March 29
Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine: April 21-22 (optional overnight) No cost paid and transportation assistance may be available.
Public Speaking – Save the Date
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 soon. Please contact your local county office for information about your local events happening soon.
Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise: From Sap, to Syrup, to Sales Maple Sugaring 101
Also known as Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise, is a 7-week hybrid program open to Maine youth ages 9 to 18 who are interested in learning about the entire maple sugaring process and how to create a commercial grade syrup. Participants will learn about forest management, tapping trees, transporting sap, using an evaporator, grading and storing syrup, and operating a maple sugaring business. Each week, participants will learn about the process and connect with other young maple sugar makers through online meetings and in-person workshops led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension experts. Online meetings are scheduled for weekday evenings, 5pm-6pm on February 13, February 27, and March 13. On-site workshops will be held at participating sugarhouses at times available for sugarhouse hosts and volunteers.
This program will also prepare youth for a new Level 1 digital badge called Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise. Youth who complete the program will get free access to the learning modules to earn the digital badge. Club leaders who would like to have their club participate in this program, please contact Andrew Hudacs by Friday, February 7, 2025 (extended!): andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204.
Youth who are interested in the program but are not a member of a participating club are welcome to register. Travel beyond their home county may be required to attend onsite sessions if a sugarhouse is not available locally. Please contact andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204 as soon as possible if you do not already have a host sugarhouse that are planning to visit for the program. For more information, please visit the Maple Sugaring 101 webpage: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/annual-events/maple-sugaring-101/.
Become a 4-H Tick Project Mentor!
We are looking for volunteers to guide youth in learning about ticks and community science through the 4-H Tick Project. Mentors will: Facilitate hands-on learning experiences through 4-H activities in classrooms, after-school programs, and/or community events. Model tick collection protocols and identification techniques. Share best practices for tick safety with young people. Make a valuable contribution to their communities. No prior experience with tick science is required. The training will provide all the necessary knowledge and resources. This opportunity requires volunteers to work with educators and youth in various learning environments, including outdoors in tick habitat. For more details and to register for the training, please visit: extension.umaine.edu/hancock/tick-project/volunteer. The deadline to register for the training is March 30, 2025.
Do You Know Someone Who is Interested in Becoming a 4-H Volunteer?
Tell them about Start Your 4-H Journey! University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on February 21 & 28 from 12 – 1 p.m. “Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired. Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our website. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley, jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.
Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Contest For Androscoggin/Sagadahoc, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset Counties.
Join other 4-H youth for a Regional Public Speaking contest at UMA in Augusta on March 8th (March 9th snow date) at Jewett Hall at 9:30. We welcome 4-Her’s of all ages, including Cloverbuds. Youth from other counties are also invited to participate. Introducing a new category for fun (non-judged)! Show off your singing, dance, theater, drawing, or recitation talents. Youth are invited to present a talent during the regional public speaking event after formal presentations have concluded. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to participate. Register online.
Want to know more information about Public Speaking? Check out this link: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/public-speaking/. Contact: Tara Marble (tara.marble@maine.edu) at the office if you have questions or need an accommodation.
Summer 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
4-H Volunteer Connections: Register Today!
We are offering THREE virtual interactive sessions this winter for all 4-H volunteers! Join us for regional training and networking opportunities with 4-H volunteers from our 13 states in the North East Region! Session topics include the following: – Building Connections for Success – February 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm – Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm To read more about each session and register, go to this link! https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteer-connections/
Sign up for one, two, or all three! Sessions are free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu We hope to see you there!
2025 Engineering Week Expo
The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) Engineering Expo will be held Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. This family-friendly FREE event invites the community to explore the world of engineering through demonstrations and hands-on activities. The 4-H Science and Engineering Center will be there along with Maine engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies who are invested in engaging young minds in career pathways involving engineering. For more information on the Engineering Expo please go to the website: https://www.engineeringme.com/expo.Maine Science Festival
Maine Science Festival
The Maine Science Festival will be held March 19-23 times TBD in February at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please go to the website: https://www.mainesciencefestival.org/.
Public Speaking Workshops
As we move into 2025, many counties will be hosting workshops for youth who are interested in participating in Public Speaking. As more information is available, it will be posted on the public speaking website. Oxford County – February 20, 2025, Piscataquis County will be hosting a Public Speaking SPIN club in the place of a workshop, and youth from other counties are welcome to attend. Dates TBD. Washington County – Date TBD
Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from 4-H
Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required. Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complementary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth. The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies. To register for a virtual field trip, visit extension.umaine.edu/hancock/aquaculture/vft. For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.
4-H Science Toolkits
Maine 4-H has a lending library of 4-H Science toolkits. These come with activities and materials around a variety of topics. Recent additions include: – eBird Explorers, exploring Ornithology for Cloverbuds– Harmful and Shifting Species, which examines species impacting the Maine coast– Power Protectors, which involves exploring energy use and an introduction to renewable energy through engineering design challenges. Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions.
4-H Dairy Quizbowl – Save the Date!
The 2025 Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts will be held on March 1st at the Randall Student Center at the University of Maine Augusta. The contest will start at 10:00 AM with the written exam, followed by the individual questions portion and then the buzzer rounds. This event will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. The top four eligible 4-H members will be selected to represent Maine 4-H at The Big E in the regional dairy quizbowl contest in September. Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts are open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18. If you plan on attending please notify Sadee Mehuren via email at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event. For more information on the event including the contest rules, please visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy-quizbowl/.
ESE 4-H Dairy Intent Forms Available Now!
The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team next fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before March 1, 2025. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.
Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education, this participation includes traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all. To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the Maine 4-H Foundation website. Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 3, 2025.
Save the Date: Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE)
The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place from May 16 – 18, 2025 at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. More information can be found on their website, and entry forms and schedules will be available in 2025.
February Harvest of the Month is Root Vegetables
Check out all the great information from Maine Ag in the Classroom.
Ask EFNEP: Three Tips to Add Vegetables to Breakfast
— Chris Finemore, EFNEP Community Education Assistant, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
“I want vegetables for breakfast.” … said no child ever.
When I read the question about how to add vegetables to breakfast, I realized it probably wasn’t a common request from kids and adults. When I asked local schoolchildren if they eat vegetables for breakfast the common response was, no. One child told me he could eat cucumbers for breakfast if he had to. Vegetables are a great addition to breakfast, even cucumbers. Click on the link above and check it out.