4-H Calendar
2025
2025 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities
As we get ready for the new 4-H year, we are looking forward to offering a variety of learning experiences (both in person and virtual) for our 4-H volunteers. Sessions are free of charge, but require registration. Some sessions have limited space. Visit the 4-H Volunteer Calendar of Training Opportunities to learn more and register!
January
January 1: Deadline for purchase of 4-H Beef Steers
January 6: Fryeburg Market Steer Intent Form due
January 6: Leaders’ Association Meeting (Reminder: These are open for all volunteers and occur on the first Monday of the odd-numbered months throughout the year), 6:00-7:00 p.m., via Zoom
- President: Lori Larrabee
- Vice President:
- Treasurer: Cathy Thomas
January 15: ESE Beef Team Intent to Participate
January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service
January 20: Kennebec 4-H Beekeeping Mentorship Open to any 4-H member 14-18 years old. Two scholarships are available. The classes are on Saturday mornings for 5 consecutive Saturdays (weather dependent) for the month of February-March.
February
February 1: ESE Goat Team Intent to Participate
February 1: ESE Sheep Team Information
February 4: Public Speaking Workshop online via Zoom. Email megan.cook@maine.edu to participate.
March
March 1: Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Contest UMaine Augusta, Randall Student Center. Quiz is for all ages. Senior 4-H’ers can make the Quiz Bowl Team that travels to ESE in Springfield, Massachusetts in September.
March 3: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships due to the local Extension Office. These scholarships are available to current seniors in the 4-H program or those that have graduated within the past year. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,500.
March 3: Leaders’ Association Meeting (1st Monday of every other month) 6:00-7:00 p.m. via Zoom
March 4- April 15: 4-H Ag Ambassadors, Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00pm virtual program for any Maine teen 13-18 interested in the food system, agriculture, the environment, and community.
March 8: Regional Public Speaking Event, University of Maine Augusta. Open to 4-H members from Kennebec, Franklin, Andy-Sag, Oxford and any regional county. Participation is required to be eligible to compete in the State 4-H Communication Event, but does not make the state event mandatory. Registration will be announced. Visit the Maine 4-H Public Speaking page to learn more about the Public Speaking Program. (Snow Date: March 9)
March 12-March 16: National 4-H Ignite Summit, Washington D.C.
March 17: 4-H Page Day at the State House in Augusta. Email karen.giles@maine.edu for more information.
April
April 3- May 3: Tractor Safety Course, 5:00-7:00 pm, Mondays, Kramer’s Tractor in Sidney. Cost: $25.00 for 20-hour course (including work on own), includes instructor-led driving experience, written exam, and driving test. Participants will learn how to handle tractors and equipment safely, how to identify hazards, and how to minimize the chances of accidents. The course is open to all adults and youth interested. A Federal Certificate of Training will be issued at the end of the course after successful completion of the written test and driving course and with attendance requirements met. This certificate is required for 14- and 15-year-olds who plan to operate farm equipment for hire on farms other than their own. Sign up through the Tractor Safety website or email cfitzgerald@maine.edu for more information and accommodation.
April 5: State Public Speaking, University of Maine, Orono
April 14-19: National 4-H Conference, Washington, D.C.
April 21-22: Teen Ag Symposium, University of Maine, Orono
May
May 5: Leader’s Association Meeting. Open to all. 6:00-7:00 pm via Zoom
May 8: Maine 4-H Foundation Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards. Senator Inn, Augusta.
May 10: Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest. Open to all 4-H youth. Senior members can make the Dairy Judging Team to qualify to attend ESE in Springfield, Massachusetts, in September.
May 16-18: Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) at the Windsor Fairgrounds.
June
June 1: Deadline for Intent to Exhibit Form for the Kennebec County Fairs
June 5: Fryeburg 4-H Market Lamb Intent Form Due June 5
June 19-22 Pittston Fair (Set Up, Judging)
June 25-28: Monmouth Fair (Set Up, Judging)
June 30: Deadline for Animal Approval Forms for 4-H Animal Shows to be in the UMaine Extension Kennebec County office. No Exceptions!
July
July: ESE Horse Team Tryouts
July- August: ESE Working Steer Tryouts– Ossippee Valley Fair, Windsor Fair, Skowhegan Fair
July: State 4-H Dairy Show
August
August 23-September 1: Windsor Fair (Set Up, Judging), Exhibit Projects in the Indoor Exhibition Hall. Animal Commodity Shows.
September
September 4-7: Clinton Fair (Set Up, Judging)
September 5-7: Litchfield Fair (Set Up, Judging)
September-October: The Big E/Eastern States Exposition, Regional, Multi-State 4-H Competitions. Animal Commodities travel down in teams to compete. Non-animal projects are also able to compete. Public Speaking team will travel to participate in the pod science workshops.
September 30: End of 4-H Year
October
October 1: Start of 4-H Project Year– time to select a new project and goals to focus on for the year! Start Re-enrolling through ZSuite. December 31 is the re-enrollment deadline for returning members and volunteers.
October 1- October 8: Fryeburg Fair
October 2- October 8: National 4-H Week/ National Youth Science Day
October 16: Project Records Due to the Augusta Extension Office
October 16: End-of-Year Club Form Due
October 17-20: Project Record Judging
October 19: Club Officer Training, 4:30-6:00 pm, online
November
November 3: Leaders’ Association Meeting. Open to all. 6:00-7:00 pm via Zoom
November 8: 4-H Harvest Celebration and County Awards
November 10: National 4-H Trip Applications are due to the local Extension Office
November 11: Veterans’ Day of Service
November 17: Independent Club Meeting 6:00-7:00 pm Augusta Extension Office
November 28-Dec 2: National 4-H Congress, Atlanta, GA
December
December 1: 4-H Club Plan of Work Form (PDF) due
December 31: Re-enrollment Deadline for returning members and volunteers
2026
January
January 1: Deadline for purchase of 4-H Beef Steers
Early January: Intent to Participate in Eastern States Exposition is due for Beef