April 2025 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
April 5 – State Public Speaking Tournament in Orono
April 7 – Hancock County Leader’s Association Scholarship Due to Office
April 8 – 4-H Leaders Meeting (6:30 pm)
April 11 – Last day to Register for Style Revue
April 15 – Deadline for Sheep ESE Intent Forms (See State News)
April 21 – Patriots Day, Office Closed
April 23 – Last Day to Register for Collecting Data Rocks
April 25 – Style Revue Items Due to Office by 4:00 pm
April 18 to May 5 – Paper Clover at Tractor Supply
May 1 – Style Revue Dress Rehersal (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
May 2 – Style Revue Showcase (6:30 – 8:00 pm)
May 10 – Dairy Judging Contest/ESE Tryouts (See State News)
County News
Public Speaking
Our 4-H community showed up and spoke up at our county Speak Up Showcase this month! We are so proud of everyone who participated, especially those who tried it out for the first time this year! It takes a lot to speak in front of a crowd, and your courage does not go unnoticed.
If you would like to continue to support our youth, join us in Orono for the state Speak Up Showcase at the University of Maine on April 5th. We have four youth attending this year and we know they’d love to see a few friendly faces in the crowd. If you can’t make it, be sure to wish them luck!
Style Revue
The due date to register for Style Revue has been extended to April 11th! Don’t forget to get your registration in ASAP! For those of you already registered, make sure you’re making progress on your project; the showcase is only a month away! Be sure to review the Style Revue guidelines!
Please drop all projects off at the office by Friday, April 25, at 4:00 pm for judging. We will bring your lovely creations to dress rehearsal and the Style Revue Showcase.
Style Revue will take place at Cave Hill School in Eastbrook on Friday, May 2, with a dress rehearsal on May 1.
Collecting Data Rocks!
Attention Hancock County homeschoolers… get ready to dig into the world of granite! Join 4-H staff and volunteers for an exciting new SPIN Club – Collecting Data Rocks! Over the course of five sessions, youth will explore granite geology through exciting hands-on activities, field trips, and real-world observations. These experiences will showcase how granite plays a role in our climate and encourage youth to sharpen their data skills. For the grand finale, each student will create a unique piece of data art to showcase in a community exhibit. Get ready to rock and roll with science, creativity, and discovery!
This program is for ages 9-14 and is limited to 20 participants. Field trip entry costs will be waived for youth, but any parents interested in attending must pay their own way. To learn more about the program and to register, please visit the Collecting Data Rocks web post.
Paper Clover
The Spring Paper Clover campaign will be held April 18 through May 5, with the opportunity to donate to 4-H in-store and online. We encourage clubs to take part in this opportunity and use it to foster community involvement. Let us know if you need help making a connection with your local Tractor Supply!
Maine CDC Poster Contest
Okay Hancock County, it’s time to show off what the 4-H Tick Project has taught you! Each year, Maine CDC hosts an annual Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest for K-8th graders in Maine. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are an ever-increasing threat, especially among children in this age group. The topic of this year’s contest is “Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick.” Posters will be accepted through Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Only one poster per participant will be accepted, and a signed release waiver must accompany the posters. Winners in each category receive a one-day park pass to any Maine State Park as well as tick removal kits for their classroom or family. Visit the Maine CDC website to see last year’s submissions and learn more about how to enter.
Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass
Discover the wonders of Maine’s changing seasons with the “Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass.” 
Each month, we’ll focus on a different aspect of Maine’s seasonal cycle, engaging in activities that promote Head (learning and thinking), Heart (caring and relating), Hands (giving and working), and Health (living and being). From exploring winter wildlife to harvesting fall crops, there’s something for everyone!
Hancock County Food Drive Read-A-Thon
Throughout April, K-8 readers can give back to their community and win prizes by fundraising for every minute they spend reading. The top 3 participants who spend the most time reading will each receive a gift certificate to a Hancock County bookstore. Check out the Hancock County Read-A-Thon website to learn how to get started!
Scholarships
- Merit-based college scholarships are available to past and present members of Hancock County 4-H thanks to the generous support of the Hancock County 4-H Leaders Association. Recipients must complete an application, submit all required paperwork, and meet merit-based criteria in order to be eligible for a scholarship, which may vary in an amount of up to $750. Download an application and submit it to the Extension Office.
Deadline to apply: April 7, 2025 (PDF).
Club News
Pine Tree Pioneers: The Pine Tree Pioneers were a small but mighty group at our last meeting. This crew learned about the importance of pollinating through a flower scavenger hunt game and sowed some seeds in preparation for spring!
They created and decorated mini greenhouses by taping shut juice and milk containers. Their seeds will be nice and warm inside. Don’t forget to add drainage holes if you want to try it out yourself!
Service Squad: The service squad is still taking requests for game night ideas! Don’t hesitate to share your favorite games with us so we can plan a wicked fun night. You can let us know by emailing leah.mccluskey@maine.edu.
We also decided to host a bake sale and craft table at the Extension Open House in May. Be sure to swing by and help support the club!
State News
Save the Date – 4-H Summer Learning Series: This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – August 8. Volunteers and staff work together to provide high-quality, hands-on, experiential learning experiences via Zoom. For most workshops, materials are mailed to participants ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate! Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. For volunteers interested in presenting workshops, information will be updated in early March. Sign up for updates on our website.
Ignite Your Passion, Inspire the Future: Become a Summer Learning 4-H Volunteer: Are you ready to make a lasting impact on young minds while sharing your expertise? Join our Summer Learning 4-H program as a volunteer and experience the joy of nurturing the next generation!
Topics could include: science, engineering, art, photography, coding, baking, and more. Volunteers will work with a partner to design and deliver virtual programs sometime between July 7th – August 8th. Scheduling is flexible to meet your needs and availability. Learn more by visiting our presenter website or contact 4-hvirtual@maine.edu or call Sarah Sparks at 207.581.8206.
Open House at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center: 4-Hers and families of all ages are invited to learn about the opportunities 4-H has to offer in Orono, Maine! There will be fun activities – making seed paper you can plant at home, engineering and testing out straw rockets, and using chemistry to create groovy seaweed lava lamps!
This is your chance to meet the Center’s fabulous red-ear slider turtle, Frances, and rumor has it Coral the Seahorse will be making an appearance! Learn all about our space, our touch tank, 4-H programs, 4-H STEM toolkits, and aquaponics.
No registration is required – just show up on Saturday, April 19 between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at 491 College Ave in Orono, Maine. If you have any questions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium: On April 21-22, the 4th annual 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18 at the University of Maine. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on the Orono campus, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state.
Youth will participate in hands-on learning experiences like laboratory examinations of parasites related to animal health, exploring cellulose nano materials from tree pulp at the Process Development Center, a fun activity with Maine Bound Adventure, and much more!
Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation may be available upon request. Current 4-H members can REGISTER HERE. When you are logged into Z Suites, an adult member of the household can find the Ag Symposium under events and complete the required forms. Youth who are new to 4-H can REGISTER HERE.
For questions regarding the registration process please contact extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski, 207.622.7546; extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.
Maine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI): MSTI is a FREE residential camp offered at the University of Maine for current 6th – 8th graders from July 6 – 11, 2025. The camp focuses on transportation-related activities and fields. MSTI is a week-long residential program to allow students from all over the state to participate.
This includes space, roads and bridges, ports, air, and environmental impacts. Activities include building rockets, cars, and bridges; field trips to the Bangor International Airport, Cole Transportation Museum, and Maine Maritime Academy; participating in shows from the Planetarium and the Physics Roadshow; 3D-printing activity (including a tour of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center to see the World’s largest 3D-Printer and the 3D-printed house); Soil/erosion and surveying activities; a Touch-a-truck event, and more. (Activities are subject to change based on weather and availability of funds.) Additionally, students will learn about the different career opportunities within the transportation field, including engineers (environmental, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.), technicians, communications and media, human resources, and so much more.
Visit the MSTI website for more information about the program and registration.
4-H Dairy Judging May 10th: The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on May 10th at Lambert Run Farm in Norridgewock, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2025 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. For a complete schedule for the day please visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/judging/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
Maine 4-H Eastern States Exhibition Sheep Team Intent to Participate Form Now Available: The 2025 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form is now available online and must be submitted by April 15th, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Sheep Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September.
The Eastern States Exhibition (Big E) 4-H Sheep Program brings together 4-H members from six states in Springfield, MA for three days of events that showcase their animals, knowledge & skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2024 and have completed at least one year in a sheep project.
Please contact Megan Cook with any questions or for more information at megan.cook@maine.edu or 207-532-6548.
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
Tri-County 4-H Sampler: Do you know someone who may be interested in 4-H? Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset County staff are hosting workshops on the last Tuesday of each month from April to September. There will be different workshops for youth to attend each month; this month, it will be the Straw Rocket STEM Kit. Guardians will have a chance to talk to 4-H staff about youth enrollment and volunteer opportunities. Check back each month for the activity and location.
This is a free event. Registration is required via ZSuite, for 4-H members and non-4-H members.
Location: TBD
Date: April 29, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Emily Pigeon at emily.pigeon@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.
Leaders’ Meeting Minutes
Hancock County 4-H Leaders Meeting of March 11, 2025
Attendees: Lisa Carney, Terry Swazey, Leah McCluskey, Elaine Gokey, Lee Sargent, Joannie Jodrey, Lisa Reilich
Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports:
- Secretary’s Report- motion to accept the February report as written in the newsletter; seconded and passed.
- Treasurer’s Report- Steer grain is all set up at Horse and Rider. Terry would like to buy a fire blanket from the Orland Fire Department; a motion was made, seconded and approved. The Treasurer’s report was approved as read.
Club Reports:
- Horse of Course- Terry might have a meeting later this month, probably some type of craft.
- The Service Squad- working on stuff for the Extension Open House.
- Pine Tree Pioneers- started some seeds, had a pollinator workshop.
- Jolly Juniors- cooking! Made pizza, cookies, frosted cupcakes, appetizers and more. They will be filling out fair cards and working on sewing projects.
Old Business
- Scholarships
- No news yet.
- June Jamboree Updates
- Lee and Leah met. Not much to update. Andrea sent out the Workshop Submission Form. The Shaw Institute is interested in giving a workshop. Lee knows an artist who would like to do a class. Leah would like to find a photographer to give a workshop. She is also inquiring with the Challenger Institute and Maine Audubon. Maybe an engineering workshop?
- April 14th is the last day to get workshop forms in.
- Public Speaking
- Logistics: March 15th, starts at 10:00 at Surry Elementary
- Have 11 youth signed up, 23 guests, 5 judges (~40 people).
- Get two large Sams Club sandwiches. Buy some fruit as well.
New Business
- Style Revue
- Workshop – Feb 20th, 1:30-3:30
- Hold at Cave Hill?
- Insurance- Andrea will give it to Terry, who will send it to Orono.
- Leah will get receipts from past events for Terry this month.
Office Business
- Open house on May 17th
- The Master Gardeners want to sell plant seedlings.
- Service Squad will have a bake sale and run a craft activity. Seed bombs?
- Let Leah know if you would like to do a virtual learning summer workshop.
Motion to adjourn at 7:28
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary