Youth selling treats at a market.
Young creators, big dreams. 🌟

December 2025 4-H Newsletter

December 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 | Volunteer News| Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

Upcoming Dates to Remember

November 29 to December 15 – Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign
December 3 – Insect Olympics at the Blue Hill Public Library, 3:30 pm
December 12 – Arctic Explorations at the Ellsworth Public Library, 3:00 pm
December 18 – 4-H Game Night at the Extension Office, 4:30 pm
December 24 – 25 Office Closed for Holiday
December 30 – State Deadline for Re-enrollment – No Exceptions
January 1 – Office Closed for Holiday
January 6 – Intent to Sell Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair Form Due (see state news)
January 11 – Speak Up Workshop (2:00 – 4:30 pm)

County News

Local 4-H Workshops and Events

Insect Olympics – December 3, 2025 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Do you have what it takes to compete against some of nature’s most agile athletes? Join 4-H at the Blue Hill Public Library on December 3, from 3:30 – 4:30 for a chance to find out! Youth can compete in several events where they can show off their skills and learn about what adaptations insects have that help them excel in their environments. Show us your powerful legs like a grasshopper in the long jump, or your fluttering, fast wings like a butterfly in the arm flap event.

Arctic Explorations – December 12, 2025 (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Do you know how our polar friends stay warm on chilly days? On December 12th from 3:00 – 4:00, youth will get to experience the magic of Arctic animal adaptations through an interactive icy experiment at the Ellsworth Public Library. We’ll get creative and discover how our blubbery friends protect themselves from the cold, and how some animals can waterproof themselves!

4-H Game Night – December 18, 2025 (4:30 pm – 6:00 pm)
The 4-H Service Squad is excited to invite you to the Extension Office for a cozy night of games and good company! Join us on December 18th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm for a fun evening of connection and laughter.

We’ll have all kinds of games – from big group favorites to chill two-player options – so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Bring a friend (or a few!), but don’t forget to RSVP! We’ll also have some seasonal snacks and refreshment options, but feel free to bring along your own treats to enjoy! See you all there!

4 youth behind a table listening to an adult kneeling in front of the table. On the table is a plate with bread, jam, peanut butter, and utensils.
4-H Staff - Leah M“Cloverbuds getting ready to SPEAK UP!”

Speak Up, Maine 4-H! Public Speaking Workshop – January 11, 2025 (2:00 pm – 4:30 pm)

Hancock County will be hosting a public speaking workshop on Sunday, January 11th, from 2:00 – 4:30 pm. By attending this workshop, youth will begin to learn what it takes to give a good presentation and get the chance to practice the skills they learn in small groups! Small snacks and refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so sign up today on the Hancock County Public Speaking website to reserve your place or contact the Extension Office at 207.667.8212.

Public Speaking!

Attention Hancock County! Do you have youth who LOVE to talk? Or maybe some kids who want to step out of their comfort zone?

Save the Date: All of our 4-H youth are invited to prepare for this year’s Hancock County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, which will be held on Saturday, March 14, time and location TBD. The state Public Speaking event will be held on Saturday, April 11th at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 12. Stay tuned for events and details on our website soon. 

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 December 30 per state standards. If you haven’t already, a staff member will be reaching out to see how we can help you through the process. 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!

Leaders’ Banquet

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped create such a special night! Hosted at the Hancock County Extension Office on November 20, 2025, 19 leaders from all over Hancock County (and state!) came out to celebrate their commitment to 4-H. Between a delightful dinner, fun-filled raffle, and great conversation, we couldn’t have hoped for a better night. This community means so much, and we can’t wait to see it continue to grow!

Volunteer Milestones: Thank you again to all of our 4-H volunteers! Whether you support our youth personally or behind the scenes at our events, know your time is appreciated. Leaders who have reached significant milestones this year through their volunteer service with 4-H are listed below.

First Year: Dianna Donahue – Grindle and Erin Kinney
Five Years: Melissa Malmstedt
Forty-Five Years: Chris Kravitt
Fifty-Five Years: Ken Silsby

Photo Contest

Good news! After much deliberation, our photo contest judges say that Hancock County 4-H is full of wonderful photographers! Your ribbons and feedback will be mailed to you, so be on the lookout.

Thank you to all of the participants in this year’s photo contest:

  • Finn M, Independent
  • Sadie M, Independent

Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass Ideas for December include learning about winter solstice, making gifts for others, and spending time working on hobbies.

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

Pine Tree Pioneers: At our November meeting, we had a small but enthusiastic group – and we made the most of our time together! Members rolled up their sleeves in the kitchen to bake their own mini apple and pumpkin pies. For the pumpkin pies, youth processed whole roasted pumpkin through a food mill before mixing ingredients, giving them hands-on experience with food science and preparation. Everyone practiced measuring skills, followed a recipe step-by-step, and enjoyed the delicious results of their hard work.

In the spirit of the season, we also created “gratitude leaves.” Each member cut out and decorated a leaf, then wrote something they are thankful for. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect, share, and celebrate the many good things in our lives.

We’re grateful for the warm energy this group brings, no matter the size, and we’re excited for our next meeting together!

Service Squad: At today’s meeting, we talked about our upcoming game night and figured out the initial icebreaker plus the group game. We also talked about other things/games we’d like to have at the game night. -Club Member Kowen

State News

Deadline Extended for National 4-H Trips: Great news! The application deadline for the National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress has been extended to December 14. Youth ages 14–18 are encouraged to apply for these incredible national leadership opportunities.

Trip Dates:
– National 4-H Conference: April 10–15, 2026
– National 4-H Congress: November 27–December 1, 2026

Interviews for both trips will take place the week of December 15. Selected applicants will be contacted with their interview date and time. We encourage all interested youth to take advantage of this extended deadline and apply today!

Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club: Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats, or sheep)? How do we care for them? How do you know what to feed them? How do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have three virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.

This is a free opportunity for youth ages 9 – 18.  Virtual sessions will be on Thursdays, January 22 and 29, and February 5, 2026, from 4:00 – 5:15 pm. On February 12, there will be an optional session for youth who intend to participate in a 4-H livestock project. The final session will be geared towards youth who are beginning their journey into raising livestock. Learn More and Register Here before January 9, 2026.

4-H Public Speaking Update: You asked, we’re excited! Performing Arts demonstrations will now be part of Speak Up, Maine 4-H, the statewide Public Speaking Program. From dramatic monologues to musical performances, this creative category is your time to express yourself and share your spark center stage.

Performing Arts demonstrations include:
– a spoken introduction
– your performance
– and a spoken conclusion

Specific details, including updated evaluation tools and judges’ support for all categories, will be available soon on the Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff. Stay tuned!

Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms are Now Available: The 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate form is now available online and must be submitted by January 15, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Youth must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025, and have completed one year in a beef project prior to this year. Please contact Kristen Grondin, kristen.grondin@maine.edu, 207-581-8193, or Cathy Bartlett Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu, 207-743-6329, with any questions.

Market Beef at Fryeburg Fair: The 2026 Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair is now available for eligible youth.  The animal must be owned and in the youth’s possession, and the youth must be enrolled in their county by December 31, 2025.  More information and the form are available on the Maine 4-H Beef page.  Online forms must be submitted, and paper copies must be postmarked by January 6, 2026.

Maine 4-H Ag Challenge Open Through 2025: As announced earlier this year, Maine 4-H is celebrating  “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with the 4-H Ag Challenge. Many 4-H’ers from around the state have already taken on the challenge and been awarded their commemorative hat.

We encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture. 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 has launched 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

Download the Ag Challenge PDF at: extension.umaine.edu/4h/2025/06/10/4-h-ag-challenge/. Some of these activities you may already be doing!

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, but time is running out. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity!

If you have any questions, please contact: Megan Cook at megan.cook@maine.edu or call 207.532.6548

Volunteer News

4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks
Nurturing Sparks : Once you notice a spark, did you know you can actually help fuel it? 4-H volunteers support youth sparks by facilitating exploration through varied activities, fostering a supportive environment where questions are valued, encouraging exploration, and building relationships that empower youth to discover and develop their passions. Connecting youth with resources, mentors, or new opportunities is a great way to help fuel the spark.

Other ideas for you as a 4-H volunteer include:
– Modeling curiosity:  Showing your own excitement for learning and discovery can encourage youth to adopt a similar mindset.
– Showing genuine interest:  Listening actively to the youth’s thoughts, opinions, and aspirations to build trust and encourage their self-expression can be powerful. Sometimes we all need a sounding board.
– Allowing for silence and space:  Giving youth time to think, process information, and formulate their own ideas without the pressure of immediate answers can be helpful. Circling back to a topic after a few weeks, asking if they have given any more thought to something, or inquiring to see how you might help them with a next step, can help youth feel supported.

4-H Volunteer Opportunities Calendar: Find our 4-H volunteer training opportunities on our calendar of events here – scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe to the calendar and never miss upcoming events, workshops, and more!

4-H Volunteer Huddle: Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00 to 12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required!

December 5, 2026 – Delegating/Asking parents and other adults to help
January 2, 2026 – Navigating 4-H Curriculum Resources

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
maine.zoom.us/j/82015703524?pwd=QkT05bDbaaDIeYAQ8aGUd4eco5c6Rd.1
Password: volunteer

4-H Volunteer Connections
January 21, 2026 – Volunteer Excellence: Recognizing Achievement, Inspiring Growth (6:30 pm – 8:00 pm)

Connect with 4-H volunteers from states in the Northeast region to hear inspiring 4-H volunteer stories, including those recognized through the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award. Come celebrate success, learn from peers, and strengthen your own impact. Free to attend, but registration is required! Register here!

Resource Spotlight

Do you work with Cloverbuds (youth ages 5-8)? If so, check out these resources!

  • We love our friends at Ohio State University for creating an amazing collection of Click and Do 4-H Cloverbud activities! All organized by themes, there’s something for everyone!
  • A welcoming environment is the cornerstone of a successful 4-H club meeting. Try these Icebreakers for Cloverbuds from Michigan State University!
  • Looking for some holiday craft ideas for younger youth? Check out this Holiday Activity Guide from National 4-H Council- there is even a cookie recipe collection included!

Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

The 4-H Leaders’ Association is on a holiday break! See you back in this space for our January Meeting!Â