June Jamboree participants smiling in front of a giant 4-H clover.
2025 4-H June Jamboree

July 2025 4-H Newsletter

July 3, 2025 4-H News

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

July 4 – Office Closed for Holiday
July 7 – Summer Learning Series Begins!
July 8 – Leaders Association Meeting, 6:30 pm
July 9 – Seaweed Lava Lamp Workshop at the Southwest Harbor Public Library, 2:00 pm
July 17 – Plant Your Own Herb Garden Workshop at the Ellsworth Public Library, 10:30 am
July 23 – Learn to Be an Oyster Farmer at the Southwest Harbor Public Library, 2:00 pm
July 30 – UMaine Touch Tank at the Blue Hill Public Library, 3:30 pm
August 4 to 25 – Drop off 4-H exhibits at the Extension Office anytime during office hours (M-F, 8am-4pm)
*please plan to arrive by 4 pm as staff will not be staying late to receive projects*
August 25 – Last chance to drop off 4-H exhibits to the Extension Office by 4 pm
August 25 – Steer Tickets Due in Office
August 26 – Last chance to drop off exhibits to Blue Hill Fairgrounds 4-H Exhibit Hall at 12 pm
August 28 to September 1 – Blue Hill Fair

County News

June Jamboree

We were thrilled to welcome 62 participants to the Blue Hill Fairgrounds for our 2025 4-H June Jamboree! And, in a minor miracle, we actually enjoyed a mostly dry Saturday – can you believe it?!

This Jamboree truly embodied the spirit of the 4-H pledge:

  • Our Heads to clearer thinking: We meticulously planned logistics, designed engaging workshops, and brainstormed dedicated volunteers. Every detail, from supplies and registration to maps and emergency protocols, was carefully considered to ensure a smooth and safe experience.
  • Our Hearts to greater loyalty: We poured our hearts into creating a welcoming and fun environment for today’s youth. We prioritized slowing down, connecting with families and volunteers, embracing new faces, and expressing our deep gratitude to everyone involved. This magic simply wouldn’t happen without your collective effort.
  • Our Hands to larger service: Our hands were busy! From preparing materials and ordering food to setting up tables and ensuring thorough cleanup before and after the event, countless hours of dedicated service brought this vision to life.
  • Our Health to better living: We valued health this weekend by enjoying the outdoors, fostering connections among friends, and being brave to try new things.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who navigated the last-minute changes and adjustments that inevitably arise with an event of this scale. Your flexibility and willingness to adapt on the fly were absolutely crucial to the event. We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring everything came together beautifully.

With humble gratitude,

Your Hancock County 4-H Team

4-H Workshops

Hands using a cardboard grading tool to grade oyster shells by size.
4-H Staff - Leah M“Learning to grade oysters”

We’ve got plenty of workshops going on this summer, all throughout Hancock County! This month, Leah or Tess will make an appearance at all your favorite libraries. From exploring the UMaine Touch Tank in Blue Hill to unforgettable marine adventures in Southwest Harbor—and even a hands-on gardening workshop in Ellsworth—there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Be sure to check our 4-H Afterschool website to learn more about workshop details.

Blue Hill Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall

2025 Theme: Growing Futures in Agriculture with 4-H

Blue Hill Fair 4-H Booklet

You asked, and we listened! No need to wait until the last minute to drop off exhibit items to the office or exhibit hall!

Starting Monday August 4 – Monday, August 25, you can deliver exhibit items, along with their required exhibit cards and entry form, to the Cooperative Extension office in Ellsworth. Items will not be accepted unless they are complete, so please check you have everything before making the drive. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm. Please plan to arrive before 4 pm as staff will not be able to stay after hours to accept exhibits.

Monday, August 25 at 4 pm – Last chance to drop off 4-H exhibits at Extension Office in Ellsworth

Tuesday, August 26 at 12 pm – Last chance to drop off exhibits at 4-H Exhibit Hall on the Blue Hill Fairgrounds 

If this is your first year participating in the fair, don’t hesitate to ask questions. You can reach our 4-H staff at 207.667.8212 for help!

Steer Tickets Have Arrived!

The Steer Ticket fundraiser is the premier fundraiser for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Tickets are $2 each; 30 cents go directly to the 4-H Club that sells the tickets, and $1.70 will go to the Leaders’ Association to support 4-H programming, scholarships, county events, and more. The Steer Ticket Raffle winner will receive a cut-to-order, freezer-ready Beef Steer raised by a Hancock County 4-H’er, OR $650 cash. The drawing is at 5 pm on Labor Day at the Blue Hill Fair. The 4-H Club AND the 4-H’er who sells the most tickets will receive an award at Cloverfest. Tickets are now available for pick up by 4-H’ers at the Extension Office. Steer ticket money must be returned to the Extension Office by August 25th or the thirty-cent club money per ticket will be forfeited! Steer tickets are not to be brought to the Blue Hill Fair. Also, remember that we cannot sell raffle tickets to people under 16 years old, and youth under 18 should not be handling money. Adults should not put youth’s names on the tickets.

Volunteers are needed for the 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Table: We are calling all 4-H families!

The 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Raffle are the two largest fundraisers for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. The funds raised are used to support the 4-H programs you love all year long – Cloverfest, June Jamboree, Public Speaking, Style Revue, Leaders Banquet, and so much more! We rely on our strong 4-H community to deliver quality youth programs in Hancock County, and we are asking 4-H Clubs, Groups, Independents, and Parents/Guardians to volunteer their time during the Blue Hill Fair (August 28 – September 1). We need:

  • Youth (16 and up with an adult) AND Adult Volunteers for the 4-H Food Booth: “Front” of the booth (taking orders, distributing food), and “Back” of the booth (cooking burgers, hot dogs, etc)
  • Youth AND Adult Volunteers for the Steer Ticket Table: selling Steer Tickets to fairgoers. Adults needed to handle the money.
  • Volunteering here is a requirement to win the Razor Crosman Award.

If you haven’t volunteered at the fair before, please consider contributing to this important cause this year! Contact the Extension Office or fill out the form on the webpage to sign up for a shift at the Food Booth and/or the Steer Ticket Table.

Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass Ideas for enjoying July include learning about Maine's wild berries, attend a festival, use berries to make somthing, and enjoying the warm weather.

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!

 

Club News

A youth and volunteer using a knife to break down a chicken for a processing lesson.
4-H Staff - Leah M“A hands-on day for the Egg Business youth at Mandala Farm!”

Egg Business Project: The Egg Business Project participants had their first in-person meeting this month. Is there a better way to kick off the summer than with an awesome field trip to Mandala Farm? Sara and Genio opened up their lovely farm to our SPIN Club and offered a tour of their chicken coops, processing facility, and more. We even got an impromptu processing demonstration and trial experience! They were amazing hosts and had a wealth of knowledge ready for sharing. Our 4-Her’s couldn’t have had a better time! Thank you to Mandala Farm for a lovely afternoon!

Group of youth gathered on a mat while outdoors with their 4-H club leader.
Pine Tree Pioneers

Pine Tree Pioneers: The 4-H Pine Tree Pioneers were busy little gardeners and had a fantastic time getting their hands dirty! Members planted their own seeds and seedlings to nurture at home and learned all about how tiny seeds transform into delicious vegetables by reading a fun story. We can’t wait to watch their plants grow and hopefully enter some into the 4-H Exhibit Hall at the Blue Hill Fair!

 

 

 

State News

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 State Dairy Show
Maine 4-H invites you to participate in the 2025 Maine 4-H State Dairy Show! This year’s event will take place from July 18th to 20th at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The contests are open to all 4-H dairy project members ages nine and above and include a grilled cheese and milkshake cookoff, a dairy cattle fitting contest, and a dairy cattle show. For a complete schedule and registration information, visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/maine-4-h-state-dairy-show/.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or Allison Pollock at 207.781.6099.

Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship
Every two years Maine has the opportunity to select an Eastern States Exposition participant to receive a $500 scholarship towards continuing his or her education beyond high school, and this is one of our years!

This is a scholarship that was established by The Morris Family who are longtime concessionaires at ESE.  A total of three $500 scholarships are awarded each year.  In 2025 and future odd-numbered years, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will each name a scholarship recipient.  In even-numbered years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut name a scholarship recipient.

Visit the website for all information about applying.  Materials must be received by 4:30 pm on Friday, August 15, 2025.  If you have any questions, contact Jessy Brainerd at 207.581.3877 or jessica.brainerd@maine.edu.

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

Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

4-H Leaders Association Meeting on June 10, 2025
Attendees: Lisa Carney, Terry Swazey, Lee Sargent, and staff members Leah McCluskey and Andrea Mahoney

The meeting was held briefly at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds after cleaning up and prepping for June Jamboree.

  • We decided to give each college scholarship $1000 – 2 recipients
  • There is another family of 3 that could use camp scholarships. We could give n=3 @$200 per child.
  • Should bring the steer tickets to June Jamboree