Cooperative Extension in Hancock County

April 2026 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 | Volunteer News| Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

Upcoming Dates to Remember

April 6 – Hancock County 4-H Leaders Association Scholarship Due to the Office
April 10 – Last Day to Register for Style Revue
April 10 – Traveling Wings Workshop at the Ellsworth Public Library (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
April 11 – Speak Up, Maine 4-H State Showcase in Orono
April 15 – Celebrating Seaweed Month at the Blue Hill Public Library (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
April 15 – Leaders Association Meeting (6:15 pm)
April 16 – Insect Olympics at the Southwest Harbor Public Library (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
April 17 to May 3 – Paper Clover at Tractor Supply
April 20 – Patriots Day, Office Closed
April 24 – Style Revue Items Due to the Office by 4 pm
May 3 – Style Revue 1pm – location TBD

County News

Public Speaking

This month, our 4-H members demonstrated that leadership begins with a single word. We were thrilled to see such a great turnout for our 2026 “Speak Up, Maine 4-H!” Showcase. Watching our veterans refine their craft and our first-year participants find their footing was truly inspiring. Thank you for showing us the power of a brave voice.

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 11th. We have five 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 is April 10th! 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 24, 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 on Sunday, May 3rd at 1 pm. The location will be announced soon once we know how many participants we will have.

Local 4-H Workshops and Events

Ellsworth Public Library

Blue Hill Public Library

Celebrating Seaweed Month! – April 15, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)

Close your eyes and picture an underwater forest with golden kelp flowing through the currents. Did you know we grow, harvest, and use this beautiful aquatic plant in products all around us? Join Tess from the University of Maine 4-H on April 15, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm at the Blue Hill Public Library, for this interactive workshop where we will learn about how we grow and use kelp in our daily lives. Participants will experiment with seaweed and harness their creativity to make their own seaweed squishies (alginate creatures)!

Southwest Harbor Public Library

Insect Olympics – April 16, 2026 (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 Southwest Harbor Public Library on April 16, 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.

Paper Clover

The Spring Paper Clover campaign will be held April 17th through May 3rd, 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!

Club News

Fishing Club: The 4-H Fishing Club has had a full month with two regular meetings and one field trip to the Easter Maine Sportsman Show in Orono! At our first meeting, we had a guest speaker, Maine Master Guide Clyde Keniston. He spent time talking with the youth about his love for the sport of fishing, becoming a guide and so much more! It was a joy to see the youth asking and answering questions and being engaged in the conversation. As we wrapped up our Ice fishing unit, Mr. Keniston also taught the youth how to add their lines and hook to a new tip up. We look forward to having Mr. Keniston visit the club again. The youth participated in the 4-H Style Review Workshop where they cut out and assembled their patterns to complete their own fishing vests, which we hope they will debut at the Style Review in May. The Fishing Club is having a great time learning new things, playing fishy games and of course eating snacks! Our next unit, open water fishing, will begin in April.

Jolly Juniors: Jolly Juniors have been cooking, sewing, and woodworking during March! Joannie Jodrey continues to cook and bake with small groups and they are making yummy food! Brent Doyle worked with three members to make boot jacks – a favorite project! Amanda & Abby Doyle worked with the high schoolers and a 4th grader on a tied blanket project – can’t wait to see the new design! Kate Atherton & Debbie Dik once again lent their awesome sewing skills to help the cloverbuds make their own pillowcases.

Service Squad: After a successful public speaking season, the 4-H Service Squad is back in the business of service projects! We spent the last month brainstorming and beginning to figure out what we want to work on next. Some of our passions lay with the environment, so we thought a beach or roadside cleanup would be a good idea. We also learned about Big Night, which is when volunteers help protect amphibian wildlife safely travel as they migrate in spring. Whatever project we choose next, you can be sure it’ll be a fun one!

Pine Tree Pioneers: This month, the Pine Tree Pioneers welcomed a new member – Charlotte! We had a great meeting to kick off the spring season. First, to welcome our newer members, we played a naming game so that we could all learn a bit about one another. After, we dived into our activity for the day!

Club members each brainstormed their connection to the soil by thinking about the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the building materials they use, and the nature they enjoy. As I’m sure you can imagine, there were many connections, and our appreciation for the earth beneath our feet grew. After, we learned about the different layers of soil and what each of them does by creating our own edible soil cups. First, chocolate chips for the parent material, then pudding for the subsoil. Next was crumbled cookies for the top soil, and lastly, a layer of green coconut flakes and gummy worms for the organic material. It was a tasty and fun way to explore soils without getting too dirty! 

State News

Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent Forms Due June 5, 2026
Intent forms for Fryeburg Fair market lambs are now available online. Market Lambs must be owned and in possession of 4-H’er by June 1, 2026, and must be a castrated male. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must meet the following requirements: Send Intent to Sell Form, original bill of sale/value of lamb statement, and  pictures of your animal (front and side view) to your county office by June 5th.

Animal approval forms for lambs must include the scrapie tag number and list “Fryeburg Sale” as the show class. Additional requirements, as well as the fillable online form, can be found online on our Fryeburg Fair information page.

For more information, please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or the State 4-H Office at 207.581.3877.

New Dates: Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors – Spring 2026
Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2026 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 13-18 who are interested in any aspect of agriculture.  Youth spend time getting to know each other and learn both online and in-person in sessions facilitated by UMaine 4-H Staff and community partners. Sessions will focus on career exploration, exploring the Maine Food System with farm and production visits around the state, and building relationships with industry professionals.

This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Libby Maple, Yeti Ridge Farm and more. Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request.

In addition to the multi-week session, youth will serve in their ambassador role with Maine 4-H for at least 1 year. Youth will pick an agricultural area to focus on (ex. livestock, ag literacy/food systems, environmental stewardship, ag and health) during their term and explore leadership opportunities locally, statewide, and even nationally. Register today!

Spring 2026 Dates
Online: April 26, May 6, May 13, May 20, & May 27

Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine: April 19-21 (two nights), we try to offer transportation as best we can.

To register visit the Maine 4-H Agricultural Ambassador Program page.  For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or 207.622.7546.

Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium
Dates: April 19 – 21, 2026
Location: University of Maine, Orono
Ages: 13 – 18

The 5th annual 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 13-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on the University of Maine Orono campus, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state.

Youth will participate in interactive learning experiences like blueberry research, animal science, engineering challenge, industry panel and so much more. Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation may be available upon request.

Cost: $40 (a family cap of $50)
To help offset the cost of meals, lodging, and transportation for this inclusive 2-night, 3-day event. If cost is a barrier, please contact extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu; scholarships are available.

Registration is required for Ag Symposium; Register Here.

4-H Dairy Judging Contest
The 2026 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on May 2nd at BrookRidge Organic Dairy Farm in Lyman, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2026 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. For a complete schedule for the day please visit the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest page.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.

UMASS Vet Science Academy
Massachusetts 4-H Animal Science and UMASS Vet Science will be welcoming students, ages 13 to 18, interested in veterinary science as a potential career to the UMASS Hadley Farm. There will be two sessions to choose from: Session 1 will be Saturday, June 13th and 14th. Session 2 will be June 15th and 16th. Youth will be learning about the wide range of opportunities in this profession and will get tons of hands-on animal experience. Youth will be staying overnight in a UMASS dorm!

• Register for Session One.
• Register for Session Two.

If you are not a MA 4-Her, you will need to create a profile. Please select “state office” as your county. Registration will stay open until all slots are filled. Fees for this program will be $175 per attendee. Visit the payment page to pay. Financial assistance is available.

Got questions? Please email Andrew at asamuelson@umass.edu.

4-H Working Steer Tryout Information
The show season is fast approaching! Working steer ESE intent forms (due May 1st), volunteer interest forms, team member guidelines, and apprentice guidelines are all available one at extension.umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/. The dates for team tryouts are listed below.

ESE Working Steer Tryouts:

• June 14, 2026 at Windsor Fairgrounds
• July 11, 2026, Ossipee Valley Fair
• August 13, 2026, Skowhegan Fair

If you have any questions, please contact Hillary Arsenault, ESE coordinator, at maineworkingsteer@gmail.com; 207.592.3320 or Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971

Livestock Judging Contest and Maine Team Tryout
Livestock judging is back! For the first time in a long time Maine 4-H is sending a livestock judging team to The Big E and we want you to be a part of it! Tryouts for the team will take place at The Cross Insurance Center on May 2nd in partnership with the FFA Livestock Judging Contest. In order to be eligible for the Eastern States team 4-H members must be at least 12 years old by December 31, 2025 and have completed one year in 4-H. All 4-H members are invited to participate in the tryout event and the practice events regardless of their intent to try out for the Eastern States Team. More information on the tryout process will be available soon.

Looking to sharpen your judging skills? Join us for the following practice events: 

• April 18th at 10:00 am- Swine and sheep Judging at Quimby Family Farms (566 Sandy River Rd., Starks, ME 04911). If you plan on attending, please notify Sadee Mehuren via email at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event.
• April 22nd at 9:00 am- Beef cattle judging clinic and contest at the Fryeburg Youth Show. For more information, visit the Fryeburg Youth Show page.

New 4-H Rabbit and Poultry Opportunity!
4-H members now have an exciting new opportunity to showcase their skills at The Big E’s first 4-H Rabbit & Poultry Show! Open to youth ages 12 and above, this event is a great way to learn new skills, compete in regional 4-H shows, and connect with others who share an interest in rabbits and poultry.

Participants can look forward to a variety of engaging activities, including breed shows, showmanship competitions, agility contests, and more. Whether you’re experienced or just getting started, this event offers something for everyone. Interested in participating or learning more? Be sure to complete the interest form.

For more information, please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

It’s Time to Think About Summer Camp!
Looking to take your Maine 4-H Experience to a new level? Check out the summer programs at your UMaine 4-H Camps! Opportunities for living in community, making new friends, building a sense of belonging, and honing your skills in a whole variety of program options such as outdoor skills, shooting sports, STEM, creative arts, ecology, gardening, teamwork, and teen leadership. Each camp has scholarship opportunities to offset tuition costs, and your County 4-H Programs have scholarships to attend camp too. One to three-week sessions available in both day and overnight settings. We hope to see you there!

• Blueberry Cove, Tenants Harbor in Knox County. Dates: June 21-August 14, 2026. 
• Bryant Pond, Bryant Pond in Oxford County. Dates: June 21-August 14, 2026. 
• Greenland Point, Princeton in Washington County. Dates: June 28-July 31, 2026.
• Tanglewood, Lincolnville in Waldo County. Dates: June 21-August 21, 2026.

Bryant Pond and Greenland Point contact, Bethany: 207.665.2068
Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove contact, Emma: 207.789.5868

Equine ESE Intent Forms Due May 1, 2026
The 2026 Eastern States (ESE) Horse Intent Form is now live and online.  The form is to indicate your interest in participating in the Eastern States Team Tryout event this summer, which will be on July 31- Aug 1st, 2026, at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds.

This year’s event will offer an overnight opportunity for youth to qualify, learn, and grow while getting to know other youth who are also interested in trying out. Youth can participate in one of the tracks below:

• Teen Leader (4-H age 12 and up) 
• Rider or Driver (4-H age 13 and up) 
• Groom track (which is a learning track only)

If youth would like to come and learn about the team, help, and observe (especially if they aren’t old enough to qualify for the team yet), they can also come to tryouts as a “Groom” and will need to fill out the intent form.

Youth interested in any of the track options must complete the intent form. We use this info to contact and update interested families and youth. Here is the ESE intent form to be filled out by May 1st.  Approval forms must also be completed and sent to your county office by May 1st. More details will be included in the tryout application packet on the UMaine 4-H Horse Website.

The intent form does not bind you to the tryout event. Applications will be used to determine the event roster and final schedule.
If you have any questions, please reach out to: Tara Marble, tara.marble@maine.edu, or 207.778.4650.

Early College Outdoor Intensives
The UMaine 4-H Camps and Learning Centers at Tanglewood and Greenland Point are each offering Early College programs in conjunction with the University of Maine Division of Lifelong Learning. KPE 265 is a 3-credit course focused on skills in outdoor recreation. This is an introductory course in outdoor and adventure activities, forming the foundation of an outdoor leadership education. The course focuses primarily on participation in four different activity categories: canoeing, bouldering and climbing, hiking and orienteering, and challenge course. KPE 207 is a 1-credit course where participants become certified in wilderness first aid (WFA) and CPR.

Registration: Participants must complete enrollment with the University of Maine Early College Program. Once that is completed, we will send you an invitation to enroll for the Tanglewood portion of the program.

UMaine tuition for this course is free for Maine high school students (public school & homeschoolers). Tuition for out-of-state students and Maine private school students is $149 for 2026 per credit for a total fee of $596 for 2026. (Please note there is an overnight fee for this course for all participants).

Overnight fees: $900, including all housing, meals, and certification fees; scholarships available.

Tanglewood:
Dates: July 19 – 31, 2026
Ages: 15 – 18
Visit the website for more information and registration links.
Email Tanglewood directly with any questions.

Greenland Point:
Dates: August 2 – 12, 2026
Ages: 16 – 18
Visit the website for more information and registration links.
Email Greenland Point directly with any questions.

Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form Now Available
The 2026 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form  is now available online and must be submitted by April 17th, 2026. 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 (including teen leads).

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 and skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025 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.

Volunteer News

4-H is Family
Being part of a group with goals, expectations and responsibilities that focuses on relationships, and celebrating and supporting one another can feel like family. As one 4-H member shared: “When I’m at 4-H, I feel like I’m part of something bigger. That’s what the sense of belonging looks like in action. While the youth members may act as the “primary” family members in your group don’t forget about the other adults who provide their primary care: parents, guardians, and/or grandparents. 4-H volunteers should consider parents, grandparents, and other adult family members as assets. Consider the following strategies to help them feel a part your club as well:

Tell parents/guardians/grandparents they are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings.

• Have a meeting for parents/guardians/grandparents at the beginning of the year.
• Schedule a 4-H event in which all family members are invited to participate.
• Communicate directly with parents/guardians/grandparents by talking with them face to face, through social media, phone calls, and club meeting notes/agendas/minutes.
• Invite parents/guardians/grandparents to help. Share the list of tasks and find out what each parent is willing to do to assist.

Maine 4-H Volunteer Summit- IN PERSON! Saturday, November 7th!
More details to come in the upcoming months, but we promise food, fun, connection, and learning! Our planning committee is working hard to put together an awesome experience for you all. You won’t want to miss it!

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

• April 3, 2026- Doing to Understanding: Applying Experiential Learning in 4-H Clubs  Learn how to guide youth through hands-on experiences followed by purposeful reflection, helping them build confidence, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
• May 1, 2026- Understanding the Danish System: More than Just a Ribbon Explore how the Danish judging system works and what your ribbon really means. This workshop will help you understand the focus on individual achievement, learning, and growth in 4-H project evaluation.

Please note: The Zoom link and password will be emailed to all enrolled 4-H volunteers, or you can email Tara Wood tara.a.wood@maine.edu to request it.

Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

Via Zoom

Attendees: Lisa Carney, Leah McCluskey, Brenda Jordan, Elaine Gokey, Dawn Roberto, Andrea Mahoney, Terry Swazey, Joannie Jodrey, and Lee Sargent

The Treasurer’s report for February was accepted as read. The question about a new withholding on the statement “Withdrawal IRS Withholding Federal” was answered; we needed to update the nonprofit EIN number at the bank. 

The Secretary’s report was accepted as written in the newsletter.

Club Reports:

• 4-H Fishing Club – Had a Maine Master Guide teach youth about using tip-up lines. The underwater fish videographer will be at the next meeting. Ice fishing is probably over for the year. A pack basket with traps was donated to the group. Wrote a letter to the LA requesting funding for a club boat. 
• Service Squad – did public speaking. Are currently brainstorming ideas for their next service project.
• Pine Tree Pioneers – Will be making Soil Pudding Cups and learning about soil!
• Horse of Course – Meeting Thursday to go over club offices and plan future meetings, play horse bingo, and plan a bake sale over April vacation to benefit the local rescue.
• Jolly Juniors – Joannie is currently teaching a cooking section. Brenda is sewing; they might be cooking for the town meeting. Setting a date for the roadside cleanup in April. 

Old Business:

• State public speaking – all set for dates and judges.
• Insurance – Terry talked to Seth, it was Allen Insurance. Terry and Joannie will inquire with them.

New Business:

• We don’t have a steer for the year. Anyone with a lead can talk to the LA. Need to get a steer 15-18 months ahead of time, and needs to be halter-broke. Leah will talk with Becky about steers. Buddy might be willing to put one in for display.
• Style Revue – May 3rd, there will be a workshop this weekend.
• June Jamboree – weekend of the 12th and 13th.
  • Percy is $40 cheaper than Rays. Terry will confirm that they have a handicap porta-potty for that day.
• In-person meeting dates: April (starts at 6:15 for training), June 10th at 4:30 at the fairgrounds, July and October
• Budget – Motion made to approve the budget for 2026, seconded and approved. Google sheet is in our shared drive.

Office Staff Updates:

• Andrea reported that the office is updating the website. The newsletter will have the most current and accurate information.
• The camp and learning centers are recertifying for archery and rifle training. It costs $85 per person. Motion to cover the costs for recertification; seconded and passed.

Motion to adjourn at 7:50 pm, seconded and approved.

Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary