The 4-H Egg Business Project
The 4-H Egg Business Project is intended to provide youth ages 11-18 with learning experiences in business, entrepreneurship, record keeping, documentation, problem-solving, food safety, and animal husbandry. Under the mentorship of a trained 4-H Leader, participants will learn about, understand, and follow state and local regulations for producing and selling poultry eggs.
Youth complete their project independently but are also members of a group of 4-H’ers participating in the project. A trained 4-H Leader will assist youth in preparation, business planning, record keeping, animal husbandry, and more.
This project requires a significant level of guardian involvement, including dedicated time, financial contributions, and active supervision to ensure youth success.
This program is run in partnership with Machias Savings Bank and the Hawes Family 4-H Endowment at the University of Maine Foundation.
Check in With Our Past Participants
Participants will…
- Develop the entrepreneurial skills needed to create, manage, and sustain a small business focused on egg production and sales. This may look like…
- Performing a local market survey within your community to determine the approximate number of eggs and hens needed to meet that market.
- Gathering eggs daily, and preparing eggs to sell in appropriate packaging.
- Recording all expenses and income related to this project.
- Recording all production data related to this project.
- Reporting project outcomes.
- Develop agricultural literacy and understanding of poultry farming, food safety, and the regulatory environment around animal husbandry and egg production by…
- Preparing (adapt, secure, or construct) appropriate facilities to house the birds for keeping.
- Purchasing a suitable number of hens for their needs.
- Learning the daily care tasks (feeding, watering, egg collection, etc.) needed to keep a flock safe and healthy.
- Learning to and follow the state and federal regulations for selling eggs.
UMaine Extension will provide poultry- and project-related information to all participants; provide educational experiences related to the project such as webinars, hands-on workshops, tours, etc.; present poultry-related educational events for participants; check in with participants on a regular basis; and respond quickly to questions and issues related to the project.
Registration and Enrollment
Enrollment priority is given to youth who have not already participated in this project in a prior year.
Enrollment for 2025 has closed. Check back in with us in 2027!
Program Resources
Forms
Fact Sheets
- Selling Eggs in Maine
- Golden Comets: A Wonderful Hen for the Egg Business Project
- Housing Your Pullets: 4 Options and Other Considerations
- Possible Markets for Fresh Eggs
Other Resources
The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu/title-ix/.