November 2024 4-H Newsletter
4-H Happenings
A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members
Table of Contents
Upcoming Dates| County News | Club News | State News | Leaders Meeting Minutes
Upcoming Dates to Remember
November 11 – Veteran’s Day – Extension Office Closed
November 12 – 4:00 Mystery Water Quality Workshop at the Extension Office!
November 12 – 4-H Leaders’ Banquet
November 20 – County Re-enrollment Deadline
November 28 & 29 – Thanksgiving – Extension Office Closed
November 29 through December 15 – Paper Clover at Tractor Supply
December 30 – State Deadline for Re-enrollment – No Exceptions
County News
Cloverfest Recognition Celebration
What an absolutely magical day celebrating our county at Cloverfest. We’re so thankful for everyone who came to recognize the amazing achievements of our 4-Hers and volunteers! As I’m sure all who attended know, we had a blast! If you couldn’t be there, here’s what you missed…
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- “Sea glass & salt dough creations at Cloverfest!”
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- “Hancock County 4-H Staff”
The Highlights: We celebrated 4-H youth who have shown up in the past year by getting involved in various events, growing in their goals, and being kind and helpful to others. We have some fantastic youth in Hancock County 4-H and are grateful to be a part of their journey. From public speaking to project records, these youth put in the work and should be proud of themselves!
We celebrated volunteers who have helped to make this county a more inclusive and caring place for kids! We’ll be sharing about the amazing milestones some of our volunteers have reached this year in the next newsletter issue.
Lastly, we dove head-first into a sea of exciting workshops! We’re so grateful to the amazing volunteers who joined us to lead these sessions, sparking curiosity and creativity in our youth. The Jolly Juniors showed others how to craft salt dough decorations, and we loved seeing the imaginative sea creature creations that emerged! Two hands-on engineering workshops challenged our youth to design boats sturdy enough to carry added weight and “plankton” to float steadily in the water column.
Our friends at the Shaw Institute taught kids about the impact of microplastics with an interactive activity that simulated how different marine animals eat—revealing just how challenging it is for wildlife to avoid microplastics in their food. Staying true to our ocean theme, the 4-H Touch Tank made an appearance, giving our 4-Hers a chance to get up close with local coastal creatures.
We were also thrilled that our youth could try out the VR headset and embark on a virtual field trip to the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research. And for anyone needing a break, we had quiet marine-themed puzzle activities, along with a friendly game of cornhole and a photo booth to wrap up a day filled with discovery and fun.
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- “Crafting plankton & testing boyancy.”
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- “Scoping out the touch tank!”
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- “Shaw Institute and the impact of microplastics.”
Steer Ticket Seller: We must also call out Maesen H for being our #1 fundraiser this year. Maesen sold the most steer tickets in the county, and we expect her to be back next summer to defend her title! I know there are a few 4-Hers looking to be competition, haha! Thank you, Maesen, for putting in the time and effort to get out there and sell. It’s your actions that allow us to continue to bring fun events and workshops to Hancock County.
Dwight Sargent Citizenship Award: This award is presented to a youth who demonstrates the leadership, skill, and community involvement that 4-H is all about. We simply can’t help but call out this youth for her professionalism, hard work, kind heart, and dedication to 4-H at the Blue Hill Fair this year. The youth we are presenting the award to this year is Alexis M. Lexi, who not only helped 4-H staff and volunteers prepare for the long weekend ahead of them but also had a hand in helping to educate other youth about 4-H with her club at the workshop they hosted. The Service Squad spent some time at the 4-H Activity Tent and shared their love of crafting with other kids at the fair. Lexi showed patience and care to all the youth she worked with that day. She also played a role in helping to kickstart a new tradition for the fairgrounds: a scarecrow decorating competition! We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention her help before the fair selling steer tickets at Tractor Supply, helping office staff prepare crafts to bring along, working with volunteers to prepare the 4-H Food Booth, and offering kind words of positivity to whoever around her needed to hear them! Thank you, Lexi, for being a leader in Hancock County 4-H and a role model to those around you.
Razor Crossman Showmanship Award: The Razor Crossman Award asks a lot of its candidates throughout the Blue Hill Fair. This award is presented to a 4-H youth who demonstrates a variety of livestock-related skills. When the committee decides on a recipient, they examine the behavior of the youth throughout the fair, the respect and care they show to their animals and stalls, how they interact with the public, if they’re willing to answer questions and educate those around them, and many other essential life skills. The youth selected this year is Amelia C! From educating the public about her livestock to caring for the animals she brought along, it’s amazing that Amelia found time for anything else at the fair… but she did! Amelia eagerly pitched in at the Steer Ticket Booth, drawing in fair-goers with her adorable calf. She also looked to the future, advocating for a new mini-livestock event and joining in the Ag Olympics. On top of that, she was a tremendous support to fellow livestock presenters and the 4-H team at the Goat Booth. Thank you, Amelia, for all the time, effort, and enthusiasm you put into making the fair a fantastic experience for everyone!
Leadership in Action
The 4-H Leadership in Action Award is given by the Hancock County Extension Association as a way to recognize a youth who goes above and beyond for Hancock County. In 4-H we regularly recognize youth for developing skills and knowledge, but this award is unique in that we recognize a member who has put those skills and knowledge into action and as a result, has become a leader among her peers and in her community. The recipient this year is 4-H youth Margaret Mae R.G! Margaret Mae has been in 4-H her whole life, and it shows. She is an incredibly kind and giving individual who exemplifies hard work and dedication. She has given back to the county in more ways than one. By leading 4-H workshops, mentoring other youth, welcoming 4-H Camp Tanglewood to her farm, and so much more, Margaret Mae truly does strive to “Make the Best Better.”
4-H Afterschool Workshops
Last month, a few 4-Hers joined Leah at the office for a photography workshop. We learned about the rule of thirds and ways to focus your camera on the subject of your photo. Then we took our cameras outside and put what we learned into practice. After, youth had some time to plan a photo they are inspired to take based on what they learned! Leah also led a crafty web art activity to celebrate Halloween at the Ellsworth Public Library. Youth created gorgeous spiderwebs out of sticks and yarn to display at home for the holiday season.
This month, the office will be offering a water science workshop! Put on your detective hats and join Leah and Tess on Tuesday, October 12, from 4:00-5:00 pm for a mystery water quality lab. See you there!
Hancock County’s National 4-H Award!
We are so excited to share that Hancock County has won a NATIONAL 4-H AWARD! Our 4-H team has been recognized for our 2023 social media campaign to gather stories from the community about our love for 4-H. Huge congratulations to our Administrative Specialist, Andrea Mahoney, who spearheaded this work and accepted the award this month at the 4-H National Convention in Idaho. If you are one of our treasured community members who shared their stories, this award wouldn’t be possible without you!
Re-enrollment
Another 4-H year has begun! Andrea has sent out ZSuite instructions, so take a look through your inbox for help! All volunteers and members must complete re-enrollment by November 20. If you are experiencing issues using the online portal, ZSuite, please contact Andrea at andrea.mahoney@maine.edu or 207-667-8212 so we can help you through the process. You can also visit 4h.zsuite.org to get started!
Club News
Horse of Course: This month, two of our Horse of Course members went to Lee Sargent’s home to learn about showmanship with her horse Chubbs. The girls learned about how to groom horses and were even able to pick out one of his hooves with assistance from Lee. Afterwards, we all went to Carrier’s Take Out for ice cream. A sweet treat to end a sweet day!
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- “Lead the way!”
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- “Chubbs is the Best!”
Pine Tree Pioneers: At our first meeting, the Pine Tree Pioneers took advantage of the lovely fall weather and explored the outdoors! To start, we partook in a little leaf peeping while searching for the items in our natural scavenger hunt. We learned about some of the plants we can find locally, and cool ways to identify them. Did you know sweet fern has a smell!? After a quick snack and learning a bit more about what it means to be in 4-H, the crew took another stroll to check out some other living things in our ecosystem. Ms. Carla took the group through the field to catch and identify other insects, and Ms. Leah used a big net to fish out exciting organisms from the pond. She even caught a tadpole! To finish off the day, we all shared what we were most excited to do in our new 4-H club: crafts, baking, more exploring, and making time for our friends. Can’t wait for next month’s meeting!
Jolly Juniors: We are slowly getting back into the groove! Some of our members finished their project records. We have a few pictures being entered into the Photo Contest. The Jolly Juniors have been providing refreshments for the Annual Turkey Shoots sponsored by the Waltham Eastbrook Youth Association.
Service Squad: At our October meeting, the Service Squad talked about ways to fundraise for the Hancock County SPCA. We decided to plan a raffle event where the prizes are various pet supplies. We plan to hold the raffle in front of Tractor Supply during Paper Clover. The club will also contact local pet stores and other businesses to donate items for the raffle. The club took some time to “practice our ask” and will spend our next meeting putting it to use! If you would like to help with our fundraiser in any way (sharing unused pet toys, donations, volunteering your time, etc), please contact Leah at leah.mccluskey@maine.edu.
State News
Tractor Supply Company Paper Clover Campaign Launches This Month: This season’s Paper Clover campaign will officially launch on Friday (November 29) and will run through December 15, showcasing 4-H during the busiest retail period of the year! Funds raised through the campaign are used to support 4-H Leadership activities and camp scholarships. Also limited edition, collectible 4-H holiday ornaments are also available in Tractor Supply stores nationwide. Featuring three unique designs, 100% of the funds raised from ornament sales will benefit 4-H.
Registration is Open for 4-H Teen Leadership Civic Engagement Program – Youth Have a Voice: Youth Have a Voice is a program for teens and recent high school graduates who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Youth will learn leadership skills and ways to participate in civic action by completing a service project on a topic of their interest.
Youth projects will be in one of the three categories:
– Public Service Leader: Carry out a community service project of their choosing.
– Youth Board Member: Join a board or advisory council as a youth representative.
– Policy Leader: Provide input to a policy or rule being developed.
The program is open for teens ages 14+ years old or who have entered high school in the fall of 2024. Teens are matched with adult mentors and 4-H staff advisors to provide guidance on their projects, assist their learning of civic processes, and plan ways to meet project goals. The total time commitment may vary from 30 to 80 hours, depending on the type of project. Monthly statewide program meetings will be online via Zoom and occasional in-person gatherings will be scheduled for participant availability at central locations.
The program will admit new members in fall/early winter 2024 as resources become available. Interested teens will need the following items to register for the program:
– Fill out the application form
– Two letters of recommendation from adults who are not related to the applicant.
– Brief description (100 to 500 words) about why you are interested in this program.
– A signed Program Requirement Summary Form.
Registration is open through Saturday, November 23, 2024. To register or learn more, visit our website. Individuals with questions or who need to request an accommodation, please contact Andrew Hudacs, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204.
Congratulations to the 4-H Sheep Team: Seven Maine 4-H Members and fifteen of their Sheep proudly represented Maine at the Eastern States Exhibition this year. Members took home some impressive awards including Champion Showmanship, Clara D.; Champion Lead Line, Laney K.; Champion Bred & Owed Ewe, Thomas F., First Place, Educational Display; as well as numerous ribbons in breed classes, skill-a-thon, and the lamb cook off. Above all the members were able to connect with youth from other states and enjoy their time at the Big E. Highlights included riding on the 4-H float during the parade and taking a spin on the Sky High Super Wheel with fellow members from Massachusetts, Connecticut & Rhode Island.
Ignite by 4-H: Spark your imagination and passion! Join us from across the U.S. in Washington, D.C. for Ignite by 4-H! The four-day interactive summit helps teens find their spark through inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, off-site experiences, career exploration, and connecting with peers as an inclusive teen event in March 2025.
Who is eligible: All 4-H enrolled youth of high school age (14-18)
When is the event: March 12-16, 2025
Where: Washington DC metro area at the Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C.
Timeline: Applications need to be completed by December 23
Cost: The Maine 4-H Foundation has graciously funded the majority of the registration and travel costs for youth. Youth will be responsible for $300 towards the cost of the trip. We encourage
youth to reach out to the county offices and programs to seek additional funding support. If youth need help or assistance, please contact tara.marble@maine.edu.
Ignite is a step forward in the journey of becoming beyond ready. At Ignite, teens collaborate, create, and cultivate a passion for expanding their minds and their world—becoming resilient and READY for everything life has to offer. The possibilities are endless at Ignite by 4-H. Ignite will include:
- High impact programming featuring immersive workshops and experiences, renowned speakers and industry leaders
- Career exploration and work readiness opportunities
- Networking and connection with like-minded peers
- Skills to drive community impact
- D.C. area experiences and activities
Other info can be seen on the official website here: https://4-h.org/events/ignite-by-4-h/
Applications can be found here. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact tara.marble@maine.edu.
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.
Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey: University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on November 12 & 19 from 6 – 7 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.
4th Annual Maine STEM Film Challenge: Join us for our 4th annual Maine STEM Film Challenge! Hosted by the STEM Outreach program at the University of Southern Maine, the Maine STEM Film Challenge is a fantastic fall semester opportunity open to students of any level. This challenge is self-paced and very easy to get started with.
Divisions Include:
– K-3 grades
– 4-5 grades
– 6-8 grades
– 9-12 grades
– Any college grade
Teams of 1 to 10 students storyboard, design, edit, and produce a 3 to 10 minute informational, multimedia video about any STEM topic of their choice. Films are evaluated on content, production quality, artistic merit, and accessibility. Groups of any kind are welcome to participate, including schools, community groups, and families.
Full challenge description, rules, rubrics, and past winning videos are available on the Maine STEM Film Challenge website: MSFC Website. If you’d like to be kept in the loop during the challenge season, click on the “Pre-Registration” link to get started! For more information, email msfc@maine.edu. Registration deadline is November 11, 2024.
Leaders’ Meeting Minutes
Hancock County 4-H Leaders Meeting of October 8th 2024
Attendees: Lisa Carney, Terry Swazey, Elaine Gokey, Lee Sargent, Ken Silsby, Arnona Silsby, Larry King, 4-H Staff Andrea Mahoney and Leah McCluskey, and Brenda Jordan and Lisa Reilich online
Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports
- Treasurer’s report accepted as read by Terry.
- Secretary’s report accepted as written in the newsletter.
Old Business
- Blue Hill Fair
- Terry got paid for the Food Booth pulling order and the parking attendant meals. She also paid for the repairs that were made to the doors on the exhibit hall.
- Prays in Orono recharges fire extinguishers, we need the one in the food booth recharged.
- Terry would like to update the insurance policy on the 4-H buildings and liability. Sue handles the office insurance policies and will look at ours.
New Business
- Cloverfest (October 26th, Surry School from 10-12:30)
- Lots of activities centered around marine animals. The Shaw Institute will be coming as well. Lisa R may do a public speaking workshop.
- Food – Ice cream bar again. Brenda will buy the the ice cream, Terry will get topping (must have Swedish Fish!)
- Need to get bowls and spoons, Terry will purchase.
- Leaders should do impromptu as entertainment.
- Leaders Banquet (November 12th, Beech Hill School from 6-9)
- Location – Brenda talked to Nicole at the Beech Hill School, need to have staff onsite if we use the kitchen and would cost $100. Beech Hill is most central. Terry looked into the Orland School, have a classroom that fits 40-50, we are tentatively on the books for Orland. The Home Coop food pantry would love to host, but they are unsure if they are licensed to cook for money.
- Go with Beech Hill, start around 6pm. Have the silent auction! Kenny will organize the silent auction.
- Get names and addresses for invitations to Leah asap.
- Kenny’s club is having an education day for goats, he will share the date as soon as it is solidified.
- Terry wants to get a credit card to use for LA purchases, everyone thinks it is a good idea.
Office Business
- Someone asked if 4-H could bring livestock to Eastbrook Days, but Brenda does not have any livestock kids.
- Extension Awards – The Extension Association has selected Margaret for an award this year.
- Public Speaking – Sheila retired October 1st. Many counties asked for help organizing, and Lisa R suggested holding a workshop at the office with Lee and Terry. Our model is pretty user friendly. Dates? Jan 12, 1:30-4:30. March 15 for tentative county date.
- Re-enrollment papers have been mailed out, make sure you send in club parameters!
- There is an updated 4-H Club Leader Handbook online, it can be downloaded and printed.
Motion to adjourn at 7:30 pm
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary