February 4-H 4-U
Table of Contents
- Important Dates to Remember
- County 4-H News
- Club News
- State 4-H News
- Penobscot County 4-H Leaders Association
Important Dates to Remember
- March 1: Post-Secondary County Scholarship Applications due
- March 1: 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form deadline
- March 1: Maine 4-H Agricultural Ambassador Program registration deadline
- March 3: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship deadline
- March 15: Speak Up! Piscataquis/Penobscot 4-H Public Speaking Showcase
- April 5: Speak Up! Maine 4-H Showcase – Showcase Your Sparks!
County 4-H News
Penobscot County 4-H Seed Sale
Support 4-H and share the joy of gardening! We receive 50% of every sale. Online orders are encouraged to keep costs low.
Shop online at: https://fedcoseeds.com/fundraisers/PEN4H-25
Make checks payable to
Penobscot County 4-H Leaders Association.
Choose from 51 Easy-to-Grow Varieties. All orders will be shipped approximately one week after the deadline to the fundraiser coordinator for distribution. New Order deadline: March 1st.
Speak Up! Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties 4-H Public Speaking Showcase
Share your spark with an audience! Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers may present a Demonstration or Illustrated talk. Youth 9-18 may qualify for the Speak Up, Maine 4-H! Public Speaking Showcase, held April 5 on the UMaine Campus. For more information email Trisha Smith at trisha.smith1@maine.edu or call 564.3301.
March 15th 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Snow date: March 16 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Registration Open: 1/2/2025 12:00 PM
Registration Close: 3/7/2025 12:00 PM
Central Hall Commons, Dover-Foxcroft
System Registration Link (must be logged into ZSuite to go to the registration page):
https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/34969
- Visit the Speak Up, Maine 4-H Showcase website for resources such as:
- Preparation Materials: Key Elements of Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks
- Sample youth presentations
- Guidelines & Evaluation Criteria
HOMDGA Winter Education Day
Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM.- Snow date March 8th
Penobscot County Extension, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor.
Members & Non Members welcome. $10 per person; includes lunch.
Rachel White, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Ag & Livestock UMaine Cooperative Extension PhD Candidate researching parasite transmission from wildlife to small ruminants.
Presentation followed by lunch & meeting.
Club News
Clever Caprines
Clever Caprines had a meeting on January 11th where we worked on a Public Speaking Demonstration; making goat milk foaming foot soak. Our next meeting is February 1st at 9am at the Leeman’s. We will be planning our spring activities.
State 4-H News
Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors-Spring 2025
Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2025 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 14-18 who are interested in any aspect of agriculture. Youth spend time getting to know each other and learn both online and in-person in sessions facilitated by UMaine 4-H Staff and community partners. Sessions will focus on career exploration, exploring the Maine Food System with farm and production visits around the state, and building relationships with industry professionals.

This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Mook Sea Farm and Aquaculture and the anaerobic digester at Stonyvale Farm (one of the largest in the US!). Check them both out! Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request.
In addition to the multi-week session, youth will serve in their ambassador role with Maine 4-H for at least 1 year. Youth will pick an agricultural area to focus on (ex. livestock, ag literacy/food systems, environmental stewardship, ag and health) during their term and explore leadership opportunities locally, statewide, and even nationally. Register today!
To Register. For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or 207.622.7546.
Spring 2025 dates:
Online: March 04, March 11, March 25, April 1 & April 15
In-person: March 22 and March 29
Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine: April 21-22 (optional overnight) No cost paid and transportation assistance may be available
Save the Date: UMass Animal Science Academies
UMass 4-H is inviting Maine 4-H members to participate in two weekend workshops for animal and veterinary science.
The Explore Vet Science will take place on Saturday, June 14 th and Sunday, June 15th at the UMASS Farm facilities in Hadley, MA. Participants will get hands-on animal experience, working with UMASS faculty and staff, to learn about the work of the veterinarian and career opportunities in animal and veterinary science. There will be an overnight dorm option available. This program is for youth ages 13-18.
The Animal Science Cattle Academy will take place on Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 22nd at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Northampton, MA. This event is for any 4-Her with a dairy, beef, or working steer project. Participants will learn fitting, showing, and other aspects of their project from several experts from across the northeast! Youth are invited to bring their projects to the academy. However, we may have a local dairy farm to provide dairy heifers this year!
A registration form will be sent out once schedules are finalized for both events. Cost and other program information will be provided with registration. To express interest in the program as well as provide feedback for planning please visit the Explore Vet Science Interest Form for the veterinary science academy and Animal Science Cattle Academy Interest Form for the animal science academy.
Public Speaking – Save the Date
The State Public Speaking event has a new name! Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website soon. Please contact your local county office for information about your local events happening soon.
Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise: From Sap, to Syrup, to Sales
Maple Sugaring 101, also known as Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise, is a 7-week hybrid program open to Maine youth ages 9 to 18 who are interested in learning about the entire maple sugaring process and how to create a commercial grade syrup. Participants will learn about forest management, tapping trees, transporting sap, using an evaporator, grading and storing syrup, and operating a maple sugaring business.
Each week, participants will learn about the process and connect with other young maple sugar makers through online meetings and in-person workshops led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension experts. Online meetings are scheduled for weekday evenings, 5pm-6pm on February 13, February 27, and March 13. On-site workshops will be held at participating sugarhouses at times available for sugarhouse hosts and volunteers.
This program will also prepare youth for a new Level 1 digital badge called Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise. Youth who complete the program will get free access to the learning modules to earn the digital badge.
Club leaders who would like to have their club participate in this program, please contact your Andrew Hudacs by Friday, February 7, 2025 (extended!): andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204.
Youth who are interested in the program but are not a member of a participating club are welcome to register. Travel beyond their home county may be required to attend onsite sessions if a sugarhouse is not available locally. Please contact Andrew Hudacs at andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204 as soon as possible if you do not already have a host sugarhouse that are planning to visit for the program.
For more information, please visit the please visit the Maple Sugaring 101 webpage.
Become a 4-H Tick Project Mentor!
We are looking for volunteers to guide youth in learning about ticks and community science through the 4-H Tick Project.

Mentors will:
- Facilitate hands-on learning experiences through 4-H activities in classrooms, after-school programs, and/or community events.
- Model tick collection protocols and identification techniques.
- Share best practices for tick safety with young people.
- Make a valuable contribution to their communities.
No prior experience with tick science is required. The training will provide all the necessary knowledge and resources. This opportunity requires volunteers to work with educators and youth in various learning environments, including outdoors in tick habitat.
For more details and to register for the training, please visit: Volunteer for the 4-H Tick Project
The deadline to register for the training is March 30, 2025.
Do You Know Someone Who is Interested in Becoming a 4-H Volunteer? Tell them about Start Your 4-H Journey!
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on February 21 & 28 from 12 – 1 p.m. “Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired.
Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our website.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.
Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Contest
For Androscoggin/Sagadahoc, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset Counties.
Join other 4-H youth for a Regional Public Speaking contest at UMA in Augusta on March 8th (March 9th snow date) at Jewett Hall at 9:30. We welcome 4-Her’s of all ages, including Cloverbuds. Youth from other counties are also invited to participate.
Introducing a new category for fun (non-judged)! Show off your singing, dance, theater, drawing, or recitation talents. Youth are invited to present a talent during the regional public speaking event after formal presentations have concluded. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to participate.
Want to know more information about Public Speaking? Check out our 4-H Public Speaking website. Contact: Tara Marble at (tara.marble@maine.edu or 207.778 .4650 if you have questions or need an accommodation.
Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove
Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps is now open! We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H experience and continue building awesome skills. Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.
Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.
Website: www.umaine.edu/tanglewood
Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu
Phone: 207.789.5868
4-H Volunteer Connections: Register Today!
We are offering THREE virtual interactive sessions this winter for all 4-H volunteers! Join us for regional training and networking opportunities with 4-H volunteers from our 13 states in the North East Region! Session topics include the following:
– Building Connections for Success – February 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
– Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
To read more about each session and to register, go to 4-H Volunteer Connections!
Sign up for one, two, or all three! Sessions are free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu. We hope to see you there!
2025 Engineering Week Expo
The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) Engineering Expo will be held Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. This family-friendly FREE event invites the community to explore the world of engineering through demonstrations and hands-on activities. The 4-H Science and Engineering Center will be there along with Maine engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies who are invested in engaging young minds in career pathways involving engineering. For more information on the Engineering Expo please go to the website.
Maine Science Festival
The Maine Science Festival will be held March 19-23 times TBD in February at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please go to the website.
Public Speaking Workshops
As we move into 2025, many counties will be hosting workshops for youth who are interested in participating in Public Speaking. As more information is available, it will be posted on the public speaking website.
- Oxford County – February 20, 2025
- Piscataquis County will be hosting a Public Speaking SPIN club in the place of a workshop, and youth from other counties are welcome to attend. Dates TBD.
- Washington County – Date TBD
Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from 4-H
Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required.
Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complementary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth.
The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.
To register for a virtual field trip, visit Virtual Field Trips to Maine Aquaculture Facilities.
For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.
4-H Science Toolkits
Maine 4-H has a lending library of 4-H Science toolkits. These come with activities and materials around a variety of topics. Recent additions include:
– eBird Explorers, exploring Ornithology for Cloverbuds
– Harmful and Shifting Species, which examines species impacting the Maine coast
– Power Protectors, which involves exploring energy use and an introduction to renewable energy through engineering design challenges.
Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions.
4-H Dairy Quizbowl – Save the Date!
The 2025 Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts will be held on March 1st at the Randall Student Center at the University of Maine Augusta. The contest will start at 10:00 AM with the written exam, followed by the individual questions portion and then the buzzer rounds.
This event will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. The top four eligible 4-H members will be selected to represent Maine 4-H at The Big E in the regional dairy quizbowl contest in September.
Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts are open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18. If you plan on attending please notify Sadee Mehuren via email at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event.
For more information on the event including the contest rules, please visit 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl.
ESE 4-H Dairy Intent Forms Available Now!
The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team next fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before March 1, 2025.
Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.eduail or 207.342.5971 with any questions.
Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education, this participation includes traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all.
To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the Maine 4-H Foundation website. Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 3, 2025.
Save the Date: Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE)
The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place from May 16 – 18, 2025 at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. More information can be found on their website, and entry forms and schedules will be available in 2025.
Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association
Penobscot County 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting Minutes – January 16, 2025
Attendance: Trisha Smith (staff), Emily Pigeon (staff), Scott Leeman (President.) (1), Corinna Caron (Vice President) (1), Lucia Brown (Treasurer./Secretary.) (1), Donna Gangitano(1), Grace Coffe(1), Brooke Williams(1)
Emily took a moment at the beginning of the meeting to say hello and introduce herself. She would like to get to meet all the clubs and leaders and get on the same page with best methods of communication. Leader’s Association members introduced themselves.
The meeting was called to order at 6:13 by Scott Leeman.
Secretary’s Report: Corinna motions to accept the Secretary’s Report as written, Scott seconds. All in favor. No discussion
Staff Reports:
Emily:
January 21st registration deadline on Z-Suite for a Feb. 4th event – Public speaking workshop. It is listed under events in Z-Suite.
March 1: Post-Secondary County Scholarship Applications due, Ag Ambassador applications due (ZSuite), Dairy Intent Forms for ESE, Speak Up Showcase (County event March 15th) registration due (on Z-Suite under events)
March 3: Foundation Scholarship Applications due
March 15: Piscataquis/Penobscot Public Speaking Contest is at Central Hall in Dover-Foxcroft at 1pm (snow date March 16, same location and time)
April 5: Speak up Showcase is being held at UMaine (snow date April 6) – to participate you must qualify at a county event with a score of 78 or higher.
Early College Program – there are flyers for that in the office. Emily would be happy to send those out if anyone wants them. Information is available on the UMaine website. The University would like to generate more participation from 4-H membership.
Trisha:
Public Speaking Showcase (County) registration is in Z-Suite – any enrolled 4-Her can participate.
Anything Statewide will be on ZSuite for registrations. They are open to feedback from leaders on certain aspects of ZSuite but the trend is moving that way for registration and application.
Tractor Supply account – Estimated to be $1,000, from Fall 2024 fundraising.
Re-enrollment: 19 volunteers, 49 youth – there are a lot of volunteers that are incomplete (maybe 5) for various reasons. The office is following up on the incomplete volunteer applications. Emily will be focused on increasing youth participation. She intends to take that on herself as a priority. Of the 49, 19+/- are Penobscot Livestock 4-H. By Emily’s recollection, there are 6+/- independent members. Emily believes that there are 5 active clubs. There are two clubs with no active volunteers or members. Oxford County is piloting a program with a ‘beginner’ 4-H club that is for any new member. It will run for 6 months and give them an introduction to 4-H as well as exposing them to other clubs. The hope is that at the end of 6 months they will find a club that will be ‘home’.
Attendance to leader’s meetings will be tracked from January to November of 2025. Per the by-laws, a leader from each club must attend 6 meetings per year.
Intent form deadlines: Goat Big-E intent forms are due Feb. 15th.
Club Audits: Clever Caprines is done, PL4H has been turned in, PVHA has been turned in. Shoes and Shears is working on theirs. Orrington has not turned theirs in (but may not have an EIN number).
Camperships/Scholarships: Kaylee K – has applied for funds to go to the Maine 4-H Ignite team in the amount of $300. She has also applied for National 4-H Conference scholarship support in the amount of $300. Per Kristy Ouellette, Ignite was covered by TSC so the only one under discussion for Kaylee is the National 4-H Conference. Gabe T. – has applied for $300 toward the CWF trip. The group would like to put the application for Gabe T. on hold for this meeting to gather more information. Corinna makes a motion to approve the $300 for Kaylee K. to attend the National 4-H Conference. Donna seconds. All in favor. Emily will request that the funds for that are provided by TSC.
Post Secondary Scholarships: Due by March 1. Will be forwarded to the Foundation as applicable and acted on at the County level during the March meeting.
Commodity/Event Grants: None
Fundraising: We have been approved by Fedco – the website is being worked on. Wendy will send it out when she gets it. The deadline will be Feb. 1. Due to limited participation, the deadline will be extended to March 1. A new flyer will be made and publicized.
BSF: First weekend will be July 24-27 (Thurs-Sun) and the second weekend will be July 30-Aug 2 (Wed-Sat). Fair book is being worked on next week (1/20), send any changes now as well as a list of awards needed. Working steer show and 4-H show will be held now on the 2nd weekend. There are 8 market steers. Many farms from around the state will participate in the shows.
Corinna motions to adjourn and Scott seconds at 7:32 pm. All in favor.
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Next Meeting: February 20th – 6:00 pm at the office or get the link from Emily by zoom.
Invite Sadee M.– any changes to intent form dates/Animal Science updates
Secretary’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Staff Reports
Club Audits
Camperships
Post – Secondary Scholarships
Commodity/Event Grants
Fundraising
BSF
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Discuss fundraising opportunities in September/October. Put on the agenda in that month.
Budget needs to go on the agenda in October.
Add to November Agenda, reminder that Club Audits not submitted timely (November) are due no later than January.
Track attendance from January – November
Contact: Wendy Robertson, Administrative Specialist, by email at wendy.robertson@maine.edu or by phone at 942.7396 or contact Emily Pigeon, Community Education Assistant, email emily.pigeon@maine.edu
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