June 4-H Newsletter

Upcoming Dates

4-H Global Grub & Games : June 23rd – 26 (contact Hillary Hallett to register)
Animal Approval Forms & NM Fair Intent Form: June 30
Prepare for Fair Meeting: July 15th 9:00am – 2:00pm at NM Fairgrounds
Northern Maine Fair: July 30th – Aug 3rd

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

County News 

Prepare for FAIR!

northern maine fair graphicBefore we know it, summer will be in full swing and we will be gearing up for another fair season.  4-H’ers are encouraged to participate in fairs as a way to demonstrate their knowledge and practice skills, as well as have fun and make memories that will last a lifetime. 

Our Northern Maine Fair offers a wealth of opportunities for members to participate in various activities throughout the week. The Northern Maine Fair will be held July 30th – Aug 3rd. Please be watching your email for additional information as the schedule is finalized.  All Maine fairs are celebrating Maine’s Year of Youth in Ag, in recognition that our theme for this year is “4-H is Sowing Seeds for the Future.” Please see the exhibit hall handbook for details regarding club displays around the theme.   Please see the 4-H Livestock Exhibitors Handbook for details on showing animals.

 

What will you do at the fair?

New/Returning to the fair this year! 

Fair Reminders: 

  • Some events require prior registration, please check the handbook. 
  • Any 4-H’er bringing livestock on to the fairgrounds must complete the animal approval form, and have in to your 4-H office, no later than June 30th. 
  • Animal lease form must be submitted with the approval form for any leased animals. 
  • Goats and sheep should have scrapie tags to pass state vet inspections. 
  • Little Farmers is always looking for help.  This is a great opportunity for community service hours or a community service project. 

Prepare for Fair Meeting: Tuesday, July 15th, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

All members, volunteers and families are encouraged to join us at the fair grounds on July 15th for a clean up day and fair meeting.  We will be doing some light maintenance and painting, and also go over all the fun ways members can be involved in the fair. 

  • Clean Up starts at 9:00 am
  • Lunch & Meeting 11:00 am (bring a bagged lunch)

This is a great time to ask your questions, work on club displays, make plans, and spruce our section of the fair grounds.  Many hands make light work.  We hope to see you there whether you can stay all day or just for a while. 

Members age 9+ are welcome to be dropped off, cloverbuds must attend with an adult. 

Sowing Seeds for the Future: County Display

seed art

Our county wide 4-H display at the fair will display our members’ creativity with seed art. Members who attended Spring Fling many already received their supplies for the activity.  Please reach out to the office if your member would like to participate and needs supplies.  For those that took materials already, please return those anytime to one of the offices, but no later than July 25th.

 

northern maine fair 2025 schedule

green hat with Maine 4-H Ag Challenge on itMaine 4-H Ag Challenge – Maine 4-H Celebrates “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with New Ag Challenge!

The state of Maine has officially declared 2025 as “The Year of Youth in Agriculture,” an exciting initiative to highlight the vital role young people play in the future of our state’s agricultural landscape. In celebration of this significant declaration, Maine 4-H is thrilled to encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Maine’s economy and heritage, offering a vast array of unique and rewarding opportunities, from traditional farming and livestock management to innovative food production, sustainable practices, and agricultural technology. 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 is launching 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

Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to your local 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 challenge completers. This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, giving you plenty of time to explore!

CLUBS & MEMBERS

Celebrating Our Aroostook 4-H Graduates!

The Aroostook County 4-H program extends its warmest congratulations to all of our high school graduates! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments, hard work, and dedication throughout your years in 4-H. You have demonstrated leadership, cultivated valuable skills, and made significant contributions to your communities.

As you embark on your next adventures, we wish you nothing but the very best. Remember the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the values instilled through 4-H. We are confident that you will continue to achieve great things and make a positive impact on the world.

Good luck, graduates! We can’t wait to see all that you accomplish.

Scholarship Awards 

It is with pleasure that we announce Molly S as the recipient of not one, but three 4-H scholarships, celebrating her outstanding achievements.

Molly will receive: 

The Aroostook County 4-H Wilma Winslow Scholarship, for $500. This scholarship recognizes contributions and dedication to the Aroostook County 4-H program.

The Wild Mustang 4-H Scholarship, for $1,200. This scholarship is particularly special as it’s awarded from Molly’s 4-H club and is based on high school merit, leadership, years of enrollment in 4-H, and dedication to equine projects. 

And finally, we are thrilled to announce that Molly has also received the statewide Maine 4-H Azure Dillon Scholarship for $1,500! This memorial scholarship is awarded to a Maine 4-H’er who demonstrates academic and 4-H achievement. 

happy birthday graphic for June

 

Easton 4-H Afterschool Club

Easton 4-H’ers met twice last month and worked on their club exhibit for this year’s Northern Maine Fair.  Two of the oldest club members shared how they have participated in the fair over the past couple years with the younger members.  Many of them were excited to learn they could earn premiums for participating in fair activities and bringing submissions to the exhibit hall. Members also worked on Seed Art for the County 4-H display. 

two females giving away tomato plantsThe One Tomato Project giveaway was a great success

We gave away 200 cherry tomato plants between the Presque Isle and Houlton Tractor Supply stores.  Thank you to Tractor Supply for allowing 4-H to be in your stores to give these plants away and a big thank you to Neil Thompson and the  University of Maine Fort Kent for growing and providing these plants for us.

The One Tomato Project is a program encouraging people to grow at least one tomato plant this year.  This initiative is proudly supported by the University of Maine at Fort Kent, UMaine Cooperative Extension Staff and 4-H volunteers and members.

State 4-H News
June, 2025

4-H Summer Learning Series – Register Now!

Maine 4-H is back with another exciting year of hands-on virtual programming with the 4-H Summer Learning Series!  There are workshops for all age ranges!
Cloverbuds can check out barnyard animals or animals under the sea!  Go from the garden to the kitchen to learning about the weather!
Youth ages 9 – 11 have lots of fun opportunities too!  From a day at the spa to designing a flood-resistant community, or go from embroidering a design to dissecting a squid or an owl pellet! There are so many diverse options!
Ages 12 and up have plenty to do as well! Adulting 101 is back for another year of building relationships and learning life skills!  You could also learn to paint Ukrainian eggs, or boost your babysitting skills.  Registration opens for enrolled Maine 4-H members Friday, May 23, 2025, and then to all youth starting June 2. Registration is first-come, first-serve – so sign up soon!  Register Now.

Adulting 101 is Back!

This summer we’re going to start packing our bags to hit the road to adulthood. Join teens from across the state in this virtual series designed to introduce real world skills necessary for #adulting. Registration opens May 23rd through the Summer Learning Series, open to all Maine youth ages 13 to 18, and closes June 10 on the event webpage: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/summer-learning/  
For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact 207.324.2814; erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu

Skip the Stress – Get Into College with 4-H Direct Admissions!

Great news for Maine 4-H high school juniors and seniors: applying to college just got a whole lot easier. With 4-H Direct Admissions, you can be automatically considered for admission to all seven of Maine’s Public Universities—no Common App, no test scores, no essays, no recommendations, and no application fees required!  If you’re enrolled in any 4-H program in Maine, you’re eligible. Just click to opt in, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Click here to opt in. We will do the rest. Click here to learn more about 4-H Direct Admissions
This is your future—made simple. #BeyondReady

Make Your Voice Heard – 4-H Annual Index Survey Now Open!

We’re inviting youth ages 12–18 to take part in the National 4-H Annual Index Survey—a brief, 8-minute survey that helps measure the impact of 4-H across the country. By participating, your child’s voice will help shape the future of 4-H in Maine and beyond.  Survey Deadline: June 30, 2025 Take the survey here: https://4hcouncil.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_envLlXgHZyRJGXs
By submitting the survey, you’re giving permission for your child to participate. Youth can choose to stop the survey at any time. Let’s make sure Maine youth are represented—thank you for supporting this important effort!

Fryeburg Fair 4-H Market Lamb Intents Due June 5th

Intent forms for Fryeburg Fair market lambs are now available online. Market Lambs must be owned and in possession of 4-H’er by June 1, 2025, and must be a castrated male. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must meet the following requirements: Send Intent to Sell Form, original bill of sale/value of lamb statement, and  pictures of your
animal (front and side view) to your county office by June 5th.  Animal approval forms for lambs must include the scrapie tag number and list “Fryeburg Sale” as the show class.
Additional requirements as well as the fillable online form can be found online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/fryeburg-fair-regulations-for-market-steers-and-market-lambs/.
For more information please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or the State 4-H Office at 207.581.3877.

2025 ESE Working Steer Information

The 2025 4-H ESE Working Steer Tryout information as well as updated team information can be found online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/. New this year are ESE Working Steer Intent forms, updated tryout requirements, team apprentice guidelines, and volunteer interest forms. If you have any questions, please contact Hillary Arsenault, ESE coordinator,
at maineworkingsteer@gmail.com; 207-592-3320 or Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971.

Save the Date: Maine 4-H State Dairy Show July 18 – 20

The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will be held on July 18-20th at the Windsor Fairgrounds. All 4-H dairy project members are invited to attend. There will be a grilled cheese cookoff, a milkshake making contest, and a fitting contest on Saturday followed by a show on Sunday. For more information visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/maine-4-h-state-dairy-show or contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

Smithsonian 4-History Project and 4-H Youth Have A Voice!

We currently have openings for the Smithsonian 4-History Project as part of the 4-H program Youth Have A Voice. In this project, 4-H’ers will conduct research and interviews to learn more about their community and share their findings through a video project with support from 4-H leaders and the Smithsonian team. The project will last from August 2025 to March 2026. See the attached flyer for more information!  Additionally, we have openings in the “traditional” 4-H Youth Have a Voice program for Maine teens (14 -19 years old or entering high school in the fall) who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Participants will learn leadership skills and ways to take part in civic action by completing a service project in a topic of their interest. Topics can range from agriculture, aquaculture, STEM education, animal care, renewable energies, disaster preparation, environmental conservation, food security, and more.  Interested teens should be ready to work both independently and with groups of peers and adults. High school teens can register for the program by completing a non-competitive application found on the program webpage. A three credit Early College course at UMaine in leadership development may also be available for interested students. If you have any questions, please free to contact Andrew Hudacs, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, (207) 581-8204, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu.

Fast, Affordable, and Impactful: Financial Literacy Training for Mainers

The Maine Business School and University of Maine Cooperative Extension have launched Finances in a Flash, a self-paced online course designed to boost financial literacy in under two hours. Priced at just $24.99, the course covers key financial management topics such as budgeting, cash flow, emergency fund planning, and interpreting financial statements. It’s ideal for small business owners, new agricultural producers, aspiring entrepreneurs, freelancers, professionals, and students entering the workforce.  Participants who complete the course earn a Finances in a Flash micro-badge, a digital credential that signifies proficiency in the basics of financial literacy and business finance. These micro-badges support stackable, skill-based learning and align with the University of Maine System’s commitment to accessible, career-relevant education. Take a proactive step toward financial confidence—register now or contact Laura Wilson at laura.wilson@maine.edu or 207.581.2971 for more information.

leafy greens collageHarvest of the Month – June is Maine Leafy Greens!

Check out the Leafy Greens Resource Page.

 

 

 

The “Secret Ingredient” Dip That Will Win Everyone Over

June 12, 2025  Recipes, Spoonful

— By Alex Gayton, Assistant EFNEP Coordinator & Social Media Coordinator, Expanded Food Nutrition and Education Program (EFNEP), University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Visit the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s recipe website for the Cinnamon Yogurt Dip recipe and recipe video.