Follow Knox-Lincoln 4-H on Facebook! <\/span><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n November 28 \u2013 Dec.14 <\/strong>4-H Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Co. Stores<\/p>\n December 11<\/strong>\u00a0Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association (KLLA) Meeting, 6 pm, online only<\/p>\n December 14 DEADLINE EXTENDED<\/strong> \u2014 sign up for 4-H National Trips! (ages 14 \u2013 18)<\/p>\n December 31<\/strong>\u00a04-H Re-enrollments due (see article about ZSuite below)<\/em><\/p>\n January 6<\/strong> Fryeburg Fair Beef Intent to Sell form due<\/p>\n January 8<\/strong> Annual Meeting of Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association (KLLA), KL Extension office, 6 pm<\/p>\n January 9<\/strong> Deadline to register for Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club<\/p>\n January 15<\/strong> Eastern States Exposition Beef Intent to Participate form due<\/p>\n TBD<\/strong> KL 4-H Public Speaking Workshop, Extension office, Waldoboro, date announced soon!<\/em><\/p>\n January 31<\/strong> Oxton Trust Applications due<\/p>\n Happy Birthday to Isabelle B., Sylvia C., Oliver G., and Santino P.!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association is seeking nominations for key officer roles, each for a term of one year. Any enrolled Knox-Lincoln 4-H volunteer may nominate themself or another enrolled KL 4-H volunteer. These roles can be filled by any 4-H volunteer enrolled in Knox and Lincoln Counties, be they independent, a club leader, or an assistant club leader.<\/p>\n Three of our current officers have self-nominated to continue their roles, while the role of President is currently open. Early nominations are as follows:<\/p>\n \u2022 President: no nominations yet<\/em><\/strong> Nominations are being accepted for all officer positions through December 31, and we are particularly looking for someone to take on the role of president. In brief, the president’s job is mainly to run monthly meetings (mostly held on Zoom), set meeting agendas in conjunction with 4-H staff, and send out email reminders for those meetings. The president oversees the activities of the association and is occasionally consulted by 4-H staff on decision making pertaining to association relations. Officers will be voted in at KLLA’s Annual Meeting on January 8<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For information on any of these roles or to submit a nomination, please contact Linda Bonin mommybonin@gmail.com<\/a> or Cindy Rogers cynthia.rogers@maine.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4-H families should log into their ZSuite<\/em><\/strong> account and complete their re-enrollment before December 31<\/strong>. If you enrolled yourself last 4-H year (2024-2025), you can simply visit ZSuite<\/a> and use the password you set at that time. If you are new to ZSuite, click \u201cForgot Password?\u201d and complete the prompts using the email address where you receive your 4-H communications.<\/p>\n Once you are in ZSuite, re-enrollment is just a few clicks away:<\/p>\n Once 4-H staff approve your enrollment, the enrollment button will show as active\/green status, which is required\u00a0before a member or volunteer can engage in 4-H activities or register for events.<\/p>\n ZSuite<\/strong><\/em> has a help menu that offers step-by-step instructions in the system, as well as live chat for questions. You are also welcome to reach out to your county staff. Re-enrollments are due\u00a0December 31.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Save the date! All enrolled Knox-Lincoln 4-H Volunteers are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association on Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 pm<\/strong> at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Knox-Lincoln office in Waldoboro. Join other 4-H volunteers and staff for a time to socialize, share a meal, and recognize the work you all do for the 4-H program. More details will be shared soon!<\/p>\n Through the generosity and foresight of Robert Oxton, the Oxton Trust Fund was established to support 4-H youth development programs and activities in Knox and Lincoln Counties. The funds are available annually. Clubs, volunteers, and members should anticipate what funds they expect to request for the entire 2026 calendar year<\/em><\/strong> and apply for funds to the Oxton Trust Committee by January 31, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If a club, volunteer, or member discovers a need for funds later in 2026, a special meeting of the committee can be called, and an application considered at any time. Funds available for mid-year requests, however, will be more limited.<\/p>\n Grants may be awarded for 4-H youth development programs and projects falling into one of the following areas: leadership, youth development, and special programs. Applications can be submitted by 4-H staff, volunteers or members enrolled in the Knox and Lincoln Counties 4-H program. The Oxton Trust Application<\/a> is available online or can be requested by contacting the Knox-Lincoln Extension office.<\/p>\n This season\u2019s Paper Clover campaign is happening now through December 14<\/strong>, showcasing 4-H during the busiest retail period of the year! Funds raised through the campaign are used to support 4-H Leadership activities and camp scholarships in your county!<\/p>\n Club leaders:<\/strong> if your club would like to set up a static display or spend part of a day at a TSC store Maine to promote your club and 4-H, please contact the store manager to set that up. Donations do tend to increase at times when 4-H clubs are present at the store! Contact this office, too so we can help promote your event.<\/p>\n Great news! The application deadline for\u00a0National 4-H Conference<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0National 4-H Congress<\/strong>\u00a0has been\u00a0extended to December 14<\/strong>. Youth\u00a0ages 14 \u2013 18<\/strong>\u00a0are encouraged to apply for these incredible national leadership opportunities.<\/p>\n Trip Dates: Interviews<\/strong>\u00a0for both trips will take place\u00a0the week of December 15<\/strong>. Selected applicants will be contacted with their interview date and time. We encourage all interested youth to take advantage of this extended deadline and apply for 4-H National Trips today<\/a>!<\/p>\n Are you interested in learning about livestock\u00a0animals\u00a0(such as cows, goats, or sheep)? How do we care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H\u00a0Animal\u00a0Science\u00a0SPIN\u00a0club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of\u00a0animal\u00a0care. Participants do not need any prior\u00a0animal\u00a0experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner\/introductory level program.<\/p>\n This is a free opportunity for youth ages 9 \u2013 18. \u00a0<\/strong>Virtual sessions will be Thursdays, January 22, 29th, February 5, 2026, 4:00 \u2013 5:15 pm<\/strong>.\u00a0 February 12th will be an optional session for youth who intend to participate in a 4-H livestock project. The final session will be geared towards youth who are beginning their journey into raising livestock. Register for Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club<\/a> before January 9, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n You asked, we’re excited! Performing Arts<\/strong> demonstrations will now be part of\u00a0Speak Up, Maine 4-H\u00a0<\/em>the statewide\u00a0Public\u00a0Speaking\u00a0Program. From dramatic monologues to musical performances, this creative category is your time to express yourself and share your spark center stage.<\/p>\n Performing Arts demonstrations include: Specific details, including updated evaluation tools and judges\u2019 support for all categories, will be available soon on the\u00a0Speak Up, Maine 4-H<\/em>\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0and through county staff. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n The 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate form<\/a> is\u00a0now available online\u00a0and must be submitted by\u00a0January 15, 2026<\/strong>. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Youth must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025 and have completed one year in a beef project prior to this year. Please contact Kristen Grondin,\u00a0kristen.grondin@maine.edu<\/a>, 207.581.8193, or Cathy Bartlett Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu<\/a>, 207.743.6329\u00a0 with any questions.<\/p>\n The 2026 Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair is now available for eligible youth.\u00a0 The animal must be owned and in the youth\u2019s possession, and the youth must be enrolled in their county by December 31, 2025.\u00a0 More information and the form are available on the Maine 4-H Beef page<\/a>.\u00a0 Online forms must be submitted, and paper copies must be postmarked by January 6, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t
\nUpcoming Events and Important Dates<\/strong><\/h3>\n
December Birthdays<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Leaders Association Seeks Officer Nominations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Vice President: Charly Peaslee
\n\u2022 Treasurer: Carol Higley-Ramsdell
\n\u2022 Secretary: Joelle Albury<\/p>\nZSuite Re-enrollment Time\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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4-H Volunteers Invited to KLLA Annual Meeting January 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/knox-lincoln\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2025\/11\/brigitte-elsner-UgQ51Y3l8GQ-unsplash-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Oxton Trust Grant Applications Due January 31, 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n![\"Illustrated](\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/knox-lincoln\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2025\/11\/TSC-Paper-Clover-Fall_1708-x-650-300x114.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h3>\nTractor Supply Company Paper Clover Campaign Through December 14<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Deadline Extended for National 4-H Trips!<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong>\u2022 National 4-H Conference:<\/strong>\u00a0April 10 \u2013 15, 2026
\n\u2022 National 4-H Congress:<\/strong>\u00a0November 27 \u2013 December 1, 2026<\/p>\nFarm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4-H Public Speaking Update<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 a spoken introduction
\n\u2022 your performance
\n\u2022 and a spoken conclusion<\/p>\nMaine 4-H ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms are Now Available<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Market Beef at Fryeburg Fair<\/strong><\/h3>\n