4-H Calendar
2023
2023 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 5: Fryeburg Market Steer Intent Form due
January 11: Leaders’ Association Meeting (Reminder: These are open for all volunteers and occur every second Wednesday on the odd numbered months throughout the year), 6:00-7:00 p.m., via Zoom
President: Lori Larrabee
Vice President:
Treasurer: Cathy Thomas
January 12: Volunteer Training “Start Your 4-H Journey” 10:00-11:00am 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 15: ESE Beef Team Intent to Participate
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service
January 20: Public Speaking Workshop 2:00-4:00pm Penobscot County Office. Email Sheila.norman@maine.edu for more information.
January 19: Volunteer Training “Start Your 4-H Journey” 10:00-11:00am 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 20: “Getting the Word Out” Digital Marketing Workshop 6:00-7:30pm Lisbon Extension Office. Email Cathy Gray for more information
January 21: Outdoor Family Fun Day 2:00-4:00pm Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine in Augusta. Fundraising game supper from 4:00-6:00pm at SAM
January 25: Volunteer Training “Growing Life Skills Through Animal Science” 6:30-8:00pm online
January 26: Virtual Engineering SPIN Club email sarah.sparks@maine.edu for more information.
January 27: Independent Club Meeting (last Friday monthly-ish) 6:00-7:00pm Augusta Extension Office
January 27: Registration Deadline for Feb 11 Youth Mental Health First Aide Volunteer Training
February
February 1: Kennebec Beekeeper’s Association Mentorship Due. Open to any 4-H member 14-18 years old. Two scholarships available. The classes are on Saturday mornings for 5 consecutive Saturdays
(weather dependent) for the month of Feb-March.
February 1: ESE Goat Team Intent to Participate
February 1: ESE Sheep Team Information
February 2: Kennebec County Extension Association Annual Meeting 5:00-7:00pm Location TBD, “Innovation Ecosystems” Presentation by Jason Entsminger, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the Maine School of Business and the Extension Small Business Specialist.
February 11: Volunteer Training “Youth Mental Health First Aide” in-person Augusta
February 13: Kennebec Co. Public Speaking Workshop 6:00-7:30pm Augusta Extension Office
February 15: Volunteer Training “Igniting Youth Sparks” Reg deadline Feb 14 online, 6:30-8:00pm
February 17: Short Film Making Workshop 6:00-7:30pm Lisbon Extension Office. Email Cathy Gray for more information
February School Vacation Break Week (Feb 20-24): County Day of Service Project– TBD
February 23: Equity for All Challenge! Are you a photographer? A performer? A writer? Then consider the 4-H Equity Challenge. The challenge is for youth ages 5-19 to create a digital photograph, a performance, a presentation, or a writing piece that tells why every Maine youth belongs in a welcoming and inclusive environment. There are prizes based on age. This challenge is open to any 4-H’er or partner organization in Maine. There are helpful guides and a rubric to help you understand what judges will look for in an entry. To submit an entry or to find out more information go to the Maine 4-H Equity Challenge webpage. To participate, submit your creation by February 24, 2023.
February 24: Independent Club Meeting 6:00-7:00pm Augusta Extension Office
February 25: 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
March 2: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships due to 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 $2500.
March 7- April 11: 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: Leaders’ Association Meeting (2st Wednesday of every other month) 6:00-7:00 p.m. via Zoom
March 9: National 4-H Trip Applications are due to local Extension Office
March 9-March 12: National 4-H Ignite Summit, Washington D.C.
March 10: Spa & Relaxation Science Workshop 6:00-7:30pm, Lisbon Extension Office. Email Cathy Gray for more information.
March 18: Regional Public Speaking Competition, University of Maine Augusta. Open to 4-H members from Kennebec, Franklin, Andy-Sag and any regional county. Participation is required be eligible to compete in the State 4-H Communications Contest, 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 19)
March 23: Civics in Action & Page Day at the State House in Augusta
March 28: Volunteer Training “Starting Your 4-H Journey” 12:00-1:30pm online
March 31: Independent Member Club Meeting, 6:00-7:00pm Augusta Extension Office
April
April 3- May 3: Tractor Safety Course, 5:00-7:00pm, 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.
April 4: Volunteer Training “Starting Your 4-H Journey”, 12:00-1:30pm, online
April 8: State Public Speaking, University of Maine Orono
April 14-19: National 4-H Conference, Washington D.C.
April 20-21: Teen Ag Symposium, University of Maine Orono
April 21: Movie Premier Night 6:00-7:30pm Lisbon Extension Office. Email Cathy Gray for more information.
April 22: 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.
April 27-28: Virtual Rainbow Summit. The annual summit for youth, families, professionals and allies, providing resources and networking opportunities to benefit the physical, mental, emotional and social health and wellness of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
April 28: Independent Club Meeting, 6:00-7:00pm Augusta Extension Office
May
May 10: Leader’s Association Meeting. Open to all. 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom
May 12-13: Maine 4-H Teen Conference, hosted by the Maine 4-H Teen Council
May 19: Wool Spinning Workshop 6:00-7:30pm Lisbon Extension Office. Email Cathy Gray for more information
May 19: Independent Club Meeting 6:00-7:00pm Augusta Extension Office
May 21: 4-H Member Farm Visit TBD
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 21-24: Monmouth Fair (June 19-20: Club Display Set Up; June 20 11:00am Judging)
June 25-June 30: 4-H Teen Week at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center
June 30: Deadline for Animal Approval Forms for 4-H Animal Shows to be in the UMaine Extension Kennebec County office. NO EXCEPTIONS! Must be signed by the 4-H Club Leader before forms arrive in the Extension office. Must have ear tags, tattoos, and/or pictures with names on each animal or pictures if needed.
- Animal Approval Form for 4-H Animal Shows (Word | PDF)
- Animal Approval Forms: Leader Guidelines (Word | PDF)
- Lease Form: Contract for Rental/Lease of ALL Animals (Word | PDF)
June 30: Deadline for Intent to Exhibit Form for the Kennebec County Fairs
July
July: ESE Horse Team Tryouts
July- August: ESE Working Steer Tryouts– Ossippee Valley Fair, Windsor Fair, Skowhegan Fair
July 12: Leader’s Association Meeting. Open to all. 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom.
July 20-23 Pittston Fair (July 18 Set Up Club Display, July 19 11:00am Judging)
July 21-22: Maine 4-H Days at Windsor Fairgrounds. Family camping on the fairgrounds. ESE Tryouts for Dairy (State Dairy Show). Tons of amazing workshops! More information to come!
July 22: TBD Horse Clinic, Windsor Fairgrounds
July 21-23: State 4-H Dairy Show, Windsor Fairgrounds
August
August 7- August 11: 4-H Environmental Explorers Day Camp @ SAM Augusta with Augusta Parks and Rec, 9am-12pm, Monday-Friday, ages 9-13
August 8: 4-H Club Archery Day @ SAM, 5:00-7:00pm
August 27-September 4: Windsor Fair (Aug 22,23,24: Set Up Club Displays, Aug 25: 12:00-4:00pm Judging Exhibition Hall) , Exhibit Projects in the Indoor Exhibition Hall. Animal Commodity Shows. August 29: Horse Show.
September
September 6-10: Clinton Fair (Sept 4-5 Set Up Club Displays, Sept 5 5:00pm Judging)
September 7-10: Litchfield Fair (Sept 5 Set Up Club Displays, Sept 6 11:00am Judging)
September 13: Leaders’ Association Meeting, Open to all. 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom.
September 15-October 1: 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 ZSuites. December 31 is 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 Augusta Extension Office
October 16: End of Year Club Form Due
October 17-20: Project Record Judging
October 17-December 5: 4-H Ag Ambassadors Fall Cohort, statewide and virtual
October 19: Club Officer Training, 4:30-6:00pm, online
October 27: Independent Club Member Meeting, 6:00-7:00, Augusta Extension Office
October 28: 4-H Harvest Celebration and County Awards, 4:00-6:00pm, Location TBD
November
October 17-December 5: 4-H Ag Ambassadors Fall Cohort, statewide and virtual
November 8: Leaders’ Association Meeting. Open to all. 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom
November 11: Veterans’ Day of Service
November 17: Independent Club Meeting 6:00-7:00pm Augusta Extension Office
November 24-28: National 4-H Congress, Atlanta, GA
December
December 1: 4-H Club Plan of Work Form (PDF) due
December 8: Kennebec 4-H Holiday Celebration 5:00-7:00pm
December 31: Re-enrollment Deadline for returning members and volunteers
January 2024
January 1: Deadline for purchase of 4-H Beef Steers
Early January: Intent to Participate in Eastern States Exposition are due for Beef