KL 4-H Newsletter—September 2025
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
September 11 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association (KLLA) Meeting, 6:00pm, online only
September 30 4-H Project Records are due
September 30 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photography Contest entries due
September 30 Club Award Nominations due from club leaders
September 30 4-H Character Award nominations due at the Extension office
October 1 Start of the new 4-H Year
October 3 “Goal Setting and Planning for the Year,” first session of 4-H Volunteer Huddle, 12-12:30 pm, online
October 9 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association (KLLA) Meeting, 6:00 pm, KL Extension office
October 15 Nominations due for Maine 4-H State Youth Council
October 15 Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey session, 6–7 pm, online
October 16 Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey session, 3–4 pm, online
October 19 KL 4-H Year-End Celebration, Beaver Lodge, Hope, ME
September Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Patrick S., Jeffrey B., Lincoln H., and Isabella L.!
2025 4-H Year-End Celebration October 19
Join your fellow 4-H members and leaders for the 2025 4-H Year-End Celebration at Beaver Lodge in
Hope, Maine, Sunday, October 19, 2 – 4 pm. Bring a snack to share at this beautiful location, and enjoy a celebration of the highlights and achievements from the past 4-H year!
Look for an invitation in your email inbox very soon. We look forward to seeing you there!
Enter the 2025 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photo Contest
Keep taking photos for the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photography Contest 2025! The top photos per age category will be exhibited in the 4-H Gallery at the Knox-Lincoln Extension office.
This contest is open to any Knox-Lincoln 4-H member age 9 and up. Entries will be accepted through September 30, 2025. Members can enter up to four photos taken between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. Use the online 4-H Photo Contest Entry form to enter and upload your photos. Keep snapping those great pics! Contact Cindy Rogers at 207.832.0343 or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu if you have questions.
Extra Effort in 4-H Project Records Will Be Rewarded
Don’t forget that 4-H Project Records are due September 30. The Basic Record is all that is required, especially if you are a new member. But if you want, you can supply more detail with “Optional” record components…here’s some incentive!
To encourage members to submit more complete project records (include more of the “Optional” sections), the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association would like to remind members that extra effort beyond the basic record will be recognized with higher award amounts. In other words, the more “Optional” components that you complete well, the higher the value of your award can potentially be. Based on the judges’ evaluations, awards will range from $20 to $50 “award value” depending on quantity and quality of work presented.
Visit the 4-H Project Record page for all forms and instructions. Contact your club leader or this office if you have questions or need help!
Project Records Due September 30…Why Submit a 4-H Project Record?
4-H members are encouraged to keep records as part of their learning experience. Your 4-H records present a picture of your growth and development as a 4-H member. It is a requirement for all Maine 4-H members ages 9 – 18 to complete a 4-H project record annually. Cloverbud members (5 – 8) should practice their record keeping skills in partnership with an older 4-H member or an adult partner/caregiver.
4-H members are encouraged to complete a project record for projects in which they have participated during the 2024/2025 4-H year. It is important to reflect on your experiences and set goals for the upcoming year. To be considered for recognition at the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Year-End Celebration, 4-H members must complete at least the required basic project record and submit it for evaluation by September 30. Other sections can be added to present a more complete picture of your project.
Please note, you do not need to be finished with your project to complete a project record. We understand that many 4-H projects are ongoing and do not end at the same time as the 4-H year. If you are filing a project record for an ongoing or unfinished project, simply enter the information for your project up to the current date.
Evaluated records will be returned and awards announced at the 4-H Year-End Celebration in the fall (date to be determined). Project Record forms and Cloverbud Activity Record forms and instructions can be found online. We recommend that you download the fillable PDF forms, fill them out on your computer, and email the final files to Cindy Rogers cynthia.rogers@maine.edu. Contact your club leader or this office if you have questions or need help. DON’T WAIT until the last minute!
Nominations Sought for 4-H Awards
Club leader nominations for the following individual and club awards are due September 30: Team Player, Treasurer, Secretary, Community Service, Personal Growth, Leadership, Citizenship, and Katherine Watier Green Awards. The link to the nomination form for these awards has been emailed to primary club leaders.
During the fair season, a few outstanding 4-Hers may be chosen to receive the 4-H Character Award. This honor may be awarded to a 4-Her who carries out his or her project at any Maine fair, and who treats other 4-H members, fair colleagues, spectators, and their animals (when applicable) according to the six pillars of character: Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Respect, Caring, Fairness and Citizenship. Anyone can nominate youth for the Character Award, but we ask that parents not nominate their own children.
Nominations for the 2025 4-H Character Award, may be submitted to Knox-Lincoln Extension Office, 377 Manktown Road, Waldoboro, ME 04572 or via email cynthia.rogers@maine.edu by September 30, 2025.
Maine 4-H Celebrates “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with New Ag Challenge
The state of Maine has officially declared 2025 as The Year of Youth in Agriculture, an exciting initiative to highlight the vital role young people play in the future of our state’s agricultural landscape. In celebration of this significant declaration, Maine 4-H is thrilled to encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Maine 4-H as well as the economy and heritage of our state, offering a vast array of unique and rewarding opportunities, from traditional farming and livestock management to innovative food production, sustainable practices, and agricultural technology. This is the perfect time for our 4-H members to explore the many facets of this dynamic industry.
To help you do just that, Maine 4-H is launching the 4-H Ag Challenge! This special challenge is designed to guide members through an exploration of the unique and vast opportunities within Maine agriculture. To complete the challenge, members must complete activities from each section, with the number of required activities varying by age group:
- Cloverbud (ages 5 – 8): 2 activities per section
- Junior (ages 9 – 13): 3 activities per section
- Senior (ages 14 – 18): 4 activities per section
Download the Maine 4-H Ag Challenge PDF form!
Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to your local UMaine Extension office. As a special reward for completing the challenge, you will receive a specially designed Maine 4-H Ag Challenge hat!
Prizes will be mailed to those who complete the challenge. This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, giving you plenty of time to explore! If you have any questions please contact: Megan Cook, 4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County, megan.cook@maine.edu, 207.532.6548
State Youth Council
The Maine 4-H State Youth Council nomination form is now open! The Maine 4-H Youth Council is a chance to step up, speak out, and represent 4-H across our state. As part of this leadership group you’ll connect local and state programs, amplify youth voice in 4-H, and promote 4-H events from Maine to the national stage.
Nominees must be between the ages of 16 and 24 years of age and must have participated in 4-H for at least 2 years (club, independent, after school, school-based, mentoring or camp program). Nominations are now being accepted from 4-H staff and directly from members.
If selected, the requirements of the Youth Council are that members be an active participant (participate in 80% of meetings) and participate in the youth council project chosen for the year. The council meets a total of 6 times per year, 4 on zoom and 2 in person.
Nominations from Extension staff and self-nominations will be accepted. Maine 4-H State Youth Council Nomination Forms are due October 15th.
We are currently looking for youth representation from all counties plus 4-H Camps and Learning Centers and CYFAR/Northstar/OhYea programs.
Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey: A Path to Making a Difference
Do you know someone passionate about youth development and community involvement? Share this opportunity to learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer through Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey! 4-H volunteers play a crucial role in the program’s success, whether it’s by starting a club, sharing their skills through short-term programs, or helping with local 4-H events.
If you or someone you know is thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer, now’s the perfect time to learn more! We’re offering free one-hour virtual sessions to guide potential volunteers on their journey. You can choose from the following sessions:
October 15th from 6:00–7:00 p.m.
October 16th from 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Additional session dates and times are available on the 4-H Volunteer Journey webpage. The informational sessions are free, but registration is required. Be sure to sign up online today! For more information or if you need a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Jennifer Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu or call 207.255.3345.
Help spread the word and encourage others to become part of the 4-H volunteer family!
Join the 4-H Volunteer Huddle!
4-H volunteers are invited to participate in the new monthly training series: the 4-H Volunteer Huddle! These quick, engaging sessions take place virtually via Zoom on the first Friday of each month from 12:00–12:30 pm
Step onto the sideline for a fast-paced “gather–learn–discuss” session and then jump right back into the game of 4-H! Each month will feature a different topic designed to boost your skills and strengthen your strategy—you choose the sessions that interest you most.
The kickoff session will take place on October 3 and is titled, “Goal Setting and Planning for the Year”. Start your 4-H year with confidence! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn simple strategies for setting goals, staying organized, and making the most of your 4-H experience.
When: First Friday of each month
Time: 12:00–12:30 pm
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: Free
Registration Required: Login to ZSuite and go to Events, or register directly on ZSuite for 4-H Volunteer Huddle sessions (must be logged in to ZSuite).
For more information, to register by telephone or email, or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact: Tara Wood tara.a.wood@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.
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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).