KL 4-H Newsletter—May 2025
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
May 1 ESE Horse and Dairy Animal Approval forms due
May 1 Working Steer Animal Approval forms due
May 8 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 6 pm, Zoom only
May 10 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, Lambert Run Farm, Norridgewock
June 5 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent to Sell form due
June 8 4-H Sheep and Goat Clinic, Cumberland County Fairgrounds
June 12 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 6 pm, Union Fairgrounds, in person and Zoom
June 21 – 27 Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, D.C. (ages 14 – 18)
June 30 4-H Animal Approval and Lease forms due (some commodity exceptions; refer to 4-H Animal Science Resources)—Find tips on filling out these forms in an article below.
June 30 Last day to complete the National 4-H Annual Index Survey (ages 12 – 18)
July 1 Apply for Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors insurance to show at Maine fairs
July 1 Union Fair 4-H Livestock Show entry forms due at the Extension office
July 1 Union Fair 4-H Individual Exhibition Yurt entry forms due at the Extension office
May Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Anna P., Paytyn D., Kyra B., Anthony D., and Benjamin R.!
Congrats to Participants in Speak Up, Maine 4-H!
The 2025 Speak Up, Maine! Public Speaking Showcase took place at the University of Maine, Orono, on April 5. Knox and Lincoln Counties 4-H was represented by Kyra B., Anthony D., Sabrinnah D., Isabella L., and Luke L. All Knox-Lincoln members did our counties proud! Most members also participated in the Impromptu round after the regular tournament. Impromptu has become a very popular event among members from across the state.
Volunteers affiliated with Knox-Lincoln who helped out at the state tournament include judges Linda Bonin, Nathan Dube, and Sadie Olmsted, as well as room greeter Carrie Burridge. Thanks to everyone!
Kyra B. and Sabrinnah D. Senior Team Demonstration Kyra and Sabrinnah Mad Scientist Deliria
Anthony D. Senior IT For the Glorious Cause!
Sabrinnah D. Senior ITдама мрака
Isabella L. Junior IT Raising Rabbits
Luke L. Junior IT The History of Lego
Your Input Needed for Speak Up, Maine 4-H!
We need your ideas! We are hoping to add a new category to the Speak Up, Maine 4-H Public Speaking program and State Showcase in 2026. Members and families can fill out our idea form to give your input about Speak Up, Maine 2026 Showcase . Questions? Please contact the planning committee at speakup4h@maine.edu or Laura Personette at 207.581.8213.
Welcome New 4-H Leaders!
Please welcome two new Volunteer Leaders to 4-H in Knox and Lincoln Counties! Jessica Murray and Isaiah Onorato have come onboard as volunteers. In addition to their own family of four kids, they are looking for youth members to form a new 4-H club based on their homestead in Bremen. The family raises goats, which will be part of the focus of their club. Isaiah also has a background in adventure-based education, which will play into the club activities as well. Tell your friends about this new club!
Get Ready for Union Fair!
Don’t miss any deadlines for participating in Union Fair July 30 – August 3, 2024. Download the 2025 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet, or request it be emailed to you. Paper copies are available at the Extension office upon request.
- June 30 4-H Animal Approval and Lease Forms for most commodities are due.
- By July 1 Apply for Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors (MALE) —Be sure to apply for the 2025-2026 membership year.
- July 1 Entry forms for 4-H Livestock Shows (Rabbit and Cavy, Small Domestic Pet, Working Steer) and the 4-H Exhibition Yurt are due.
- July 15 Members 4-H age 5 – 8: sign up for 4-H Cloverbud Demonstrations.
- July 15 Clubs: Sign up for 4-H Club Exhibit space; tell us what your Gift Basket theme will be.
Tips for Filling Out the 4-H Animal Approval Form
Any 4-H youth age 9 – 18 who plans to participate in 4-H livestock shows* in 2025 must complete and submit an Approval Form for 4-H Animal Shows. If a member is leasing an animal to show, a Maine 4-H Contract for Rental/Lease of All Animals is also required. Animal Approval forms are NOT required for showing rabbits, cavies, poultry, or small domestic pets (except dogs, which DO require the Animal Approval form). Both of these forms are due June 30 for MOST commodities. Please refer to the 4-H Animal Science Resources for information specific to your commodity.
When filling out your Animal Approval Form, please keep the following in mind:
- When downloading, be sure to select “shrink to fit page” so that information is not cut off the edges.
- Print form 2-sided.
- Your club leader (or advisor for independent member) must sign on the line immediately after last entry in the list of animals. Be sure to leave time for this before the due date.
- 2-sided, signed ORIGINAL forms must be received at your county Extension office no later than the due date. 4-H staff will keep original for office records and return an official, embossed photocopy to you. This embossed copy is what you will need to have with you each time you participate in a 4-H livestock show. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your club leader or 4-H staff.
Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors Membership Requirement
Anyone showing livestock at Maine fairs who cannot show proof of a farm insurance policy (with the exhibitor’s name on the certificate) with a coverage level the same as or better than that offered by MALE is required to prove current membership in MALE. Apply for Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors Membership, making sure that you are applying for the for 2025-2026 season. Apply by July 1 so you will receive your membership card in time for Union Fair. The cost of this membership is $30 for an individual aged 18+, $60 for a family (required for youth aged 17 and younger).
Plan Your 4-H Club Exhibit—Independents, too!
4-H Club Exhibits at Union Fair may be submitted by 4-H clubs and pairs or groups of independent members enrolled in Knox or Lincoln Counties. Any club or sub-group within a Knox-Lincoln club can enter a club exhibit. Independent members can work together with other independents on one exhibit. The 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet will be available soon! To reserve exhibit space, please contact Cindy Rogers at 207.832.0343 or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu by July 15.
Gift Basket Fundraiser for KLLA at Union Fair
We are bringing back the gift basket raffle at Union Fair! The raffle, which benefits Knox-Lincoln 4-H, will once again feature themed gift baskets filled with quality items donated or made by KL 4-H clubs. Each club is asked to come up with a theme for the club basket and notify Cindy Rogers (207.832.0343, cynthia.rogers@maine.edu) of the theme by July 15. Then the club should fill a large basket or other container with items relating to the theme as a prize for the raffle. We ask that these items be new and high-quality or handmade by 4-H club members, with a total basket value of at least $50.
Ideas for a basket might be a pet care basket, a jams and jellies basket, a scrapbooking basket, a family games basket, a Made in Maine basket…etc. Remember that the basket should appeal to a broad public audience, not necessarily matching your club’s focus. Think about what will sell lots of tickets!
Maine Delegates Represented at National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C.
This April, three outstanding youth—Sabrinnah, Kaylee, and Kai—and a chaperone, traveled from Bangor to Washington, D.C., to represent Maine at the National 4-H Conference. Over six packed days, delegates from across the U.S. and its territories gathered for roundtable discussions, leadership development, cultural exchange, and connection with federal agencies. Highlights included the high-energy pin trade, a powerful multilingual recitation of the 4-H Pledge, and engaging presentations from collegiate facilitators. The Maine group quickly bonded with delegates from other states and territories, exchanging ideas, stories, and plenty of state-themed pins. Youth explored topics ranging from youth mental health to artificial intelligence and public land access.
The delegation also toured Washington’s historic monuments by night, danced with Coyaba Dance Theater performers, and visited both Maine senators’ offices on Capitol Hill. A behind-the-scenes Capitol tour, a walk through the U.S. Botanic Garden, and a brush with American history at the Smithsonian made for unforgettable memories. The week culminated in youth-led presentations to agencies including NASA, the CDC, the USDA, and the Pentagon, showcasing real-world applications of 4-H leadership. Wrapping up the conference, delegates attended a career expo at the Smithsonian and a celebration dance where music, laughter, and new friendships filled the ballroom. From pin trading to policy discussions, Maine’s 4-H youth made a lasting impression and returned home inspired, empowered, and eager to share their experiences.
National 4-H Conference is one of several different opportunities Maine 4-H Members have to travel around the country and represent Maine on the national stage. Learn about applying for National 4-H Conference and Congress.
Skip the Stress—Get Into College with 4-H Direct Admissions!
Great news for Maine 4-H high school juniors and seniors: applying to college just got a whole lot easier. With 4-H Direct Admissions, you can be automatically considered for admission to all seven of Maine’s Public Universities—no Common App, no test scores, no essays, no recommendations, and no application fees required!
If you’re enrolled in any 4-H program in Maine, you’re eligible. Just click to opt in, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Click here to opt in for 4-H Direct Admissions
Click here to learn more about 4-H Direct Admissions
This is your future—made simple. #BeyondReady
Save the Date—4-H Summer Learning Series
This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – August 8. Volunteers and staff work together to provide high-quality, hands-on, experiential learning experiences via Zoom. For most workshops, materials are mailed to participants ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate! Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. Sign up for updates on the 4-H Summer Learning Series website.
Save the Date! 4-H Sheep and Goat Clinic
Maine 4-H is hosting a sheep and goat clinic on June 8! Join us at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds for a day of hands on learning. Workshops will be for both new and experienced project members and you don’t need an animal to participate. Registration details will be available soon.
Important Announcement: Maine 4-H Days Update
We want to let you know that Maine 4-H Days will not be held in 2025. While we know this event is a cherished tradition for many, we’re taking this time to restructure and reinvent the experience to better serve our 4-H community in the future.
Our goal is to create an event that is more engaging, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs and interests of Maine youth and families. We appreciate your patience and continued support as we work behind the scenes to re-imagine what Maine 4-H Days can be.
Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to share your ideas—we’re excited for what’s ahead!
Make Your Voice Heard – 4-H Annual Index Survey Now Open!
We’re inviting youth ages 12 – 18 to take part in the National 4-H Annual Index Survey—a brief, 8-minute survey that helps measure the impact of 4-H across the country. By participating, your child’s voice will help shape the future of 4-H in Maine and beyond. Survey Deadline: June 30, 2025
By submitting the survey, you’re giving permission for your child to participate. Youth can choose to stop the survey at any time. Let’s make sure Maine youth are represented—thank you for supporting this important effort!
2025 UMass 4-H Cattle Academy
Registration for the 2025 UMASS 4-H Cattle Academy is now open! This event will take place from June 20 – 22 at the Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton, MA. Youth who have a beef, dairy, or working steer project or are thinking about trying out a cattle project are invited to experience hands-on learning in washing, fitting, clipping, showmanship and more! Please register for UMASS 4-H Cattle Academy by June 1, 2025. See you at the academy!
Fryeburg Fair 4-H Market Lamb Intent Forms Due June 5
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, 2025, and must be a castrated male. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must meet the following requirements:
- Send Fryeburg 4-H Market Lamb 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 5.
- 4-H Animal Approval forms for lambs must include the scrapie tag number and list “Fryeburg Sale” as the show class.
Visit the Extension website for additional information about the 4-H Market Lamb Sale at Fryeburg Fair. Contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or the State 4-H Office at 207.581.3877.
2025 ESE Working Steer Information
The 2025 4-H Eastern States Exposition Working Steer Tryout information and updated team information can be found online. New this year are ESE Working Steer Intent forms, updated tryout requirements, team apprentice guidelines, and volunteer interest forms. 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.
Save the Date: Maine 4-H State Dairy Show July 18 – 20
The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will be held on July 18-20 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. All 4-H dairy project members are invited to attend. There will be a grilled cheese cookoff, a milkshake making contest, and a fitting contest on Saturday followed by a show on Sunday. Visit the Extension website for more information on the Maine State 4-H Dairy Show, or contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.
Smithsonian 4-History Project and 4-H Youth Have A Voice!
We currently have openings for the Smithsonian 4-History Project as part of the 4-H program Youth Have A Voice. In this project, 4-H’ers will conduct research and interviews to learn more about their community and share their findings through a video project with support from 4-H leaders and the Smithsonian team. The project will last from August 2025 to March 2026.
Additionally, we have openings in the “traditional” 4-H Youth Have a Voice program for Maine teens (14 -19 years old or entering high school in the fall) who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Participants will learn leadership skills and ways to take part in civic action by completing a service project in a topic of their interest. Topics can range from agriculture, aquaculture, STEM education, animal care, renewable energies, disaster preparation, environmental conservation, food security, and more.
Interested teens should be ready to work both independently and with groups of peers and adults. High school teens can register for the program by completing a non-competitive application found on the 4-H Youth Have a Voice page. A three credit Early College course at UMaine in leadership development may also be available for interested students.
If you have any questions, please free to contact Andrew Hudacs, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 207.581.8204, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu.
Maine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI)
MSTI is a FREE residential camp offered at the University of Maine for current 6th – 8th graders from July 6 – 11, 2025. The camp focuses on transportation-related activities and fields. MSTI is a week-long residential program to allow students from all over the state to participate.
This includes space, roads and bridges, ports, air, and environmental impacts. Activities include building rockets, cars, and bridges; field trips to the Bangor International Airport, Cole Transportation Museum, and Maine Maritime Academy; participating in shows from the Planetarium and the Physics Roadshow; 3D-printing activity (including a tour of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center to see the World’s largest 3D-Printer and the 3D-printed house); Soil/erosion and surveying activities; a Touch-a-truck event, and more. (Activities are subject to change based on weather and availability of funds.) Additionally, students will learn about the different career opportunities within the transportation field, including engineers (environmental, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.), technicians, communications and media, human resources, and so much more.
Visit the Maine Summer Transportation Institute website for more information about the program and registration.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds 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, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).