{"id":16861,"date":"2025-02-05T11:17:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T16:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/hancock\/?p=16861"},"modified":"2025-02-05T11:17:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T16:17:12","slug":"february-2025-4-h-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/hancock\/2025\/02\/05\/february-2025-4-h-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"February 2025 4-H Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

4-H Happenings<\/h3>\n

A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members<\/em><\/h4>\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/h3>\n

Upcoming Dates<\/a>| County News<\/a> | Club News<\/a> | State News<\/a>\u00a0| Leaders’ Meeting Minutes<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Upcoming Dates to Remember<\/h3>\n

February 4 –\u00a0<\/b>Virtual Speak Up Workshop, 6:00-7:30 pm
\nFebruary 11 – <\/b>4-H Leaders Meeting, 6:30 pm
\nFebruary 12 –<\/strong> 4-H Afterschool at the Blue Hill Library, 3:30-4:30 pm
\nFebruary 17 –<\/strong> Office is Closed for Holiday
\nFebruary 20 –<\/strong> Style Revue Workshop at the Office, 1:30-3:30 pm
\nFebruary 21 –<\/strong> 4-H Afterschool at the Ellsworth Library, 2:00-3:00 pm
\nFebruary 21 –<\/strong> 4-H Movie Night! at the Office, 6:30-8:30 pm
\nFebruary 24 –<\/strong> Egg Business Informational Meeting, 6:00-7:00 pm
\nMarch 3 –<\/strong> Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship Deadline
\nMarch 11 –<\/strong> 4-H Leaders Meeting, 6:30 pm
\nMarch 15 –<\/strong> Speak Up, Maine 4-H Showcase in Hancock County, 10:00-2:00 pm<\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>County News<\/h3>\n

Speak Up, Maine 4-H: Showcase Your Spark!<\/h4>\n
\"4
4-H Staff - Leah M<\/span>“Cloverbuds getting ready to SPEAK UP!”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well well well… Looks like this county is FULL of amazing speakers. It was wonderful to see so many new and returning faces at the Speak Up Workshop last month! We love to see how, every year, this community comes together and showcases all that they’ve learned through the public speaking program. We cannot wait to see what’s in store for the county showcase in March!<\/p>\n

All of our 4-H youth are invited to prepare for this year\u2019s Hancock County Speak Up, Maine 4-H: Showcase Your Spark!, which will be held on Saturday, March 15, from 10:00 \u2013 2:00 pm at Surry Elementary School. Youth can register for the event on our website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The state showcase<\/a> will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

Egg Business Project<\/h4>\n

Good news, the 4-H Egg Business Project is back for another year! Take advantage of this amazing opportunity for your child to learn financial literacy, marketing, advertising, cash flow, start-up costs, profitability, and the operations of running a business. Through this experience, youth learn to face challenges and develop problem-solving skills, both of which are necessary for budding entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

\n

This club is open to ages 11+ and will be a cross-county club between Hancock and Washington. This club is capped at a maximum of 5 families per county.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

We will be hosting a virtual informational meeting on February 24. For more information, please visit our Egg Business Project website<\/a>\u00a0and fill out an interest form.<\/p>\n

Fun With 4-H on February Break!<\/h4>\n
\"A
4-H Staff - Carla<\/span>“Time to get sewing!”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our office staff and volunteers are ready to help our youth learn some new skills and celebrate our community this February break.<\/p>\n

To start the season, the 4-H Leaders Association will host a Style Revue Workshop for beginner sewers\/knitters\/crocheters. If you\u2019re new to garment making and are looking for a place to start, join us on February 20 from 1:30\u20133:30 pm at the Extension Office in Ellsworth. Learn more about the workshop and register on our website<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Then, on February 21 from 6:30-8:30 pm, we welcome everyone to another Hancock County Movie Night! Our showing of choice will be The Wild Robot<\/em>, with lots of on theme activities and snacks! Register now using\u00a0this form<\/a>\u00a0to help us ensure we will have enough supplies for everyone. You can also make a request for a reasonable accommodation. Registration will close the day of the event. We can\u2019t wait to see you there!<\/p>\n

4-H Afterschool Workshops<\/h4>\n

Get ready for some hands-on fun this February with awesome workshops you won’t want to miss!<\/p>\n

On February 12, from 3:30-4:40 pm, at the Blue Hill Public Library, Leah and Tess will lead youth in a county favorite – Seaweed Lava Lamps! Registration is required, and space is limited to 20 youth, so act fast if you want to join us! Visit the Blue Hill Public Library website<\/a> to register or learn more.<\/p>\n

You can also join Leah on February 21, from 2:00-3:00 pm, at the Ellsworth Public Library for a lovely Valentine’s activity. Together, we’ll learn how to craft a no-sew tie pillow in the shape of a heart to fit the holiday theme! Hope to see you there.<\/p>\n

Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass<\/h4>\n

\"FebruaryDiscover the wonders of Maine\u2019s changing seasons with the “Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass.”<\/p>\n

Each month, we\u2019ll focus on a different aspect of Maine\u2019s 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\u2019s something for everyone!<\/p>\n

Scholarships<\/h4>\n

Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education, this participation includes traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all.<\/span><\/p>\n

To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the <\/span>Maine 4-H Foundation website<\/span><\/a>. Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 3, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hancock County 4-H Leaders Association and the Hancock County Homemakers also have scholarships to award to our 4-H youth. For due dates and applications, please visit our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Club News<\/h3>\n
\"Picture
4-H Staff - Carla S<\/span>“The Pine Tree Pioneers practicing how to do a demonstration”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pine Tree Pioneers: <\/strong>At our January meeting, our club members had a special visit from an older 4-Her who showed them what a good presentation looks like by demonstrating how to fold a paper crane. Afterward, the kids got to practice giving a demonstration of their own by teaching us how to make a sandwich!<\/p>\n

Some club members joined 4-H staff and other youth in the county at the Speak Up Workshop, where they put what they’ve practiced to the test and spoke in front of a much larger group! It was so fun to see other 4-Hers share their demonstrations.<\/p>\n

At our next meeting, we’ll keep practicing our public speaking skills and brainstorm other demonstration ideas so that our meeting in March can be a club demonstration day, where youth who want to participate can give a personalized demonstration to the club!<\/p>\n

Lock, Stock, & Barrel: <\/strong>The Lock, Stock, & Barrel 4-H Club is currently participating in Postal League – A competitive youth program by the Pine Tree Rifle and Pistol Association, where teams shoot at their own range and scores are mailed in. This is a five-week program.<\/p>\n

Archery will start on Wednesday, February 12 at 6:00 pm at the Blue Hill Rifle and Pistol Club on the Range Rd in Blue Hill. Youth ages 9 to 18 may participate. If youth are interested please contact Norwood and Becky Ames at 567-3066 and leave a message.<\/p>\n

The club will not meet during February vacation break. The club will resume again on Wednesday, February 26, same time, same place.<\/p>\n

Jolly Juniors:<\/strong> At our last meeting, we had a Sunday Funday so we could plan our upcoming sewing and woodworking projects and Landon & Olivia could make their pillowcases.<\/span><\/p>\n

We got some basketball time in, along with games, cocoa, and cake! We had a fun afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Coryann, Club Reporter<\/span><\/p>\n

Horse of Course:<\/strong> The Horse of Course club met on Saturday, January 25. Three members presented reports on their breed of choice as they were not able to attend at the time the club was doing this. We watched some videos on show jumping and dressage.\u00a0The club talked about parts of the horse, answered some horse-related questions, and then played a memory game\u00a0that was made up of twelve images of the horses of the Bagaduce River Equine Rescue.<\/p>\n

Service Squad:<\/strong> At our February meeting, we had a lot of fun on Zoom! We talked about our next fundraiser and how we would like to fundraise for Camp Capella or help at the local library. We\u2019re also thinking about planning an event for all 4-Hers! We were thinking maybe a game night or a creative building night.<\/span><\/p>\n

We also brainstormed ideas for workshops we\u2019d like to see at June Jamboree! Some of our ideas included engineering, archery, cultural events, pottery, mindfulness, balloon boat races, paper plane building, and more!\u00a0 Let us know what ideas you have by emailing <\/span>leah.mccluskey@maine.edu<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, we have a movie night planned for February 21st, so keep that date clear!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>State News<\/h3>\n

Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors: <\/b>Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2025 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 14-18 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Mook Sea Farm and Aquaculture, and the anaerobic digester at Stonyvale Farm (one of the largest in the US!). Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request. <\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

To register visit\u00a0<\/span>extension.umaine.edu\/4h\/youth\/ag-leadership<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at\u00a0<\/span>alisha.targonski@maine.edu<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or 207.622.7546.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spring 2025 Dates:<\/span><\/p>\n