August, September 4-H Newsletter

Upcoming Dates

Project Records due to the office: September 30th
End Of Year Club Reports due to the office: September 30th
Re-Enrollment Open: October 1st – December 31st, returning members must re-enroll on zsuite.
National 4-H Week: Oct 5th – 11th
4-H Super Sitter Program (Easton Rec): October 7th – 10th
Aroostook 4-H Annual Achievement Event: October 11th
Aroostook Leader’s Assoc. Meeting: November 3rd @ 6:00 pm
4-H Super Sitter Program (SAD #1 Adult Ed): Nov 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, & 19
Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign: November 29th – December 15th
Check the Aroostook 4-H Calendar for the most up to date event information.

County News 

Fun at the Fair! 

Thank you to all our Aroostook 4-H members, volunteers, families, and friends for coming out and supporting the 4-H program at the Northern Maine Fair this year.  The beautiful weather made it an enjoyable time for members to show off their skills, knowledge, and talents in numerous activities over the course of five days. Aroostook 4-H members who participated in the fair should have received premium checks in the mail already. Our members earned a total of $3787.00 in premiums from the Northern Maine Fair, countless ribbons and awards, and most valuable of all…. memories that will last a lifetime. 

 

Super Sitters – 4-H Babysitting Course

Are you interested in babysitting? Do you have younger siblings or family members? Do you want to feel more confident working with kids? This is the perfect 4-H program for you! The Super Sitter Babysitting Course is designed to prepare youth ages 12-16 for babysitting responsibilities.  Participants will discover what is what it takes to be a responsible, caring, trustworthy, competent, capable, and safe babysitter. Teens will learn basic safety measures and how to respond to emergency situations when caring for young children.
*This is not a first aid or CPR certificate course.

Ms. Megan will be hosting two sessions of the Super Sitter Course through community partners. 

Easton Recreation: 

October 7 – 10  – 10am – 12pm  $15 registration fee 

SAD #1 Adult Ed:  

Nov 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, & 19  – 3:15pm – 4:45pm $25 registration fee

Please contact the community partner to register, we will not be accepting registrations through the county office. 

What to know about Project Records- Due September 30th!
4-H Project Records help youth…

Identify and nurture their spark.

  • Embedded within the project record are opportunities for 4-H members to identify and share their spark- what they are passionate about, something that they lose track of time when they are engaged in the activity.

Learn and practice goal management skills.

  • Annually youth describe their project goals and reflect on the successes and challenges. Youth do not just set a goal they describe how they will apply it to current and future situations.

Develop a growth mindset.

  • Youth can have challenges and reflect upon those challenges within their project record. This low-risk exercise is a great way to practice learning new things- sometimes you will be successful and sometimes it may just not go as planned.

Develop self-reflection skills.

  • The PURPOSE of project records is to document not just what you have experienced, but how you will take what you have learned and grow; as a person, as a leader, as a Maine 4-H member. This record is a guide to reflect upon your own personal journey.

Demonstrate skills.

  • The optional project record forms will prepare you with documentation needed for applying for scholarships, national trips and maybe even your first job or college course. Over your 4-H career, using these forms as a method of documentation and organization will better prepare you to create a resume or portfolio of skills.

Important Project Information

  • Due September 30th to the office. 
  • Find them here: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/project-records/ 
  • Can be filled out online and emailed if the members don’t have access to a printer. Hard copies can be requested if leaders/parents don’t have printers. 
  • Pictures are encouraged, especially for cloverbuds. 
  • Cloverbuds (age 5-8) records are a reflection of their year. 
  • Junior/Senior (age 9-18) records are project specific. 
    • Jr/Sr. members can submit more than one record if they have multiple projects. 
  • Members must have a completed project record to be awarded a pin. 
  • Records are also judged for additional awards.

Aroostook 4-H Achievement Celebration 2025

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the annual Aroostook 4-H Achievement Celebration. This is a chance for us to recognize the work 4-H’ers put in over the past year, honor years of membership and service, and celebrate the end of the 4-H year and the beginning of another. Please join us on the UMPI Campus on Saturday, October 11th at 1:00 pm. We will present awards and have ice cream in Wieden Auditorium and then invite families to join us at Gentile Hall for activities. 

Members will be receiving year pins and project pins. Project records are due to the County Office by September 30th, and must be turned in to qualify for a pin. Project records can be filled out digitally and emailed to us. If you need a hard copy please contact the office. A link to the digital version of the records as well as optional supporting records can be found in your monthly newsletter. Junior and Senior records will be judged for additional awards.

We look forward to seeing you on October 11th. 

 

JOIN Aroostook 4-H Youth Council, October 2025

We are excited to announce the return of a great leadership opportunity for our older members: the Aroostook 4-H Youth Council! This council will be a group of engaged 4-H members from across the county who will work together to plan events, provide input on county-level programming, mentor younger members and develop valuable leadership skills.

This is a fantastic way for teens to have their voices heard and take an active role in shaping the future of 4-H in Aroostook County.

Who can join? Any 4-H member who will be 12 years old or older as of January 1, 2026, is eligible and encouraged to participate.

How to get involved: When you enroll for the 2025-2026 4-H year this October, simply select “Aroostook 4-H Youth Council” as an additional club. Joining the Youth Council is a supplement to your regular participation, so you should choose it in addition to your primary club or independent membership.

Due date for enrolling in Aroostook 4-H Youth Council is October 31st (via zsuites), more information about the council’s first meetings and activities will be shared after that date.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Megan.

Club & Member News

Aroostook Valley Baby Beef Club

The Northern Maine Fair was a great success for The Aroostook Valley Baby Beef Club. We kicked off fair week with our annual steak dinner. Despite a half hour delay due to torrential rains, it was a great success! We served 176 steak dinners this year! A new record for us! 

The club members produced some fantastic animals that received high praise at their show. The annual auction brought a grand total of $78,072 for our members! Congratulations to Austin Quimby who earned GRAND CHAMPION and Ellie Taggett who earned RESERVE CHAMPION!  We enjoyed many fun events during the return of the 4H/FFA opening ceremonies and made lots of memories as a club.

We have two members who have moved into Alumni status. We wish Julia and Samuel all the best in their future endeavors!

The future is bright for the Baby Beef Club and we are looking forward to another awesome year!

Easton 4-H Club 

 

Homestead F.R.I.E.N.D.S. of Aroostook

Our club planted potatoes in a bag and here are some pics of that and of the harvested ones.

State 4-H News
August, 2025

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

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 4-H as well as the economy and heritage of our state, 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
4-H Ag Challenge Download (PDF)
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 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, giving you plenty of time to explore!  If you have any questions please contact: Megan Cook, 4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County
megan.cook@maine.edu  207.532.6548

September, 2025

State Youth Council

The Maine 4-H State Youth Council nomination form is now open!The Maine 4-H Youth Council is a chance to step up, speak out, and represent 4-H across our state. As part of this leadership group you’ll connect local and state programs, amplify youth voice in 4-H, and promote 4-H events from Maine to the national stage.

Nominees must be between the ages of 16-24 years of age and must have participated in 4-H for at least 2 years (club, independent, after school, school-based, mentoring or camp program). Nominations are now accepted from 4-H staff and directly from members.

If selected, the requirements of the Youth Council are that members be an active participant (participate in 80% of meetings) and participate in the youth council project chosen for the year. The council meets a total of 6 times per year, 4 on zoom and 2 in person.

Nominations from Extension staff and self-nominations will be accepted.

We are currently looking for youth representation from all counties plus 4-H Camps and Learning Centers and CYFAR/Northstar/OhYea programs.

Nominations are due October 15th.  Nomination Google Form: https://forms.gle/aVrdVavUU6JJVCCL7

Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey: A Path to Making a Difference

Do you know someone passionate about youth development and community involvement? Share this opportunity to learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer through Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey! 4-H volunteers play a crucial role in the program’s success, whether it’s by starting a club, sharing their skills through short-term programs, or helping with local 4-H events.If you or someone you know is thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer, now’s the perfect time to learn more! We’re offering free one-hour virtual sessions to guide potential volunteers on their journey. You can choose from the following sessions:

October 15th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

October 16th from 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Additional session dates and times are available on the program webpage. The informational sessions are free, but registration is required. Be sure to sign up online today! For more information or if you need a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Jennifer Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu or call 207.255.3345.

Help spread the word and encourage others to become part of the 4-H volunteer family!

Join the 4-H Volunteer Huddle!

4-H volunteers are invited to participate in the new monthly training series: the 4-H Volunteer Huddle! These quick, engaging sessions take place virtually via Zoom on the first Friday of each month from 12:00–12:30 p.m.Step onto the sideline for a fast-paced “gather–learn–discuss” session and then jump right back into the game of 4-H! Each month will feature a different topic designed to boost your skills and strengthen your strategy—you choose the sessions that interest you most.The kickoff session will take place on October 3 and is titled, “Goal Setting and Planning for the Year”. Start your 4-H year with confidence! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn simple strategies for setting goals, staying organized, and making the most of your 4-H experience.

Details:
When:First Friday of each month
Time: 12:00–12:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: FreeRegistration Required:
Login to ZSuite and go to Events, or
click here to register (must be logged in to ZSuite).

For more information, to register by telephone or email, or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact: Tara Wood tara.a.wood@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.

Smithsonian 4-History Project Registration Deadline

The deadline to register for the Smithsonian 4-History Project is September 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. In this project, 4-H’ers will conduct research and interviews to learn more about their community and share their findings through a 5-10 minute video project with support from 4-H leaders and the Smithsonian team. The project will last from September 12, 2025, to March 2026. Youth can work on their project solo or with others (either way can work well). All participants will receive workbooks and staff guidance to support their project. We will have regular meetings as a statewide Maine 4-H club to support your progress through your project See the attached flyer for more information! To register for this program, email Andrew Hudacs (hudacs@maine.edu) to let him know you are interested, and he will walk you through the process of getting enrolled.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Andrew Hudacs, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 207.581.8204, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu.